Kerala chicken curry (നാടൻ കോഴി കറി)

Ingredients

To pressure cook the chicken

I kg chicken cut into medium pieces.

3 onion sliced

2 big tomatoes chopped

1 large potato chopped

1/4 cup chopped coconut (optional)

2 Inch piece of ginger crushed

6-7 cloves of garlic (if you are using big ones)

2 green chillies slitted lengthwise

Half tsp turmeric powder

2 tbsp chilly powder (preferably kashmiri chilly)

3 tsp coriander powder

1 inch piece of cinnamon

5 cloves

1 bay leaf

2 tbsp coconut oil

3 sprig curry leaves

To roast and grind

1 cup grated coconut

3-4 shallots

1 tsp fennel seeds (perumjeerakam)

To garnish

1 tsp coconut oil

3 shallots sliced round wise

2 sprig curry leaves

Method

• Heat coconut oil in a pressure cooker and throw the whole spices (cinnamon,cloves and bay leaf)to splutter.
• Add the sliced onions and reduce the flame. Sauté well for 1 minute and add crushed ginger and garlic.Fry this till the raw smell leaves and the onions turn light brown.
• Now add all the powders and mix well .Drop the curry leaves.Fry till the powders are well roasted and raw smell disappears. 
• Add salt and chicken pieces.Mix well till the masala covers the chicken properly.It may take 2 minutes.Add tomatoes,chopped coconut and potatoes.Mix well again and add 1/4 cup water.(you may wash the spoon and pour)
• Close the lid and increase the flame to full.Cook till 4 whistles.
• Meanwhile fry coconut in a frying pan adding shallots and fennel seeds till the coconut turn brown in colour.
• Grind this coconut well when cooled,adding as little water as you can.
• After 4 whistles, release the steam immediately and remove the cooker lid.Simmer and check the water level since the chicken is sure to produce water.
• Pour the coconut mixture washing the grinder .Mix well and check the salt.Cook it till oil clears over the top and gravy thickens a bit.
• Now heat coconut oil in a small skillet and fry the shallot pieces and curry leaves.Pour it over the curry.
• Cover the cooker with the lid and let it remain like that for some time.This will allow the flavours to merge for a better authentic taste..Enjoy with rice/puttu/appam/chappathi !!