South Indian · serves 2

Chicken Chettinad

Freshly roasted and ground spices. The most fragrant chicken curry on this list.

50 min A proper cook Non-vegetarian

Ingredients

  • 700g chicken
  • 1/2 cup grated coconut
  • 2 tbsp coriander seeds
  • 1 tsp fennel seeds
  • 6 dried red chillies
  • 1 tsp black peppercorns
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 3 onions
  • 2 tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
  • 25 curry leaves
  • 4 tbsp sesame oil

Method

  1. Dry roast coriander, fennel, red chillies, pepper and cumin separately until fragrant. Then roast the coconut till golden.
  2. Grind it all with a little water into a thick dark paste. This masala is the whole dish.
  3. Sesame oil, curry leaves, onions till deep golden — 12 minutes.
  4. Ginger-garlic, tomatoes, salt. Cook till the oil separates.
  5. Chicken, seared on high 6 minutes, then the ground masala and 1 cup water.
  6. Cover, simmer 25 minutes till the chicken is tender and the gravy clings.

Questions people ask about Chicken Chettinad

How long does Chicken Chettinad take?

About 50 minutes from starting to sitting down, and it is a proper cook. A good part of that is unattended, so you can get on with something else once it is going.

What can I use instead of chicken in Chicken Chettinad?

Use paneer, firm tofu or mushrooms. All three cook far faster than chicken, so add them in the last 5 minutes rather than at the start.

Can I make Chicken Chettinad ahead of time?

You can prepare it a few hours ahead and reheat gently. It keeps two days in the fridge, though it is best on the day.

Can I make Chicken Chettinad vegetarian?

Yes. Replace the chicken with paneer, firm tofu, mushrooms or soya chunks. All of them cook far faster than meat, so add them in the last five minutes rather than at the start, and keep the masala exactly as written.

What do you serve with Chicken Chettinad?

Steamed rice with a spoon of ghee, and a papad if you have one. It serves two as written. Double everything to feed four, but use a wider pan so the food still browns rather than steams.

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