Chettinad Karuveppillai Chicken

Chettinad cuisine, famous cuisine of chettinad region of TamilNadu in South India and the people of this region are Chettiars...This cuisine is very famous for its use of a variety of spices used in preparing mainly for non vegetarian food..Chettinad cuisine is one of the spicest and aromatic cuisine of India...They also use a variety of sun dried meats and salted vegetables, coz of their dry environment of the region. The meat is restricted to fish, prawn, lobster, crab, chicken and mutton. They do not eat beef and pork.

In Chettinad food, the most important spices are Dry flower pods,Star aniseed and Black Stone Flower. In addition to these spices chettinad cuisine involves tamarind, whole red chillies, fennel seeds , cinnamon, cloves, bayleaf, peppercorns, cumin seeds and fenugreek..This karuveppillai chicken fry is also one among those delicious chettinad non vegetarian dish..This dish is made with chicken pieces simmered in curryleaves masala prepared with handful of spices cooked with onion and tomatoes, one of the best and flavourful chicken dish..This delicious chicken masala goes to Viki's The Potluck-Chicken event...

To Marinate:
2cups Chicken pieces
1/2tsp Turmeric powder
1/4cup Curd

To Masala:
3nos Onion (chopped)
2nos Tomatoes (chopped)
2tsp Coriander powder
2sprigs Curry leaves
1/4tsp Cumin seeds
1/4tsp Mustard seeds
1/4tsp Fennel seeds
2tbsp Coriander leaves (chopped)
Salt
Oil

To grind:
3/4cup Curry leaves
1/4cup Shallots
1inch Ginger (chopped)
5nos Garlic cloves
2nos Green chillies
2nos Red dry chillies
2nos Cloves
1no Cardamom
1no Cinnamon stick
1tbsp Pepper corns
1tsp Cumin seeds
1tbsp Dessicated coconut flakes

Marinate the chicken pieces with turmeric powder n salt for half an hour..Grind all the ingredients under the list 'To Grind' as thick and fine masala and keep aside..

Now heat enough oil in a kadai, add the mustard seeds, cumin seeds, fennel seeds and curry leaves, let them splutters..add the chopped onion and fry until they turns transculent, add the marinated chicken pieces along with chopped tomato pieces...cover the kadai with a lid and cook for few minutes..chicken pieces will leave some water, now add the ground masala, coriander powder and also salt if needed...fry until the masala turns until the oil get separates...Garnish the chicken masala with coriander leaves..

Serve hot with rice!!!!