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CHICKEN STEW (India)

50 Great Curries of India
by Camellia Panjabi

(Kerala)
The word "stew" has become part of the Indian culinary vocabulary. In Southern India, stew is made with coconut milk and Malabar coast spices. In Kerala in particular it is commonly eaten with appams or rice flour pancakes for breakfast or Sunday brunch. In northern India, even roadside eateries serve a mild curry that they can stew.
    The dish can be made milder still by reducing the green chile, but it is really aromatic. A lady from Kerala says that she thinks the combination of ghee and oil imparts a special flavor. The Keralites use very tiny pieces of chicken on the bone, but you can use small boneless pieces, if you like. On the bone, this quantity will serve 4, but boneless should be enough for 5 people.
Serves 4-5

Ingredients

• 1 x 3/4-in piece of fresh ginger (half cut into thin julienne, half cut into pieces)
• 1 teaspoon peppercorns
• a little turmeric powder
• 2 onions, chopped coarsely
• 2-3 green chiles
• 2 cups grated fresh coconut
• 10-12 new potatoes
• salt, to taste
• 2 tablespoons oil
• 1 tablespoon ghee
• 1/2 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 cinnamon leaf or bay leaf
• 2 cloves garlic, sliced lengthwise
• 2-in cinnamon stick
• 4 cardamoms
• 3 cloves
• 20 curry leaves
• 1¾ lb boneless, skinless chicken pieces
• 1 carrot, peeled and cut into 3/4-in strips
• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen peas
• 1/4 teaspoon garam masala

Directions

1. Pound the ginger pieces (retain the julienne strips for later), peppercorns, and a little turmeric and make into a thick, uneven paste.

2. Blend together the onion and green chiles. Put the grated coconut into 2 cups of water and blend to make an extract of milk. Strain and keep to one side.

3. Scrub the potatoes and half-boil them in their skin with a pinch of salt and turmeric.

4. Heat the oil and ghee, and when hot, add the mustard seeds. When the seeds crackle, add the cinnamon or bay leaf. When the mixture turns a khaki color add the garlic, cinnamon stick, and cardamoms. After 20 seconds, add the ginger and turmeric paste, cloves, and curry leaves, then add the onion and green chiles. After 2 minutes put in the chicken pieces and saute for 2-3 minutes.

5. Add the potatoes, carrot, and salt to taste, and cook, covered, for 2 minutes. Finally add the coconut milk, 1/2 cup of water, the peas, and juliennes of ginger. Sprinkle with garam masala powder, cover, and cook until the chicken is cooked.