Chettinad Pepper Chicken

Chettinad is part of Tamil Nadu - southern part of India. They are well known for their cuisine, with variety of spices and freshly ground spices.

Today I made Chettinad style Pepper chicken (Milagu Kozhi Varuval).  Varuval is dry fry where all the spices are coated to the meat leaving very little gravy.   I prefer to use chicken pieces with bones.  However, if you prefer boneless try the thigh part of a chicken instead of the breast part.  Also I prefer a wok or a flat pan instead of a pressure cooker.  You want the spices to simmer slowly into the chicken.  Remember to use slow fire.  Best eaten with rice, jeera rice, pulao or even bread.

My favourite combo will be rasam, pepper chicken and hot steaming rice.

Lets look at the recipe

Chettinad Style Pepper Chicken || Millagu Kozli Varuval Chettinad Style

Ingredients
900gm of chicken - cut into bite size (bones in)
1 big onions - slice finely
1 medium size tomato - chopped finely
1 sprig of curry leaves
1.5 tbs of ginger garlic paste
1 tbs of chilly powder
1 tbs of coriander powder
1tsp of turmeric powser
1 tsp fennel seeds
1 bay leaf
2/3 small stick of cinnamon
2 clove
2 cardamon
salt to taste
1 tbs of lemon juice


method
1.  Marinate the chicken with 1 tbs of ginger garlic paste, chilly and turmeric powders.  Also some salt. Mix thoroughly and set aside for 30mins.

2.  In a hot pan, saute onions till soft and brown.  Next followed by the cinnamon, bay leaf, clove, cardamon and fennel seeds. fry for a few more minutes and add in remainder ginger garlic with turmeric powder and stir well.

3. Next add in the tomatoes ensuring that they are well mashed up.  Mix well for a few minutes and add in the coriander powders so that the coat well and stir for a few more minutes.  After which you add in 1/4 cup to the spices, again mix well and stir till the oil starts to separate.

4.  Add in the marinated chicken.  Coat well the spices and cover.  Keep stirring to avoid sticking to the pan.

5. Cover and keep stirring. Let it cook over medium fire.  Check if the chicken is cooked, if needed at some water to cook thoroughly the chicken.  Salt to taste if needed.

6.  Once the chicken is cook, remove from fire and add in the crush pepper and the lemon juice.

7.  Serve with some coriander leaves.

Enjoy