chettinad chicken curry

Ingredients:

• 500 grams chicken
• 2 tbsp. oil
• 1 large onion finely chopped
• 1 to 2 sprigs of curry leaves
• 2 medium tomatoes (pureed)

Marination

• ⅛ tsp turmeric
• ¼ tsp chili powder
• 2 tbsp yogurt 
• 1 tbsp. ginger garlic paste
• Salt as needed

Chettinad masala (roast and grind)

• 8 cashews
• ¼ cup of grated coconut
• 2 tsp coriander seeds
• ½ tsp cumin
• ½ tsp pepper corn
• 3 to 5 red chilies 
• 3 cloves
• 1 inch cinnamon stick

Instructions

1. Marinate chicken with marination ingredients. Set aside for 30 min.
   
2. Dry roast all the ingredients lightly one after the other, listed under roast and grind for chettinad masala except cashews. Set aside to cool.
   
3. Now add cashews to above chettinad masala.
   
4. Grind tomatoes to smooth.
   
5. Heat oil in a pan, add onions and fry till they turn translucent.
   
6. Add chicken, fry for at least 4 to 5 mins.
   
7. Add tomatoes puree to the pan,turmeric, salt and chili powder. Mix well & fry till the oil begins to separate.
   
8. Add the ground paste and curry leaves. Fry for 2 to 3 mins.
   
9. Add 1 ¼ cup water. Cover and cook till it is fully done, soft and tender. The gravy becomes thick by then. cook till the chicken gravy thickens.Serve chettinad chicken curry with rice or naan.