Chettinad Chicken - South India

INGREDIENTS

• Chicken - 1 kg
• Grated coconut - 1½ cup
• Poppy seeds - 2 tsp
• Fennel seeds(perumjeerakam) - 1 tsp
• Coriander seeds - 1 tsp
• Jeera - ½ tsp
• Red chilli - 6-8
• Cinnamon stick - 1 medium size piece
• Cardamom - 4
• Clove - 3
• Star anise - ½
• Ginger & garlic- ½ tbsp each
• Turmeric powder - ½ tsp
• Chili powder - 1 tsp
• Onion- 2
• Tomato - 3 medium
• Lemon - 1
• Curry leaves
• Salt
• Oil

Method

1. Clean the chicken and cut into medium size pieces. Fry the coconut with ingredients listed from poppy seeds to star anise, till it turn golden brown. Let it cool. Grind this with ginger and garlic. (Do not add water while grinding). Add ½ - ¾ cup of water to the ground coconut mix and make it a thick paste.
2. Heat oil in a bottom heavy pan and add sliced onions and fry it till it becomes golden brown. Add coconut mixture and curry leaves and stir it continuously for a few minutes. Add tomato and turmeric and chili powder and mix well. Once the powders are fried well add chicken pieces & salt, combine well and cook for 5 minutes. Add lemon juice and 2 cups water and cover and cook till the chicken is done. This curry has a thick gravy.
3. Serve hot with rice, roti etc...