Spicy Chicken Masala Curry

Ingredients:

Marinate:

½ kg chicken, washed and cut into medium sized pieces

3 tbsp curds

1 tsp red chilli powder (adjust to suit your spice level)

¼ tsp turmeric pwd

salt to taste

Make a paste:

6-7 cashewnuts

4-5 tbsps milk

Dry roast and make a fine powder:

1” cinnamon

10-12 curry leaves

3 cloves

Rest of the ingredients:

3-4 tbsps oil

2 big onions finely chopped

1 large tomato finely chopped

1 tsp ginger-garlic paste

1 tsp coriander powder

3/4 tsp black pepper powder (adjust to suit your spice level)

¼ tsp cumin powder

coriander leaves for garnish

1 Marinate chicken pieces in chilli powder, turmeric powder, curds and salt for 20 mts.

2 While the chicken pieces are marinating, make a paste of cashewnuts and milk. Keep aside.

3 Dry roast cinnamon, cloves and curry leaves for 1 mt and make a powder of them. Keep aside.

4 Heat 1 1/2 tbsps of oil in a cooking vessel. Add the onions and saute till pink. Add ginger-garlic paste and saute further for another 3-4 minutes on medium heat.

5 Add coriander pwd, cumin pwd, pepper pwd and combine well and fry for another minute.

6 Add the tomatoes and let it cook for 3-4 minutes. Combine well and cook till oil separates.Turn off heat. Cool and grind the cooked masala. Keep aside this masala paste.

7 Heat 1 1/2 tbsps oil in a cooking vessel and add the marinated chicken and

 cook on high flame for 4-5 minutes, reduce heat and cook covered for another 4-5 minutes.

8 Add the ground masala paste, cashewnut paste and ground powder of cinnamon, cloves and curry leaves and combine well. (Add a cup of water for more gravy consistency). Cook till chicken pieces are soft and you get the desired curry consistency. Adjust salt.

9 Garnish with fresh coriander leaves.