Chicken Chettinad

Another delicious recipe from my favorite chef...

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

Method

• Clean the chicken and cut into medium size pieces
• Fry the coconut with number 3 ingredients in oil, till it turn golden brown. Let it cool. Grind this with ginger and garlic. (Do not add water while grinding). Add 1/2 – 3/4 cup of water to the ground coconut mix and make it a thick paste

• 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, 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.

Serve hot with rice, roti etc…