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Kerala chicken recipe

By swasthi , on December 31, 2019, 119 Comments, Jump to Recipe

Kerala chicken recipe – A simple & delicious dish made by simmering chicken in fresh ground kerala spice powder & coconut milk. Kerala cuisine is well known for its unique flavors, delicious taste & simplicity. This kerala nadan curry is no exception to it.

Kerala chicken

This simple chicken curry has an amazing burst of flavors from the fresh ground roasted spices & the tempering touch that’s given with the fresh curry leaves.

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Years ago I happened to try this and just got hooked to it forever. Made it time & again and have always been complimented by my folks.

This kerala chicken goes well with plain rice, ghee rice, kerala neychoru, pathiri, appam or any breads like roti, parotta, paratha & chapathi.

More Kerala recipes,
Ney choru
Kerala biryani
Egg roast biryani

for more chicken curry recipes, check
chicken kurma
andhra chicken
chicken curry without coconut
chettinad chicken
chicken butter masala
chicken tikka masala

Preparation for Kerala chicken

1. Marinate chicken with garam masala, salt, turmeric , red chili powder and pepper. Set aside for about 30 to 45 minutes.

marinate chicken with spices for kerala chicken

2. Dry roast the dry spices and cool them. Make a fine powder and add little water and make a paste.Set aside.

marinate with spice powders

How to make

3. Add coconut oil to a hot pan and fry onions till lightly golden.Then add ginger garlic paste and fry till the raw smell goes off.

4. Add the marinated chicken and fry for 3 to 4 minutes on a high flame. Pour the ground garam masala paste, Mix well.

adding ground masala for kerala chicken

5. Cook covered on a medium to low flame till the chicken is cooked completely. Pour thin coconut milk.

coconut milk for kerala chicken
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6. Simmer for 5 minutes. Check salt and adjust as needed. Heat a small pan with coconut oil for tempering. Add onions and fry till they turn pink. Add curry leaves and broken chili. when they turn crisp. Switch off the stove.

7. Pour this tempering over the curry.

kerala chicken recipe

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kerala chicken curry

Kerala chicken recipe

Nadan kozhi curry made by simmering chicken in spices & coconut milk. Serve with rice, parotta, appam or with ney choru.
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For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card

Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Servings3
AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (1 cup = 240ml )

Marination

  • ¼ to ½ tsp red chili powder (less spicy variety like kashmiri or byadgi)
  • ¼ tsp salt as needed
  • ¼ tsp turmeric
  • ½ tsp garam masala powder
  • 1/8 tsp pepper powder
  • ½ kg chicken (500 grams)

Spices to roast (or use any garam masala)

  • 1 ½ tbsp coriander seeds
  • 1 inch cinnamon piece
  • 4 cloves
  • 2 pods cardamom
  • ¼ tsp pepper corn
  • ¾ tsp fennel seeds
  • ¼ tsp cumin (optional)
  • 2 to 4 red chilies or ¼ tsp red chili powder (less heat variety like kashmiri or byadgi)

For gravy

  • 1½ tbsp Coconut oil
  • ¾ cup onions chopped finely (1 large)
  • 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
  • ¾ cup coconut milk (thin milk)
  • ½ cup tomatoes (pureed or chopped) (optional)

tempering (optional)

  • 1 ½ tsp coconut oil
  • 1 red chili (break and remove the seeds)
  • 3 to 4 pearl onions sliced thinly (Or shallots)
  • 1 sprig curry leaves
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Instructions

Preparation

  • Marinate chicken with chilli powder, salt, turmeric, pepper and garam masala. Keep aside until you prepare the rest.

Make kerala masala (skip if using ready made masala)

  • On a low flame dry roast coriander seeds, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, pepper and red chilies until they begin to smell aromatic.
  • Remove them to a plate and roast fennel seeds along with cumin until both turn aromatic.
  • Blend all of these to a fine paste with little water. You can also make a fine powder and use.

How to make

  • Heat coconut oil in a pan, add onions and fry till they turn golden.
  • Add ginger garlic paste and fry till the raw smell goes off.
  • Add chicken and fry on a slightly high flame till it turns white in color, for about 3 to 4 mins.
  • Then add the ground spices or kerala masala & mix well.
  • Cover and cook on a low flame till the chicken is tender.
  • Keep stirring in between for even cooking.
  • Optional – If using tomatoes, then add at this stage and cook further until the tomatoes loose the raw flavor.
  • If needed add ¼ cup water. I did not use additional water, the moisture in the chicken and was enough to cook.
  • Pour the coconut milk. Mix well. If using tinned coconut milk, shake it well and then use.
  • When the coconut milk begins to bubble cover and simmer for 5 mins. Check salt and adjust as needed.
  • Heat a small pan with coconut oil and fry onions till they turn pink. Then add curry leaves and red chili. When the leaves turn crisp.
  • Pour this over the curry.
  • Serve it with rice, roti or paratha.
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Notes

You can skip roasting and blending the spices. Just use any readymade masala.
Do not add tomatoes to the pan till the chicken cooks to tender. Most times adding acidic ingredient to the pan before the chicken is done will make it tough & hard.
Source: Julie

Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.

For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.

NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)

Nutrition Facts
Kerala chicken recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 610 Calories from Fat 423
% Daily Value*
Fat 47g72%
Saturated Fat 25g156%
Cholesterol 125mg42%
Sodium 138mg6%
Potassium 698mg20%
Carbohydrates 14g5%
Fiber 3g13%
Sugar 4g4%
Protein 34g68%
Vitamin A 785IU16%
Vitamin C 87.9mg107%
Calcium 69mg7%
Iron 4.7mg26%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @SwasthisRecipes or tag #swasthisrecipes!

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About swasthi

I’m Swasthi shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthis recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills.
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Comments

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  2. Ginny says

    November 29, 2020

    5 stars
    Such a delicious recipe! I had 2 boxes of coconut milk lying in my fridge and decided to try your recipe. Everyone enjoyed it at home! Thank you Swasthi!

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      November 30, 2020

      Welcome Ginny
      Glad you all liked it.
      Thank you!

      Reply
  3. Teena Joseph says

    November 23, 2020

    Hi Swati,
    I follow almost all your recipes, all are simple and easy,and ofcourse with a great outcome….I m a keralite living in Hyderabad…my grandmother’s used to put only julienned ginger and garlic, never ever ginger garlic paste both in all varieties of meat and fish… believe me it gives a very special taste..pls try it once with Kerala non veg dishes…πŸ˜ƒπŸ˜ƒπŸ˜‹πŸ˜‹thank you very much for your foolproof recipes dear

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      November 24, 2020

      Hi Teena
      Glad to know you! Thanks for sharing your tip. Helps other readers. The only reason I used the paste is these days most people are fussy to eat bits of spices in their food.
      πŸ™‚

      Reply
  4. Juls says

    November 17, 2020

    Hi Swasthi, How do I make home made garam masala?

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      November 17, 2020

      Hi Juls,
      You can check this garam masala recipe

      Reply
  5. Surendra Rao says

    November 8, 2020

    5 stars
    Thanks

    Reply
  6. Bhaiya says

    September 1, 2020

    Swaasthi Mam Then how can I make coconut milk at home?

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      September 2, 2020

      Hi,
      Blend chopped or grated coconut with some water in a grinder. Filter and use it

      Reply
    • Rupa says

      September 25, 2020

      Hi. If I use ready garam masala instead of roasting the spices..how much ready masala should I take? And should I make a paste of the ready garam masala and then add it ? Thanks

      Reply
      • swasthi says

        September 26, 2020

        Hi Rupa,
        I haven’t tried this recipe with ready made garam masala. So not sure. You may start with 1 teaspoon then add more if you want. Add it directly, don’t need to make a paste.

        Reply
        • Rupa says

          September 26, 2020

          Ok..Just thought I should ask u coz in the recipe it us written in brackets..or use any ready garam masala… Anyways..is there some spice in kerala garam masala which is generally not put in store bought garam masala? So I can adjust accordingly. Thanks.

          Reply
          • swasthi says

            September 26, 2020

            Rupa,
            In the recipe, by writing ready garam masala I meant homemade masala. Usually store bought ones are too pungent, hot and spicy so I was doubtful. The flavors of Pepper & fennel seeds are more prominent in kerala masala which is usually missing in the store bought one. You may crush them and add here. Hope this helps

          • Rupa says

            September 26, 2020

            Ok thanks for the pepper and fennel suggestion.

  7. Chhotu says

    August 31, 2020

    Swaasthi Mam Can I skip coconut milk?

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      August 31, 2020

      Coconut milk is the key ingredient here. If you skip, the taste will be different

      Reply
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  9. Bhaiya says

    August 31, 2020

    Swaasthi Mam Can I make this recipe either with mutton or with fish(rohu or pomfret)?

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      August 31, 2020

      I haven’t tried but it should work.

      Reply
  10. Lorraine says

    July 24, 2020

    5 stars
    Superb recipe! So easy to follow too.

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      July 24, 2020

      Thank you

      Reply
  11. Rhemo says

    July 17, 2020

    5 stars
    Simple and tasty….

    Reply
  12. AS says

    July 4, 2020

    Simple and yet so delicious! Absolutely loved it. Thank you for the delicious recipe.

    Reply
  13. Marianne says

    June 10, 2020

    5 stars
    Flavourful and delicious, and the chicken becomes so tender!

    Reply
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  15. Mark says

    June 2, 2020

    5 stars
    Another great success thanks. Easy to follow all the ingredients are easy to find in the stores. Thanks real food really tasteful.

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      June 4, 2020

      Welcome Mark
      Glad it turned out good
      Thank you

      Reply
  16. Brijesh Gautam says

    May 10, 2020

    Hi Swasthi,

    If I don’t have coriander seeds, may I replace them with coriander powder? I’m gonna try this recipe today.

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      May 10, 2020

      Hi Brijesh
      I haven’t tried with powder. But I guess 3/4 tbsp should work

      Reply
  17. Ravi Pillai says

    May 3, 2020

    Mam, your recepie was awsome. I’ve tred chiken mince by following exact guidelines. It’s wonderful. Thanks. God bless.

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      May 5, 2020

      Hi Ravi, Glad to know! Thank you

      Reply
  18. Anoop says

    March 8, 2020

    5 stars
    This was my first attempt to make chicken curry and I couldn’t believe I was able to make such yummy curry at first attempt itself. Thank you so much for this recipe!!

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      March 10, 2020

      Hi Anoop
      You are welcome! Glad it turned out good. Thank you

      Reply
  19. Prachi says

    February 8, 2020

    5 stars
    Hi Swathi,

    Wow ! This curry is regular on Sunday Special Menu. Could not thank you enough for such a wonderful recipe.

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      February 9, 2020

      Hi Prachi,
      Glad the dish turns out good. Thank you so much for the comment! Makes me happy!
      πŸ™‚

      Reply
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  21. TeeJay says

    January 30, 2020

    5 stars
    Swasthi, your recipe for Kerala chicken was A-maz-ing! You are now my go to for any Indian recipes . Keep up the good work!! A big fan of yours.

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      February 3, 2020

      Hi Teejay,
      Thank you so much! Very glad to know!
      πŸ™‚

      Reply
  22. Jenny says

    October 20, 2019

    5 stars
    I loved the spice combination and bold flavors. I served it with your parathas. Absolutely a new favorite of mine.

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      October 21, 2019

      Thank you so much Jenny!
      Glad you liked it!

      Reply
  23. Rakhee k says

    September 24, 2019

    5 stars
    I have tried most of your recipes and I must say they are all awesome…thank you so much for the detailed description…you’re too good πŸ‘ŒπŸ‘Œ

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      September 25, 2019

      Hi Rakhee,
      You are welcome. Glad you liked the recipes. Thanks much!
      πŸ™‚

      Reply
  24. Sonali says

    September 20, 2019

    5 stars
    It turned out super good! My daughters polished their plates. Thank you for the step by step instructions

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      September 20, 2019

      Hi Sonali,
      You are welcome. Glad your daughters liked it. Thank you!

      Reply
  25. Rani says

    August 30, 2019

    Dear Swasthi
    I am going to make Nadan chicken curry with coconut very soon.
    I am from afghanistan married to Maliyali who is from Kasaragod. I love Kerala food especially Kasargod food.

    Please share some Kasargod recipes.

    Thanx in advance .

    Reply
    • swasthi says

      September 6, 2019

      Hi Rani,
      You are welcome. Hope you enjoyed the kerala chicken curry. I will try to share.

      Reply
    • Sayali Gaidhani says

      July 17, 2020

      Can I make the masala powder and keep for future use? If yes how long can I store it?

      Reply
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