Chicken Ularthu(Roast)-Kerala style

I have been thinking to post this recipe since few days but conveniently forgot about this until I came across 'The Potluck-Chicken' event hosted by Vicky. And if you have read one of my earlier posts on Kerala chicken curry you will be knowing how crazy I'm about chicken dishes! I'm happy to indulge on it at any time of the day and due to my cravings for chicken I was the obvious target of my friends who loved to tease me on this craziness of mine. So here is another one of my favourites-Kerala style Chicken Roast.

I adopted the recipe from my husband's Kerala Beef Roast recipe which I had posted days ago but changed the quantity of ingredients used to suit the preparation. My husband is crazy about whole fresh spices and try to include them in any dish which doesn't even call for one. Though I use whole spices in some preparations, pairing with him turned me to a spice addict too and since then I have been generous in the usage of whole spices! I love the flavour imparted by freshly roasted and ground spices especially in meat preparations much to the delight of my husband who revels in his achievement of transforming me into a spice addict!

Ingredients:

Chicken- 1.75 lb cut into pieces

Red onions- 1 1/2 thinly sliced(the use of shallots gives an added taste to the dish)

4 slit green chillies(adjust according to your level of spiciness)

Fresh ginger minced- 1.5 tbsp

Fresh garlic-4 cloves minced

Tomatoes- 2 chopped

Freshly ground spices- 0.5 tbsp(see recipe below)

Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp

Coriander powder- 1/2 tsp

Chicken masala- 1/2 tsp

Salt to taste

1 tsp mustard seeds

2 sprigs curry leaves

Coconut oil for cooking

Dry roast and grind the following-Makes about 3 tbsp

2 cinnamon sticks each about 2.5" long

3/4 tsp cardamom seeds

6-7 cloves

1 nutmeg broken into pieces

2 tbsp fennel seeds

2 star anise

To marinate the chicken:

Freshly ground spices- 2.5 tbsp(from above)

Ground pepper- 1/2 tsp(or more)

Salt to taste

1.5 tsp ginger garlic paste(I used store bought one for marination only)

Turmeric powder- 3/4 tsp

Chicken masala- 1/2 tsp

Method:

• Dry roast the spices mentioned above at about medium heat in a pan until it starts to change colour or you get the aroma of the spices.
  
• Cool and grind to a powder without adding water. Keep aside.
  
• Marinate the chicken with the ingredients mentioned under marinade. Keep the marinated chicken for 3 hours in the refrigerator.
  
• Cook the marinated chicken in a pressure cooker. There is no need to add water to pressure cook chicken but in case you are concerned about safety(as I am!) you may add little water. Keep cooked chicken aside.
  
• Heat 1 tbsp coconut oil in a pan and splutter mustard seeds.
  
• Add curry leaves and saute for few seconds until it turns crisp and gives out aroma.
  
• Add minced ginger and garlic and saute till raw smell goes.
  
• Add chopped onions(or shallots) and green chillies and saute till onions turn brown.
  
• Add the remaining 0.5 tbsp freshly ground spices and saute for few seconds more.
  
• Add chopped tomatoes and cook till it turns mushy.
  
• Add turmeric powder, coriander powder, chicken masala and salt and saute for few minutes until raw smell of the spices go.
  
• Add cooked chicken along with water left after pressure cooking and mix well.
  
• Cook on medium-high heat until the dish turns dry. This process may take about 30 minutes depending on the amount of liquid and the heat. Note that during this process you need to stir continuously to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
  
• Add 1 tsp coconut oil and mix well.
  
• When the dish has become dry and has turned brown remove from heat.
  
• Serve hot with Appam/ Rice/ Roti/Chapati/ Naan.
  

This goes to The Potluck-Chicken event hosted by Vicky of Viki's Kitchen.

Pooja.

Other Non-Vegetarian Dishes: