By Nandini Bhushan*
The cuisine from the five southern states of India — Tamil Naidu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana is grouped together as the South Indian cuisine. This cuisine offers a wide range of vegetarian as well as non-vegetarian delicacies that is sure to delight one’s taste bud. Let us explore the mouth-watering dishes from the Southern Indian states to experience the essence of each of these states.
Also try: Indian Food Recipes: Dosa
Chicken Chettinad
Chettinad cuisine originates from the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu and is considered to be one of the spiciest and aromatic cuisines. The chicken chettinad is a spicy curry that is flavoursome as is cooked with home homemade chettinad masala. A must try dish with unique flavour of spices like whole pepper corn, Guntur chilli and shallots.
Ingredients
Chicken : ½ kg
Shallots : 8 to 10
Tomato : 2
Clove : 2
Cinnamon stick : 1
Black cardamom : 1
Cumin : 1 tsp
Turmeric powder : 1 tsp
Curry leaves : 5 to 6
Salt as per taste
Oil : 3 tsp
Paste
Onion : 2
Ginger : 50 gms
Garlic : 5 pod
Fennel seed : 1 tsp
Cumin seed : 1 tsp
Peppercorn : 8 to 10
Red chilli whole : 4
Grated coconut : ½ cup
Step 1
Grind the above mentioned ingredients into smooth paste.
Step 2
Marinate the chicken with the prepared paste and a tsp of salt and keep it aside.
Step 3
Heat oil in a pan and add the cumin seed along with cinnamon, cardamom and clove and let it splutter.
Step 4
Add the sliced onion and curry leaves and saute till translucent.
Step 5
Add the sliced tomatoes and cook until soft.
Step 6
Finally add the marinated chicken along with turmeric powder and salt. stir them all together. Once the oil leaves the sides of the pan, add water.
Step 7
Cover the pan, reduce the flame and cook till the chicken is tender and the gravy reaches the desired consistency. Serve with plain steamed rice.
*Nandini Bhushan is a well-known food blogger
