Chicken Chettinad (South-Indian Chicken Curry)


Servings: 2
Rate the Recipe:
Juicy, succulent chicken pieces in a spicy masala. Chicken Chettinad is a classic recipe of a fiery hot chicken curry from Southern India. It is just as easy to make at home.

Ingredients
- 500 gms chicken curry cut
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 5 sprigs curry leaves
- Salt to taste
Marinade
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
Chettinad masala
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
- 3 tbsp coriander seeds (dhania)
- 1 tbsp cumin seeds (jeera)
- 1 tbsp fennel seeds (saunf)
- 4 whole red chillies
- 3 green cardamoms
- 1 black cardamom
- 1 tbsp peppercorns
- 2 pcs stone flower (lichen flower)
- 1 star anise
- 8 cloves
- 1 pc mace
- 1" pc cinnamon
- 2 bay leaves
- 1/4 cup grated coconut
- 10-12 cloves of garlic
- 2" pc ginger
- 2 tsp tamarind paste
- 1/2 tsp fenugreek seeds (methi dana)
Instructions
- Begin by marinating the chicken. In a large bowl, take the curry cut chicken pieces. Add in salt, turmeric powder, and lemon juice. Mix well and keep aside to marinate for about 30 minutes.
- In the meantime, prepare the Chettinad masala. Heat 1 tbsp of sesame oil in a pan. Add in the coriander seeds, cumin seeds, and fennel seeds. Mix.
- Add in the peppercorns, cloves, green cardamoms, black cardamom, and star anise. Mix well.
- Add the cinnamon, mace, bay leaves, and stone flower. Saute until they crackle keeping the flame medium to low.
- Add in whole red chillies with the stems removed. Saute for a minute. Remove to a plate and keep aside to cool.
- In the same pan, roast the grated coconut until it browns. Remove to a plate and keep aside to cool.
- When cooled, transfer the masalas and the coconut into a grinder jar. Add in garlic, ginger, tamarind paste, and fenugreek seeds. Add a bit of water. Blend into a smooth paste and keep aside.
- Heat 2 tbsp of sesame oil in a pan. Add in chopped onions and 3 sprigs of curry leaves. Saute until the onions are browned.
- Add in the marinated chicken and saute until it is seared.
- Add in the chettinad masala paste. Add a bit of water and mix well. Cover it with a lid and let it simmer until the chicken pieces are cooked.
- Check the salt and add more if required. You can adjust the gravy as per your taste. I prefer the semi dry version.
- The Chicken Chettinad is ready to serve. Garnish with fried curry leaves and serve with Malabar parathas.
Video
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This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla, and generously SPONSORED BY Bugshield Clothing – Enjoy Outdoors More!
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February 24, 2021 @ 11:31 am
Chettinad recipes are spicy and tasty, Madhuji. Yours really looks perfect. Am sure it was consumed fast and finished at one go. It loos so tempting. I really love each one of your recipes
February 24, 2021 @ 12:56 pm
Thank you so much Harjeet. It sure was tasty, .😊both of us finished it in one go.
February 24, 2021 @ 4:32 pm
I love chicken, but I have never tried it south Indian style. The recipe looks lovely!
February 24, 2021 @ 9:04 pm
Thank you so much Monidipa. Do try it out. 😊
February 24, 2021 @ 10:35 pm
That is one drool worthy looking Chicken Chettinad! I love to enjoy mine with Parottas too!
February 28, 2021 @ 1:29 pm
Thank you so much Mayuri.😊
February 24, 2021 @ 11:19 pm
Being a vegetarian I cannot cook all this but after seeing your recipes I want to relish all these dishes for sure.
February 28, 2021 @ 1:22 pm
Thank you. You can make it with potatoes,mushrooms and soya chunks. 😊
February 24, 2021 @ 11:33 pm
I am a vegetarian. But I have heard about Chettinad recipes. I will share it will be chicken lover friends.
February 28, 2021 @ 1:20 pm
Thank you Alpana. Hope they enjoy it. You can make it with potatoes,mushrooms and soya chunks. 😊
February 24, 2021 @ 11:36 pm
Your pin picture looks absolutely amazing!! Chitinad chicken recipe, I’m sure if has that crazy spice touch! Cannot wait to try it.
February 24, 2021 @ 11:37 pm
Your pin picture is absolute amazing. I somehow like the south Indian food and this is on my to do list 😋
February 28, 2021 @ 1:13 pm
Thank you so much Sadyika. Do try it and let me know how it turns out. 😊
February 26, 2021 @ 2:34 am
Another awesome recipe that you make look so easy to cook. And this one will suit my husbands taste buds just fine!
February 28, 2021 @ 12:59 pm
Thank you so😊 much Vasumathi. Hope he enjoys it
February 26, 2021 @ 3:42 pm
I love chettinad recipies, but only vegetarian ofcourse.
February 28, 2021 @ 12:56 pm
Thank you so much. 😊
February 26, 2021 @ 4:29 pm
Being a vegetarian wont be able to try but will share with family and friends.
February 28, 2021 @ 12:55 pm
Thank you Mahek. Hope they enjoy it. 😊
February 26, 2021 @ 8:23 pm
I will share this one with the chicken lovers, I have heard a lot about Chettinad food.
February 28, 2021 @ 12:45 pm
Thank you Priyanka. Hope they enjoy it.😊
February 27, 2021 @ 9:21 pm
Can this gravy be used in something vegetarian recipe? I didn’t know there is a south Indian way of cooking chicken.
February 28, 2021 @ 12:42 pm
Thank you Priyanka. You can make this recipe with potatoes, 😊mushrooms or soya chunks.
February 27, 2021 @ 9:57 pm
I really love chettinad recipes especially as desi we love our spices. Loved all the photos u have shared and loved reading your posts for the past 4 weeks!
February 28, 2021 @ 12:35 pm
Thank you so much Shahira. I enjoyed reading your posts.😊 too.
February 28, 2021 @ 1:41 am
This looks so yum…never tried a Chettinad recipe at home… definitely will give this a go
February 28, 2021 @ 12:28 pm
Thank you so much Raunica. Do try it and let me know how it turns out. 😊
February 28, 2021 @ 1:34 pm
This post is for my husband I guess. I will surely going to love and learn this Chicken Chettinad recipe.
February 28, 2021 @ 1:36 pm
This post is for my husband I guess. He is purely chicken lover, also he will surely going to love and learn this Chicken Chettinad recipe
February 28, 2021 @ 3:10 pm
Thank you so much Archana. Hope he enjoys it.😊
February 28, 2021 @ 3:40 pm
This was super delicious. The joy of being a food blogger’s kid. Everyday is a Sunday. 😊
February 28, 2021 @ 6:41 pm
Amazing recipe.
March 2, 2021 @ 11:46 am
Thank you Supriti. 😊
February 28, 2021 @ 9:28 pm
Shall be super useful a recipe for my non vegetarian friends 🙂
March 2, 2021 @ 11:45 am
Thank you so much Aishwarya. 😊
March 1, 2021 @ 12:00 am
I just love the spices use in Chicken Chettinad. We used to cook this recipe when we were in Banglore. I will try your recipe this time. Picture look super tempting and I am sure it’s going to taste awesome with malabar paratha.
March 2, 2021 @ 11:43 am
Thank you so much Abha. Do try it out and let me know how it turns out .😊
March 1, 2021 @ 12:06 am
Thanks now I know why chettinad tastes so different it’s the sesame seeds oil … great recipe
March 2, 2021 @ 11:41 am
Thank you so much Arti.😊
March 1, 2021 @ 8:14 am
Nice recipe. I will share it with my those friends who are non-veg.
What is the alternate of chiken in this recipe?
March 2, 2021 @ 11:39 am
Thank you Bhawna. Hope they enjoy it. You can make it with mushrooms and soya chunks 😊
March 1, 2021 @ 3:45 pm
I have heard so much about Chettinad Cuisine, would love to try the vegetarian dishes of Chettinad. However your recipes look so tempting, I shall forward it to my non-vegetarian friends. I am sure they would relish the recipes.
March 2, 2021 @ 11:32 am
Thank you so much Amritha. Do try it with mushrooms and soya chunks and let me know how they turn out. 😊
March 1, 2021 @ 4:11 pm
Yummy recipe and I’m gonna try this with meal maker. Thank you for sharing
March 2, 2021 @ 11:26 am
Thank you so much Sindhu. Do try it and let me know how it turns out. 😊
March 1, 2021 @ 5:05 pm
I love chicken Chettinad any day .This seemed to be awesome recipe that you make look so easy to cook.
March 2, 2021 @ 11:24 am
Thank you so much. 😊
March 1, 2021 @ 5:14 pm
I love this and will surely try making the same soon. Hope the whole Bird Flu stops soon so that we can resume eating chicken once again
March 2, 2021 @ 11:23 am
Thank you so much Aishwarya. Do try it when you can and let me know how it turns out. 😊
March 1, 2021 @ 11:25 pm
This is my go to Sunday dish to impress if any extended family is visiting. I love how you break up the parts to make this look super simple. Delicious click
March 2, 2021 @ 11:19 am
Thank you so much Arulmozhi..😊
March 2, 2021 @ 5:00 pm
Oh, this is my all time favorite at my neighborhood South Indian haunt. I will try this recipe for sure. I love this with churchur parantha ! Do share that too.
March 3, 2021 @ 10:06 am
Thank you so much Ruchiraa. Do try it and let me know how it turns out. 😊