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.
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.
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
Kerala chicken recipe
Kerala chicken recipe
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
How to make the recipe
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.
NUTRITION (estimation only)
Notes
If you are a beginner or new to Indian cooking, I highly suggest you to check the supporting step by step photos for best results. Step by step photos with description available below after the recipe card.
for more chicken curry recipes, check
chicken kurma
andhra chicken
chicken curry without coconut
chettinad chicken
chicken butter masala
chicken tikka masala
Preparation
1. Marinate chicken with garam masala, salt, turmeric , red chili powder and pepper. Set aside for about 30 to 45 minutes.
2. Dry roast the dry spices and cool them. Make a fine powder and add little water and make a paste.Set aside.
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.
5. Cook covered on a medium to low flame till the chicken is cooked completely. Pour thin coconut milk.
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.
Prachi says
Hi Swathi,
Wow ! This curry is regular on Sunday Special Menu. Could not thank you enough for such a wonderful recipe.
swasthi says
Hi Prachi,
Glad the dish turns out good. Thank you so much for the comment! Makes me happy!
🙂
TeeJay says
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.
swasthi says
Hi Teejay,
Thank you so much! Very glad to know!
🙂
Jenny says
I loved the spice combination and bold flavors. I served it with your parathas. Absolutely a new favorite of mine.
swasthi says
Thank you so much Jenny!
Glad you liked it!
Rakhee k says
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 👌👌
swasthi says
Hi Rakhee,
You are welcome. Glad you liked the recipes. Thanks much!
🙂
Sonali says
It turned out super good! My daughters polished their plates. Thank you for the step by step instructions
swasthi says
Hi Sonali,
You are welcome. Glad your daughters liked it. Thank you!
Michele says
Hi Swasthi…..If I use Garam Marsala what is the quantity to use.
swasthi says
Hi Michele,
You can use about 1½ tsp garam masala
Rani says
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 .
swasthi says
Hi Rani,
You are welcome. Hope you enjoyed the kerala chicken curry. I will try to share.
Rachel says
Tried it today and it turned out so good! I love that the flavours are so sharp and delicious at the same time. Definitely gona try it again 🙌🏼
swasthi says
Thanks for trying Rachel. Glad you liked it.
Mel says
Hi Swasthi,
I can’t wait to make this and I have all the ingredients except one. I have Cardamom seeds; not pods. Can I use the seeds and, if so, how many seeds do I need for this recipe?
Thank you,
Mel
swasthi says
Hi Mel,
You are welcome. You can use about 1/4 tsp of the seeds.
Neethu says
Your recipe is awesome. I tried this today and turned out too good. Thanks
swasthi says
Welcome Neethu
So glad to know it turned out good. Thanks for the comment.
🙂
Gousia says
hi which coconut oil we should use for cooking?
swasthi says
Hi Gousia
Coconut oil for cooking is available. You can use it. For this recipe if you do not have coconut oil, then just use any other oil
Shalini says
Thank you for this recipe, it’s just what I needed. I referred to this while cooking at a friend’s place for 6 people, with one more addition – I added tomatoes to the gravy while sauteing. It turned out to be a lip-smacking dish! I paired this curry with good old Kerala porottas and it made for a great combination. Everyone loved it!
swasthi says
Welcome Shalini
thanks for the comment. Happy to know the chicken curry turned out good.
🙂
Kerry says
WOW! amazing recipe – thank you for sharing. I have a new favourite curry recipe, will be making this again and again!
swasthi says
Welcome Kerry
Thanks for trying and the comment too.
🙂
Priyanka says
Just made this, and I knnow I will make this again and again!! Absolutely delicious!
swasthi says
Thanks Priyanka
DAVID JOHNSON says
One of the best curry recipes I’ve ever come across. Amazing site.
DAVID JOHNSON says
One of the best curry recipes I’ve ever come across. Amazing site.
swasthi says
Thanks a lot David
Rose says
I made this Kerala chicken curry. Absolutely spot on ! I am from Kerala( a malayalee born abroad). I could never get my chicken curry to taste as good as what I have had in Kerala until I tried your receipe.
Even my British husband after one taste said ” this is the taste of Kerala”
Very clear instructions with photos! Absolutely perfect!
swasthi says
Hi Rose,
Thanks for trying. Very glad to know it turned out good.
🙂