Chettinad Chicken Gravy – Spicy South Indian Curry Recipe!

Indian cuisine, especially south indian cuisine is famous all around the world for its spiciness. And the chettinad cuisine celebrates that factor. The chettinad chicken gravy is the perfect jewel in the crown. This is a must try recipe for all south indian food lovers.

This particular recipe is a mix of modernized way of preparing the authentic and traditional recipe. I stuck to the root of the flavours and experimented on the process of preparing the same. You can try a vegetarian version of the same too, by using mushrooms or cauliflower or even with paneer. So, without further ado, let us have a look at this simple yet, delicious thick gravy recipe that will go amazingly well with rice as well chapathi.

Ingredients:

Chicken – 1/2 kg

For the Chettinad Masala:

Cinnamon – 1 small piece

Clove – 1 no

Star Anise – 1 no

Pepper – 1 tsp

Jeera – 1 tsp

Fennel Seeds – 1 tsp

Coriander Seeds – 2 tsp

Dried Red Chilli – 4 nos

Grated Coconut – 2 tbsp

To grind:

Onion – 1no

Tomato – 1 no

Ginger – 1 inch piece

Garlic – 8-10

For Gravy:

Oil – 3 tbsp

Onion -1 no

Tomato – 1 no

Curry Leaves – a few

Turmeric Powder – 1/4 tsp

Coriander Powder – 1 tsp

Red chilli powder – 1 tsp

Salt – to taste

The Method:

For the Chettinad Masala:

• In a thick bottomed pan, add all the spices
  • Cinnamon – 1 small piece
  • Clove – 1 no
  • Star Anise – 1 no
  • Pepper – 1 tsp
  • Jeera – 1 tsp
  • Fennel Seeds – 1 tsp
  • Coriander Seeds – 2 tsp
  • Dried Red Chilli – 4 nos
• Dry roast the spices till a nice aroma arises from the pan. Do not let it burn.
• Turn off the stove and add 2 tbsp of Grated COCONUT.
• Mix well, let it cool completely and grind to a coarse powder.

To grind to a smooth paste:

• In a mixie jar, add 1 number of Roughly Chopped ONION.
• And 1 number, Roughly Chopped TOMATO.
• To that, add 1-inch piece GINGER and 8 to 10 GARLIC.
• Grind it to a smooth paste and set it aside.

The Gravy:

• In a thick bottomed pan, add 3 tbsp OIL.
• Once the Oil is heated, add 1 number of Finely Chopped ONION and a few CURRY LEAVES.
• Sauté for a minute.
• Add 1 number of Finely Chopped TOMATO. And sauté well, till the tomatoes turn mushy!
• To that, add
  • 1/4 tsp of TURMERIC POWDER
  • 1 tsp of CORIANDER POWDER
  • 1tsp of RED CHILLI POWDER
• Mix well, and add the Ground Onion Tomato Paste.
• Allow it to cook for 2 minutes and then add the cleaned and washed 1/2 kg CHICKEN PIECES.
• Mix well and add 1/4 cup of WATER.
• Add SALT to taste.
• Cover and cook for 2 whistle or 10 minutes in simmer.
• Open, mix well and add the prepared CHETTINAD MASALA.
• Allow the gravy to boil for 5 minutes.
• Garnish with Fresh CORIANDER LEAVES.
• Spicy Chettinad Chicken Gravy recipe is ready!

The Method (with images):

For the Chettinad Masala:

• In a thick bottomed pan, add all the spices
  • Cinnamon – 1 small piece
  • Clove – 1 no
  • Star Anise – 1 no
  • Pepper – 1 tsp
  • Jeera – 1 tsp
  • Fennel Seeds – 1 tsp
  • Coriander Seeds – 2 tsp
  • Dried Red Chilli – 4 nos

• Dry roast the spices till a nice aroma arises from the pan. Do not let it burn.

• Turn off the stove and add 2 tbsp of Grated COCONUT.

• Mix well, let it cool completely and grind to a coarse powder.

To grind to a smooth paste:

• In a mixie jar, add 1 number of Roughly Chopped ONION.

• And 1 number, Roughly Chopped TOMATO.
• To that, add 1-inch piece GINGER and 8 to 10 GARLIC.

• Grind it to a smooth paste and set it aside.

The Gravy:

• In a thick bottomed pan, add 3 tbsp OIL.

• Once the Oil is heated, add 1 number of Finely Chopped ONION and a few CURRY LEAVES.
• Sauté for a minute.

• Add 1 number of Finely Chopped TOMATO. And sauté well, till the tomatoes turn mushy!

• To that, add
  • 1/4 tsp of TURMERIC POWDER
  • 1 tsp of CORIANDER POWDER
  • 1tsp of RED CHILLI POWDER

• Mix well, and add the Ground Onion Tomato Paste.

• Allow it to cook for 2 minutes and then add the cleaned and washed 1/2 kg CHICKEN PIECES.

• Mix well and add 1/4 cup of WATER.

• Add SALT to taste.
• Cover and cook for 2 whistle or 10 minutes in simmer.

• Open, mix well and add the prepared CHETTINAD MASALA.

• Allow the gravy to boil for 5 minutes.
• Garnish with Fresh CORIANDER LEAVES.

• Spicy Chettinad Chicken Gravy recipe is ready!

This has become our recent addiction. Do give this recipe a try and Surprise your loved ones with your traditional style cooking. Also do let us know your feedback in he comments section below. And follow this page for more yummy and delicious recipes. Happy cooking J