Chicken Curry/ Koli saaru

Honey loves Chicken Curry. Something I do not make very often. I find it rather cumbersome to make this curry for him and then something else for me..... I did rather make a vegetarian curry and chicken on the side to go along. Besides, watching food network has prepared me well enough to make such chicken side dishes!! Finally I made Chicken Curry. This is one of the most popular recipes for Chicken Curry in south Karnataka.
Chicken 1 pound (The 'curry-cut' chicken is generally with bones and innards. This is the best choice for a curry. The bones and skin somehow seem to add to the taste of the curry. However Boneless Thighs work fine. Since i cook for Honey and he has cholesterol problem, I use low fat chicken breast and use an additional tablespoon of vegetable oil in the curry.)




We will need,

Cloves 6-7

Star Annise 1

Cinnamon 1/4 inch

Cardamon 3 whole

Mint leaves chopped 3 tablespoons

Coconut fresh 3 tablespoons

Poppy Seeds 1/2 tablespoon

Red Chillies 6 and above

Coriander seeds 1/2 tablespoon

Coriander leaves 3 tablespoons (chopped)

Onion 1 big

Tomatoes 2 medium

Garlic 5 cloves

Ginger 3/4 inch

Oil 1 tablespoon(2 more if using chicken Breasts)

Method

• Roughly chop onions and toast it on a hot skillet till translucent and charred at the edges. Also toast the red chillies and Coriander seeds.  
• Grind the toasted onion, red chillies, coriander seeds, clove, Cinnamon into a fine paste. Set aside. Also grind coconut tomatoes and poppy seeds into a smooth paste. (Toast poppy seeds and crush it in a mortar pestle to get this mixture into a fine paste)
• Heat a thick bottomed wide pot. Drop the chicken pieces and salt.Do not stir it. Turn it over after 10 minutes. And cook for 10 minutes.
• After the 10 minutes and most of the water from the chicken is evaporated, add the spice mixture. Stir well to coat the chicken. Simmer it for 20 minutes.
• Add the coconut mixture and cook for 30-40 minutes till the chicken is cooked through and the oil floats on top. 
• Adjust salt and finish with coriander leaves on top. Also if not watching the waist line a tablespoon of ghee can be added just before serving.