Method
Ingredients
Ingredients
- ½ cup shredded coconut
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 star anise
- 3 whole dried red chilies
- 1 tsp black peppercorns
- 2 tsp fennel seeds
- 3 tsp coriander powder
- ½ tsp chili powder
- 2 tsp turmeric powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 5 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 red onions, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 2 tsb grated fresh ginger
- 6 tbsp fresh curry leaves
- 8 tomatoes finely chopped
- 2 cups boneless chicken thighs (skin removed)
- ¾ cup water or chicken stock
- 1 small bunch fresh cilantro finely chopped
- A squeeze of lemon
- 1 green chili finely chopped (optional)
Method
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Toast the coconut in a pan over a low heat, stirring until it turns golden brown.
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Remove the coconut to a plate and into the same pan add the cinnamon sticks, dried chillies, peppercorns, star anise and fennel seeds. Roast in the pan for 3-4 minutes then add the ground coriander and chilli powder and stir for a minute. Add half a cup of water to form a paste and cook for 2 minutes.
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Remove the cinnamon sticks, star anise, and whole chilies and keep for later. Add the toasted coconut, turmeric and salt to the pan. Add everything to a spice grinder or mortar and pestle and grind to a smooth paste.
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Heat the oil in the same pan and slowly cook the onions until they are soft—this will take about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger and cook for a couple of minutes, then turn up the heat and add the curry leaves and stir for a minute.
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Add the tomatoes and the spice paste, and then return the cinnamon stick, star anise, and chilies to the pan. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring until you end up with a smooth paste and the oil starts to separate out.
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Remove half the mixture and freeze, or place in an airtight container, which will keep in the fridge for a week or so.
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Add the chicken and cook, covered, for 10 minutes. Add ¾ cup chicken stock, remove the lid, and cook for a further 5–10 minutes until the chicken is cooked through.
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Remove the star anise, cinnamon, and chili, stir through the lemon juice and green chili (if using) and scatter with the fresh cilantro. Serve with some freshly cooked Basmati Rice.
