My version of the infamous ‘Chicken Chettinad’. Sometimes referred to as Pepper Chicken Chettinad, a chicken curry dish originating from its namesake, the Chettinad region in Tamil Nadu. If you are unfamiliar, it is a beautiful curry that perfectly balances spicy and aromatic flavours. There are a thousand recipes for this dish. However, the most authentic are with the magic ingredient, Kalpasi (Black Stone Flower), which is technically a lichen. A popular ingredient in Tamil cooking and highly sought after, but relatively difficult to source, especially in Greece. Hence, sadly, my recipe does not include it. However, it’s still delicious without it 😉. (*See comments and updates about availability in the notes below.)
The list of spices is long, but please don’t be put off. It is well worth it, and if you don’t feel like roasting and grinding your spices, go for my cheaty Chicken Chettinad version with ready-ground spices😁. In other words, the same method but uses ground spices instead of roasting and grinding your own. I’ve used chicken breast here, but usually chop up a whole chicken. Wherever possible, I always use the whole chicken – the bones add to the flavour. Once you’ve made the masala, it’s quick to put together.
I have eaten a fair few Chettinads; some are very spicy, and some are not. In my experience, the food in this area has a zing, but don’t let the ‘chilli hot’ flavour overwhelm the dish. Like many of the ‘curries’ in this region, it has a distinctive and complex flavour. Here lies the art of perfecting the perfect Chettinad, balancing the flavours with no one spice dominating.
Don’t skip the initial marinade. The yoghurt may make the final gravy split. The trick is to whisk in a bit of flour. A teaspoon is all you need, and your sauce will be perfect. Turmeric is widely used in India. I love the flavour, but it can be overpowering, so go sparingly! Apart from being a cornerstone of Ayurvedic medicine, using Turmeric in marinades is reputed to decrease the number of bacteria in the meat. This article seems to bear that out.
This Chicken Chettinad recipe is my version, a process of experimentation with tips from my visit to the region and referencing published recipes, a particular thank you to Keralaslive, whose recipe most closely resembled my notes.
*Since publishing this recipe in June 2022, there have been a few comments on using Kalpasi. As the comments below indicate, it is available via mail order. I have yet to have a chance to re-test the recipe with Kalpasi, but I understand that a little goes a long way. I suggest starting with a generous pinch (ideally grind it before using) and sauteing with the onions, bay and curry leaf at stage four of the recipe below. There seems to be a general agreement that sautéing the Kalpasi brings out the best flavour. Here’s a link on how to use Kalpasi.
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Chicken Chettinad
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 500 g chicken breast or ½ a chicken cut into pieces
- 3 onions
- 3 large tomatoes, roughly chopped. Peel the tomatoes if you prefer the sauce without tomato skins. Use ripe tomatoes or canned tomatoes out of season
- 1 green chilli finely chopped
- bunch fresh coriander (save a few stems to garnish)
- 7-10 leaves curry
- 1 leaf bay
- 5 cloves garlic – roughly chopped. About two teaspoons
- 4 cm piece of fresh ginger – roughly chopped. About two teaspoons
- 2 petals star anise
- ½ tsp salt
- oil of your choice – traditional would be coconut or gingely
Chicken Marinade
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- ½ tsp chilli powder
- 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
- 1 lime juiced (1 tsp for the ginger-garlic paste)
- 2 tbsp yoghurt (whisk in ¾ tsp flour to stop it splitting when heated)
Chicken Chettinad Masala
- 3 tsp poppy seeds
- 5 tsp coconut flakes
- 5 dried red chillis
- 3cm cinnamon
- 3 tsp coriander seeds
- 2 tsp fennel seeds
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 2 tsp black peppercorns
- 3 cardamom pods
- 2 cloves
- 2 mace blades optional
- pinch nutmeg
Instructions
Step One: Ginger-Garlic Paste
- Put a tsp lime juice or water into a mini food mill, add the two teaspoons of garlic and two teaspoons of ginger and mince into a thick paste. Add one tsp paste to the chicken marinade.
Step Two: Chicken Marinade
- Coat the chicken in turmeric. Mix the remaining ingredients and coat the chicken with the marinade. Cover and put in the fridge. It needs to marinade for about ½ hour.
Step Three: Chicken Chettinad Masala
- Put all your spice ingredients onto a large plate in small groups so you can check everything is there. Dry roast all the spices except the coconut. Add the larger seeds and cinnamon first, then the poppy seeds, cardamom, mace and nutmeg. Roast on low heat in a heavy-based pan. Be careful not to burn. Simply draw out their aromas.
- Dry roast the coconut separately until golden. Don't burn!
- Leave to cool, and then grind all the spices, including the coconut, to make the Chettinad Masala powder.
Step Four: Cooking the Chicken Chettinad
- Saute, in the oil of your choice, the onions, curry leaves, and bay leaf until the onions are translucent and soft. Add three teaspoons of ginger-garlic paste and green chilli. Cook gently until soft. If using, add the Kalpasi at this stage.
- Add half to three-quarters of the masala mix, star anise petals, plus a splash of water. As soon as the water has evaporated, add the chicken. Seal the chicken on all sides.
- Again let the liquid evaporate; add the chopped tomatoes and ¼ tsp salt. Cover and simmer for about 15 minutes when you should start to have a thick, darker 'gravy'. Check the seasoning and add more Chettinad masala and salt to taste. Add a splash of water if it starts to stick.
- Total cooking time should be no more than 25-30 minutes. The chicken breast will cook quicker than chicken on the bone.
- Garnish with fresh coriander and serve with Naan bread and or rice.
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