Restaurant Style Karaikudi Kozhi Curry !!!

Karaikudi is the biggest city in Chettinad region which is famous for its cuisine.  Some of my favourite food in the chettinad cuisine is paal kozhukattai, adhirasam, chicken curry and paniyaram.  I used gingely oil for making this authentic karaikudi kozhi curry.  Very flavourful and spicy, taste great with rice, chapatis or rotis.

Ingredients :

For Marination :

1. Chicken - 1 kg
2. Oil - 4 tbsp
3. Salt
4. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp

Mix and marinate the chicken for 10 mins.

For Spice Paste :

1. Coconut, grated - 1/4 cup
2. Cinnamon - 1 stick
3. Red chillies - 3 nos
4. Coriander seeds - 1 tbsp
5. Ginger - 1 inch
6. Garlic - 4 pods
7. Cardamom - 2 nos
8. Curry leaves - 2 tbsp
9. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
10. Star anise - 1 no
11. Kalpasi 
12. Cloves - 2 nos
13. Black peppercorns - 1 tsp
14. Oil - 1 tsp

Roast the ingredients and grind them to smooth paste using little water.

Others :

1. Gingely Oil - 3 tbsp
2. Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
3. Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
4. Fennel seeds - 1 tsp
5. Onion - 1 cup, finely chopped
6. Tomato - 1 cup, finely chopped
7. Curry leaves - 2 tbsp
8. Turmeric powder - 1/4 tsp
9. Coriander powder - 1 tbsp
10. Chilly powder - 1 tsp
11. Salt to taste
12. Water
13. Coriander leaves for garnishing
14. Tomato slices for garnishing (without seeds)

Method :

1.   Heat oil in the heavy bottomed pan, add 3 tbsp of oil, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, fennel seeds and finely chopped onion.  Saute till tender.

2.   Add finely chopped tomatoes, 1 tbsp curry leaves, turmeric powder, coriander powder, chilly powder and marinated chicken.  Cover and cook for 5 mins.

3.   Add spice paste and enough water.  Cover and cook till done.  Meanwhile roast 1 tbsp of curry leaves and keep aside.

4.  Garnish them with roasted curry leaves, coriander leaves and tomato slices.

Serve with rice or rotis.