Simple chicken curry

Ingredients:

• ½ kg chicken
• 2 to 3 tbsp. Oil
• 1 small bay leaf
• 4 cloves
• 2 inch thin cinnamon stick
• ½ tsp. cumin/jeera 
• 2 green chilies slit
• 1 cup finely chopped onions 
• 1 tbsp. ginger garlic paste
• ½ cup finely chopped ripe tomatoes 
• ¼ tsp turmeric powder
• salt as needed
• ¾ to 1 tsp red chili powder 
• 1tsp chicken masala
• Fistful of chopped coriander leaves or mint/pudina
• ½ cup hot water

• 2 tbsp. yogurt/Curd or 2 tbsp poppy seeds to smooth paste

Method:

1. Wash chicken thoroughly and drain off the water completely.
   
2. Heat oil in a deep pan, add all the dry spices and fry till you get an aroma, just for a min.
   
3. Add onions, chilies and fry evenly till golden. Add ginger garlic paste and fry till the raw smell goes off.Add mashed tomatoes, turmeric and salt. Mix well and cook until the tomatoes turn soft.
   
4. Add curd  or poppy seeds paste and mint leaves.. On a low heat cook until the mixture smells good and the raw smell goes away.Add chicken,red chili powder and chicken masala. Fry till the meat turns white .Takes around 3 mins.
   
5. Cover and cook on a low flame for 3 to 5 mins. In a separate pot, heat up 1 cup water. Sometimes chicken lets out lot of moisture. Pour hot water just enough to make a thick gravy. Do not add too much water, curry will become runny. Cover and cook on a medium flame till it is cooked soft. Check and adjust the salt.
   
6. Add coriander leaves, cover and off the heat.Serve chicken gravy with rice, chapathi or pulao.