Name: Quick Chettinad chicken masala
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1 tbsp poppy seeds; 1 tsp each ground fennel, ground coriander and ground cumin; 3 long dried red chillies; 50 ml vegetable oil; 10 fresh curry leaves; 1 onion, thinly sliced; 2 cardamom pods, cracked; 1 each cinnamon quill and star anise; 1-2 tsp ground chilli, or to taste; 2 tsp finely grated ginger; 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped; 2 ripe tomatoes, finely chopped; 70 gm (¾ cup) finely grated fresh coconut; 8 chicken thigh fillets (about 1kg), thickly sliced; Juice of 2 limes, or to taste; To serve: steamed basmati rice and coriander sprigs

Ingredients

1 tbsp poppy seeds

1 tsp each ground fennel, ground coriander and ground cumin

3 long dried red chillies

50 ml vegetable oil

10 fresh curry leaves

1 onion, thinly sliced

2 cardamom pods, cracked

1 each cinnamon quill and star anise

1-2 tsp ground chilli, or to taste

2 tsp finely grated ginger

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 ripe tomatoes, finely chopped

70 gm (¾ cup) finely grated fresh coconut

8 chicken thigh fillets (about 1kg), thickly sliced

Juice of 2 limes, or to taste

To serve: steamed basmati rice and coriander sprigs

Method

Main

1.Dry-roast poppy seeds, fennel, coriander, cumin and whole dried chillies in a saucepan over medium heat until fragrant (1 minute). Remove from heat, then pound in a mortar and pestle to break up chillies. Set aside.

2.Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, add curry leaves and stir until fragrant (30 seconds). Add onion, stir occasionally until light golden (5-6 minutes), then add spice mixture, remaining spices, ginger and garlic, and stir occasionally until fragrant (2-3 minutes). Add tomatoes, stir until starting to break down (3-4 minutes), then add coconut and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Add chicken and stir occasionally until cooked through (4-5 minutes). Add lime juice, season to taste, and serve hot topped with coriander sprigs and with steamed rice to the side.

Styling by Lisa Featherby

Styling by Emma Knowles

Styling by Geraldine Muñoz