Kerala Special Kozhi Curry

Ingredients

1. One whole chicken ,cleaned and cut in to curry sized pieces.
2. Coriander leaves [malli illa]- 1whole bunch chopped.
3. Onions-4 sliced.
4. Garlic- 6 cloves sliced.
5. Ginger-1big piece finely chopped.
6. Lime- 1/2 a piece.
7. Coconut-1 fresh grated.
8. Oil & salt to taste.

Grind together to a smooth paste:
12 red chillies, 1&1/2 tbspn of poppy seeds [khus-khus], 2 tbspn of coriander seeds,
1/2 tspn of cumin seeds [jeera],1/2 tspn of turmeric powder or whole turmeric 1 -inch piece, 1 tspn of garam masala [optional] & 6 nos of cashew nuts.

Method of Preparation
1. Soak the grated coconut in 1/4 cup of hot water and extract thick milk.
2. Then add1 glass of hot water and extract the thin milk [2nd milk]. you can use the
mixer and remove the thin milk.
3. Add 1/2 cup of hot water and extract the 3rd milk. Grind and extract.
4. Heat oil and fry the onions ginger, garlic, and coriander leaves.
5. Add the ground masala and fry for few minutes till the raw smell evaporates.
6. Now put the chicken pieces and fry ,cook over a low flame till the chicken is well browned ,stir in the 3rd milk and cook. keep adding the 2nd milk simmer for a while.
[As chicken cooks fast be careful while adding the coconut milk, if you find the water is more in the curry don’t add any more of coconut milk, and keep the lid open and evaporate the water.]
7. After the chicken is cooked, remove from fire. Let there be enough gravy.
8. Finally add lime juice and the first extracted coconut milk. [Never boil after the thick
coconut milk is added]
9. Serve hot with parotta or rice.

Chicken Biriyani

Biriyani is a very famous traditional Indian dish. Basically biriyani is made up of basmati rice, mixed with a curry made up of rich spieces! If you are familiar with Indian cusine, then you must have tasted this mouth watering dish.., if not do try once ! You can surely find ‘Biriyani’ in the menu card of any Indian Restaurant.

Sl.No  Ingredients  Quantity  PreCooking Preperation 
1 Basmati Rice  2 Cups   
2 Ghee  4 Tablespoons   
3 Chicken 800 gms Cleaned and cut into medium pieces
4 Onions  3 -4 Medium Sized  Slice finely
7 Green Peas 1/2 cup boiled
8 Potatoes 1 Medium Sized Peeled and Sliced finely 
9 Green Chillies 3 or 4 Slit
10  Tomatoes 3 or 4 Chopped fine
11 Ginger – Garlic 1 Tablespoon Paste
12 Chilli Powder 1 1/2 Teaspoon  
13 Turmeric Powder  1/4 Teaspoon  
14 Coriander Powder  1 1/2 Teaspoon  
15 Garam Masala 1 Teaspoon  
16 Cloves 5 or 6  
17 Cardamoms 5 or 6  
18 Cinnamon 2 cms stick  
19 Pepper Corns 9 or 10  
20 Bay Leaves 3  
21 Milk 1/4 cup  
22 Saffron Small pinch Soak in milk
23 Coriander Leaves Small bunch Cleaned and Chopped
24 Oil For frying  
25 Pudina Leaves Small bunch Cleaned and Chopped
26 Salt To taste  

Preparation of Chicken Biriyani
Deep fry onions till golden brown. Drain and keep aside a small portion for garnishing.
Add the items 10 to 15, into the remaining onions, and cook for seven minutes, at medium heat.
Add 1/4 cup of water, green chillies, and cook till ghee seperates.
Add the pudina leaves, chicken pieces, along with salt, and cook at a medium heat adding little water.
Remove from heat when the chicken pieces are cooked tender, and the gravy thickens.
In a heavy bottomed vessel, fry items 16 to 20 in ghee, and add into rice. Cook rice in water with salt, take care that rice grains are not over cooked.
Mix the cooked rice with saffron water/ milk, so that some of it becomes orange / yellowish. If saffron is not available you can use orange color, and saffron essense as a substitute.
Deep fry potatoes in oil.
Heat ghee in a heavy bottom vessel, spoon in 1/3 of the rice and add 1/2 of the chicken masala on top.
Sprinkle peas, fried onions, and coriander leaves on top.
Again make a layer of rice, cover with chicken, sprinkle the onion, potatoes, and coriander leaves.
When you finish, on the top layer spread the rest of the rice.
Garnish with coriander leaves, fried onions, cashewnuts, and raisins.
Seal the vessel with a heavy lid, cook on a very slow fire for some 20-25 minutes. (Optionally you can use oven)
Your chicken biriyani is ready ! Serve hot with raita, or curd and salad, and pickles.