Kerala Style Chicken stew

Here's the recipe for the most quintessential Kerala style Chicken Stew. This is my aunt Dr. Susan Rasquinha's recipe. I have had Kerala style stew a couple of times but I must tell you that this is by far the best. Chicken and vegetables cooked in silky coconut milk based gravy with the perfect amalgamation of warm spices. 

 This stew can also be made with mutton, beef or mixed vegetables. Pair it with warm Appams or Kerala style Neychor (Ghee rice).

Check NOTES on how to modify the recipe if using mutton or beef.

 

INGREDIENTS

1kg Chicken  (Cut Into Medium Sized Pieces)

2 Carrots, Chopped into Large Pieces

2 Potatoes, Cubed

1 Onion, Sliced

8-10 Cloves of Garlic, Sliced

2" Ginger, Sliced

6 Green Chillies, slit in half

2 tsp Pepper Powder 

2 tsp Coriander Powder

1/2 tsp Cumin Seeds

 4-5 Pods of Cardamom

2" Piece of Cinnamon 

3-4 cloves

1 tsp Fennel Seeds

1 tbs Vinegar

Thick and Thin Coconut milk of one Coconut 

2 tbs Coconut Oil

Salt to Taste

For The Tempering

1 Onion, Sliced

5-6 Cashew Nuts, Halved

2-3 Sprigs of Curry Leaves 

3-4 tbs Coconut Oil

 METHOD 

•  Heat Coconut oil in a vessel and roast the Jeera, cloves ,cardamom, fennel & cinnamon till aromatic.
• Add one sliced onion, green chillies, ginger and garlic & fry till light brown.
• Add the chicken and fry for 5 minutes.
• Now add the potato, carrot and then add thin Coconut milk and bring to a boil.
• Add the corriander powder, Pepper Powder, vinegar, salt to taste.
• Cover and cook till the chicken and potatoes have cooked.
• Turn off the flame and add the thick Coconut Milk.
• For the tempering, fry the sliced onion till golden brown, cashew nuts curry leaves.
• Add this to the stew. Check for seasoning.
• Let the stew rest for atleast half an hour prior to serving as the gravy will thicken as it cools.

  

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NOTES:

If preparing the stew with mutton or beef, pressure cook the meat along with vinegar, salt and teaspoon of pepper powder till the meat has cooked completely. You can use the thin coconut milk instead of water when you pressure cook.

Boil the carrots and potatoes also seperately till cooked.  You can add the boiled meat, potatoes and carrots into the vessel after frying the ginger, garlic,green chillies and Onions.  Rest of the steps remain the same.