Chicken Xacuti

Ingredients list for Chicken Xacuti

• 750 grams Chicken on the bone cut into bit sized pieces
• 2 cups Coconut milk thick
• to taste Salt
• 2 tablespoons Oil 1½ teaspoons +
• 3-4 Cloves
• 3-4 Black peppercorns
• 1 Star anise
• 1 inch Cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon Fenugreek seeds (methi dana)
• 4-5 Green cardamoms
• 1 teaspoon Cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon Fennel seeds (saunf)
• ¼ teaspoon Nutmeg powder
• 1 inch Ginger
• 3 medium Onions finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon Poppy seeds (khuskhus/posto)
• 1 cup Fresh coconut scraped
• 1 teaspoon Red chilli powder
• ½ teaspoon Turmeric powder
• ½ teaspoon Garam masala powder
• 1 teaspoon Coriander powder
• 2 tablespoons Tamarind pulp

Method

1. Mix chicken pieces with salt and set aside.
2. To make powder masala, heat ½ teaspoon oil in a non-stick pan. Add cloves, peppercorns, star anise, cinnamon, fenugreek seeds, green cardamoms, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, nutmeg powder and ginger and sauté till fragrant. Remove from heat, cool and grind into a fine powder.
3. To make coconut masala, heat 1 teaspoon oil in the same non-stick pan. Add half the onions and sauté till they are brown.
4. Add poppy seeds and mix well. Add coconut and sauté till coconut is light brown. Remove from heat, cool and grind into a fine paste with a little water.
5. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in another non-stick pan. Add remaining onions and sauté till translucent.
6. Add chicken, mix well and cook on high heat for 1 minute. Add red chilli powder, turmeric powder, garam masala powder, coriander powder and mix well.
7. Add powdered masala and mix well. Add little water, mix well, cover and cook for 5 minutes.
8. Add coconut masala, mix well, cover and cook for 5 minutes.
9. Add tamarind pulp, mix well, cover and cook for 2 minutes.
10. Add coconut milk, mix and simmer for 5 minutes or till the gravy is thick.
11. Serve hot.