Kerala Chicken Curry with Coconut Milk

    A very big Hello to all…. Am back, and in action! We had an awesome vacation, and had a gala time with family and friends. Plenty of get togethers, fabulous food everywhere and our hearts and stomachs got filled beyond limits. We barely got time to sit at home and relax. It is after a long while that I got to celebrate Onam in Kerala, and it feels great. I met my sister after 4 years! Aarav and my sister’s younger daughter met for the first time. They did not become close buddies as we expected, and were constantly fighting with each other. 🙂 Akhil’s brother Ajay got married, and I got a new sister now, Pooja! Family is growing. 🙂

   Another great news is that I got featured in a local newspaper, Kerala Kaumudi. The Kaumudi journalist, Meera who also happens to be a yummyoyummy follower messaged me to ask if I was interested for an interview. I was more than happy to oblige, and delightedly told Yes! She called me on the same day with a set of questions, and the write-up came up after a week. Our families were happy too!  You can read it here. Thanks Meera for featuring me, and giving me a great review!

    I have already posted some yummy food pictures that I have clicked in Kerala on YOY facebook page, and in the coming weeks I shall be posting the recipes. So gear up People !

   We got back from India on wednesday. I am still tired and jet-lagged. I do understand that I have so many queries/ comments to answer to and will be doing so in the next few days.

   Today I have the recipe for a yummy Kerala chicken curry with coconut milk. This recipe was shared by a friend who is also a fantastic cook, Dolly Padmaraj. This chicken curry is easy to make  and has a smooth gravy that makes it a hit with children too! It goes well with rice, chapathi/porotta, pulav and appam/idiyappam.

Ingredients

1. Chicken – 1.5 – 2 kg, cut into medium-small pieces

    Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp

    Pepper powder – 1/2 tsp

    Salt – As required

2. Coconut oil – 2 – 3 tbsp

3. Onion – 1.5 large (Around 3 cups), thinly sliced

4. Ginger-garlic paste – 1 tbsp, heaped

5. Tomato – 2 medium-small, chopped

6. Turmeric powder – 1/4 tsp

    Kashmiri chilly powder – 1.5 – 2 tbsp

    Coriander powder – 2 tbsp

7. Garam masala powder – 1 tsp

8. Thin coconut milk – 1.5 – 2 cups

9. Thick coconut milk – 1/2 cup

    Curry leaves – 1 sprig

10. Salt – To taste

To season

11. Coconut oil – 1 tbsp

12. Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp

     Coconut slices / thenga kothu – 3 tbsp

     Pearl onions – 5, thinly sliced

     Curry leaves – 1 sprig

Method

1. Marinate chicken pieces with the remaining ingredients numbered 1. Place in the refrigerator overnight or for at least 2 hours. Take it out 30 minutes before you start cooking.

2. Heat 2 tbsp coconut oil in a heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat. Add thinly sliced onion, enough salt and saute until onion turns transparent. Add ginger-garlic paste and saute until everything turns lightly golden. Now add the tomato pieces and saute until they turn mushy. Bring down the heat to low. Add the spice powders – turmeric powder, kashmiri chilly powder, coriander powder and garam masala powder. Mix well and saute really well until their raw smell and taste is gone. Switch off the flame. When cooled, grind to a very fine paste. (You can add 1/4 cup thin coconut milk while grinding).

3. Heat 1 – 2 tbsp coconut oil in the same pan over medium-high heat and add the marinated chicken pieces. Cook for 5 – 6 minutes stirring in between. Add the ground onion masala paste and thin coconut milk. BRing to a boil. Cook for a few minutes. Bring down the heat to medium-low. Cover and cook for 30 – 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. If the gravy is very thick, add 1/2 – 1 cup hot water / thin coconut milk. When the chicken pieces are completely cooked, bring down the flame and add thick coconut milk and a few curry leaves. Cook for 1 minute over low flame. Switch off the flame.

4. Heat 1 tbsp coconut oil in a small pan over medium heat. Splutter mustard seeds and fry coconut slices. When the coconut slices turn light golden, add sliced pearl onions. Stir until they turn golden brown. Add curry leaves and stir until crisp. Pour this seasoning over the curry. Cover with lid for 15 minutes. Open and mix well. Serve with porotta, chapathi, rice, pulav or appam. Enjoy!