Chicken Kurma

This recipe for chicken kurma is something I picked up during our initial years after marriage. I always had home made spice masala powder stashed in the freezer at all times. My days at work used to be really long those years. If I had some friends or family coming for dinner, I would come back home after work and throw in some rice in the cooker and make this kurma in no time. This chicken kurma is effortless. The only thing that takes a few minutes to make is the masala paste. No frying, no sauteing. Add everything in the cooker and cook for 12- 15 minutes and your dinner can be served with absolutely zero stress. Try it out. The whole thing can be put together in less than 30 minutes.

The following is my non-veg masala powder that I use for a lot of dishes. I learned the masala powder recipe from my athama (aunt).

Here is what you will need for the masala powder.

Take a flat pan and add in all the ingredients for the masala spice powder except turmeric and poppy seeds (khuskhus). Fry until fragrant. Remove from heat and transfer the mixture to a mixie / spice grinder. Add in the turmeric and raw poppy seeds. If you cannot get poppy seeds in a country where you live, just skip it. But poppy seeds does add a lot of flavor to the chicken kurma. Grind the mixture to a very fine powder.

In the same mixie, add in the onion, garlic and the ginger. Add 1/2 a cup of water and grind to make a smooth paste. Set aside. Take a pressure pan and add in the chicken pieces. We use chicken pieces with bone for this recipe. Add in the ground masala paste. Add in 150 ml of coconut milk. I used store bought coconut milk. Add in 3 sprigs of curry leaves and the salt.

Add a cup of water. Mix all the ingredients well. Cover the pan and cook for 5 whistles or for 12-13 minutes on medium flame. Remove from heat after all the whistles are over and wait for the pressure to release from the cooker naturally.

Open the cooker and garnish the chicken kurma with coriander leaves.

Serve hot!

For the Spice Powder

• 6 dried red chillies
• 1 cinnamon
• 1 clove
• 1½ tablespoon coriander seeds
• ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
• ½ teaspoon Turmeric
• 1½ teaspoon poppy seeds (khus khus)

For the paste

• 1 onion, roughly chopped
• 6 cloves garlic
• 2 inch piece ginger, peeled and chopped

Other Ingredients

• 500 grams chicken with bone
• 3 sprigs curry leaves
• 150 ml coconut milk, store bought
• 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 sprigs coriander leaves, chopped

1. Take a flat pan and add in all the ingredients listed under “spice powder” except turmeric and poppy seeds (khuskhus). Fry until fragrant. Remove from heat and transfer to a mixie / spice grinder. Add in the turmeric and raw poppy seeds. Grind the mixture to a very fine powder.
2. In the same mixie, add in the onion, garlic and the ginger. Add 1/2 a cup of water and grind to make a smooth paste. Set aside.
3. Take a pressure pan and add in the chicken pieces. Add in the ground masala paste. Add in the coconut milk. Add in the curry leaves and the salt. Add one cup of water.
4. Mix all the ingredients well. Cover the pan and cook for 5 whistles or for 12-13 minutes on medium flame. Remove from heat after all the whistles are over and wait for the pressure to release from the cooker naturally.
5. Open the cooker and garnish the chicken kurma with coriander leaves.

• Author: Kannamma - Suguna Vinodh
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins
• Category: Side Dish / Gravy
• Cuisine: Tamilnadu

For the Spice Powder

• 6 dried red chillies
• 1 cinnamon
• 1 clove
• 1½ tablespoon coriander seeds
• ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
• ½ teaspoon Turmeric
• 1½ teaspoon poppy seeds (khus khus)

For the paste

• 1 onion, roughly chopped
• 6 cloves garlic
• 2 inch piece ginger, peeled and chopped

Other Ingredients

• 500 grams chicken with bone
• 3 sprigs curry leaves
• 150 ml coconut milk, store bought
• 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 sprigs coriander leaves, chopped

1. Take a flat pan and add in all the ingredients listed under “spice powder” except turmeric and poppy seeds (khuskhus). Fry until fragrant. Remove from heat and transfer to a mixie / spice grinder. Add in the turmeric and raw poppy seeds. Grind the mixture to a very fine powder.
2. In the same mixie, add in the onion, garlic and the ginger. Add 1/2 a cup of water and grind to make a smooth paste. Set aside.
3. Take a pressure pan and add in the chicken pieces. Add in the ground masala paste. Add in the coconut milk. Add in the curry leaves and the salt. Add one cup of water.
4. Mix all the ingredients well. Cover the pan and cook for 5 whistles or for 12-13 minutes on medium flame. Remove from heat after all the whistles are over and wait for the pressure to release from the cooker naturally.
5. Open the cooker and garnish the chicken kurma with coriander leaves.

• Author: Kannamma - Suguna Vinodh
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins
• Category: Side Dish / Gravy
• Cuisine: Tamilnadu

Find it online : https://www.kannammacooks.com/chicken-kurma-recipe-bachelor-chicken-kurma/

This is an everyday healthy Carrot Pattani Poriyal recipe. This is a kids favorite stir-fry. The subtle sweetness from the carrot and peas is something most of the kids love. This can be paired with dal and that makes a simple and healthy everyday lunch. Here is how to do Carrot Pattani Poriyal.

Heat oil in a pan. Add in the mustard seeds and let it splutter. Add in the red chillies, green chillies, chopped garlic and chopped curry leaves. Fry for 10 seconds. Add in the chopped onions and fry till the onions are soft. No need to brown.

Add in the finely chopped carrots, peas, salt and turmeric powder. Add in a cup of water. Saute for a couple of minutes.

Cover the pan with a lid and cook on medium flame for 30 minutes. Saute once in a while so the bottom does not scorch. If the water in the pan dries out before the veggies are fully cooked, Add in a little more water and continue to cook covered. Cook till the veggies are fork tender and the water in the pan has completely dried out. Switch off the flame and garnish with coriander leaves.

Serve Carrot Pattani Poriyal with Dal and Rice.

• 2 teaspoon peanut oil
• 1/4 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 2 dried red chillies
• 2 green chillies, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 sprigs curry leaves, chopped
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 3 - 4 carrots, finely chopped
• 250 grams shelled fresh peas
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 3 sprigs coriander leaves, finely chopped

1. Heat oil in a pan. Add in the mustard seeds and let it splutter. Add in the red chillies, green chillies, chopped garlic and chopped curry leaves. Fry for 10 seconds. Add in the chopped onions and fry till the onions are soft. No need to brown.
2. Add in the finely chopped carrots, peas, salt and turmeric powder. Add in a cup of water. Saute for a couple of minutes. Cover the pan with a lid and cook on medium flame for 30 minutes.
3. Cook till the veggies are fork tender and the water in the pan has completely dried out.
4. Switch off the flame and garnish with coriander leaves.
5. Serve Carrot Pattani Poriyal with Dal and Rice.

• Author: Kannamma - Suguna Vinodh
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins
• Category: Side Dish
• Cuisine: Tamilnadu