Keralan Chicken Curry

Name: Keralan Chicken Curry
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 2 sprigs of fresh curry leaves or 8–10 dried curry leaves; ¼ tsp fenugreek seeds; Juice of 1 lemon or 2 tbsp white wine vinegar; Juice of 1 lemon or 2 tbsp white wine vinegar; 300 ml/10½fl oz/1¼ cups warm water; Salt, to taste; 600 g/1 lb 5 oz skinless and boneless chicken thighs, cut into medium pieces, and a few skinless drumsticks, without tendons; 600 g/1 lb 5 oz skinless and boneless chicken thighs, cut into medium pieces, and a few skinless drumsticks, without tendons; 4 fresh tomatoes, chopped, or 400g/14 oz can of chopped tomatoes; 4 fresh tomatoes, chopped, or 400g/14 oz can of chopped tomatoes; ¼ tsp mustard seeds; 2 shallots, sliced in half, or 1 small onion, chopped; ½ tsp fennel seeds; 2 tbsp neutral oil; 2.5 cm/1 in root ginger, peeled; 2 tsp black peppercorns; 1 tsp garam masala; 6–7 garlic cloves, peeled; ½ tsp Kashmiri red chilli powder; 5–6 fresh or dried curry leaves; 5–6 fresh or dried curry leaves; 2 shallots, sliced in half, or 1 small onion, chopped; 30 g/1 oz fresh coconut chunks; 3 tbsp neutral oil; 2–3 green cardamom pods; 2–3 cloves; 2.5 cm/1 in cinnamon stick; 1 star anise; ½ tsp mustard seeds; 2 sprigs of fresh curry leaves or 8–10 dried curry leaves

Nadan Kozhi

Preparation info

Serves:
4–5

Difficulty
Easy
Ready in
1 hr

Appears in

No Worries, Just Chicken Curries

By Suki Pantal

Published 2025

About

A native curry to the state of Kerala, this one is close to their hearts and mine! Keralan chicken curry is also called nandan kozhi (where nandan means “native” and kozhi means “chicken”). Simply put, it means country chicken with roasted spices and ingredients. In other words, it’s the traditional home-styled chicken curry from this southern state, and is heavily influenced by the state’s spices and local produce.

This curry can be made with coconut and without coconut. I haven’t

Ingredients

Asia
India
Main course
Kerala
Gluten-free

Keralan Chicken Curry

Nadan Kozhi

Ingredients

Method

Photos