Chettinadu pepper chicken

It is a special type of tasty chicken curry. It is also called Chetti nattu milaku kozhi varuval. It helps reducing the common cold. It is Prepared nicely with wonderful taste of slight variation in areas like karaikkudi, Nerkuppai, Tiruppattur, Tirumayam, Pulankurichi, Sevvur, Rangiyam etc.
Ingredients:

• Chicken: 1/2 kg
• Bellary onion (Periya vengayam): 2
• Tomato (Thakkali): 2
• Ginger garlic paste (Inji poondu vizhuthu): 2 teaspoons
• Chili powder (Vara milakai thool / Lal mirchi) : 1 table spoon
• Turmeric powder (Manjal podi): 1tea spoon
• Coriander powder (Malli podi/ Dhania thool): 1 table spoon
• Black pepper( Milaku / Kali mirchi / Kala mirch): 2 table spoons
• Lemon juice (elumichchai saaru / Yelumicham palam chaaru): 1 table spoon
• Oil and salt: as required
  

For seasoning:

• Cinnamon stick (Pattai / Dal chini): 3
• Cardamom (Elakkai / Yelakkai / elaichi): 3
• Cloves (Lavangam/Kirambu): 3
• Bay leaves (Punnai ilai /Tej Patha / Tej petta /Tejpatta / Karuvaela / Masala Aku /Biryani aaku): a little
• Fennel (Perunjeeragam / sonf): 1 teaspoon
• Curry leaves (Kariveppilai / Kari patha): a little

Method of preparation:

• Mince nicely the onions.
• Cut tomatoes into very small pieces.
• Crush the black peppers.
• Cut chicken into pieces.
• Marinate the chicken for 30 minutes with a little salt, chili powder, turmeric powder and 1tsp of ginger garlic paste.
• Heat 2 table spoon of edible oil in a sauce pot / wok (kadhai / kadai / Iruppuchchatti).
• Add Cinnamon, Cardamom, Cloves, Bay leaves, Fennel, Curry leaves one after the other.
• Add onion and sauté till oil separates.
• Add ginger garlic paste.
• Add turmeric powder.
• Stir well.
• Add tomatoes and stir.
• Add coriander powder and stir.
• What we got now is the ‘masala’.
• Add about ¼ cup of water with this masala.
• Close the wok.
• Reduce the flame.
• After about five minutes, oil can be seen on top of the masala.
• Now add the marinated chicken.
• Sauté for some time so as to allow water comes out from the chicken.
• Add required salt.
• Close the saucepot / wok and cook for about 10 to 15 minutes.
• Add pepper and mix.
• Remove from flame.
• Add lemon juice.
• Garnish with coriander leaves.
• Serve with great love and affection.