kerala-style chicken stew
4 people (side dish, serve hot. with rice, flatbread or even bread)
cooking time:
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
India (Kerala)
submitted by:
Negul
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil, 1 small star anise
• 10 cloves
• 3 green cardamom
• 2 inch cinnamon stick
• ½ tablespoon fennel seeds
• 1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste
• 2 to 5 green chillies
• 5 to 8 curry leaves
• 1 large red onion, chopped finely
• 800 grams skinless whole chicken, curry cut
• 1 teaspoon black pepper powder
• salt to taste
• 2 cups coconut milk, 6 tablespoon coconut powder in 2 cups warm water
• 1 cup water, approx. enough to barely submerge all the contents in the pot
• 1 large potato, chunked
• 1 to 2 carrot, diced
• ½ cup frozen or boiled green peas, soaked in water to bring to room temp For tempering
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 5 mini shallots, or half a medium onion, sliced
• 8 whole cashews, broken
• 3 green chillies, slit
• 1 sprig curry leaves
2. Add all the whole spices and fry for a few seconds until fragrant. (1 small star anise, 10 cloves, 3 green cardamom, 2-inch cinnamon stick, ½ tablespoon fennel seeds)
3. Add the ginger-garlic paste, green chillies and curry leaves and fry until the paste turns golden. (1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste, 2 to 5 green chillies, 5 to 8 curry leaves) [Reduce the chillies and pepper as per your spice preference]
4. Add the chopped onion and saute until translucent. (1 large red onion chopped finely)
5. Add the chicken along with salt and pepper. (800 grams skinless whole chicken curry cut, 1 teaspoon black pepper powder, salt to taste)
6. Cover the pot and cook on low to medium flame for 8 to 10 minutes stirring occasionally until all the chicken pieces have turned white.
7. Open and pour the prepared coconut milk, water and chopped potatoes. Stir until everything is mixed well. Continue to stir to prevent the coconut milk from splitting. Stir until the stew warms up. Cover and cook for 8 to 10 minutes stirring occasionally. (2 cups coconut milk 6 tablespoon coconut powder in 2 cups warm water, 1 cup water approx. enough to barely submerge all the contents in the pot, 1 large potato chunked)
8. Add the chopped carrots and cook covered for 6 to 8 minutes. (1 to 2 carrot diced)
9. Add the thawed green peas and boil for 5 minutes. (½ cup frozen or boiled green peas soaked in water to bring to room temp)
10. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper. Use the back of the ladle to smash some of the potato chunks to add creaminess to the stew. Switch off and prepare the tempering.
11. Tempering (Heat the coconut oil in a small pan, add 2 tablespoons coconut oil, Add the sliced shallots (5 mini shallots or half a medium onion sliced) and fry until golden. Add the cashews, green chillies and some curry leaves, Fry until the onions are almost browned, the curry leaves are crispy and the cashews are golden. (8 whole cashews broken, 3 green chillies slit, 1 sprig curry leaves)]
12. Pour the tempering over the prepared chicken stew and stir it.