Chicken Gravy

Ingredients
• Chicken - 1/2 kg
• Onions - 2 nos(sliced long)
• Green chillies(slit) - 3 nos
• Ripe tomatoes - 2 nos(diced)
• Curry leaves - 2 sprigs
• Chopped coriander leaves - A handful
• Cloves - 3
• Cinnamon sticks - an inch
• Cardamom - 2
• Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp
• Salt - As reqd
• Sugar - 1/2 tsp
• juice of half a lemon
• Oil for frying
Coarsely grind the following:
• Onion - 1 no
• Green chilly - 1 no
• Ginger-garlic paste - 2 tsp
• Fennel seeds - 2 tsp
• Poppy seeds - 2 tsp(optional)
• Chilly powder - 4 tsp
• Turmeric powder - A pinch

Preparation Method
• Clean and wash the chicken pieces nicely. Chop to medium sized pieces.
• Mix with turmeric powder and the lime juice and keep aside.:- This is to remove the raw smell of chicken.
• Heat about 2 tbsp oil.
• Add cloves, cinnamon sticks and cardamoms.:- You dont want to add too much of these coz you dont want the garam masala smell to dominate the dish.
• When you get a nice fragrance, add the thinly sliced onions, slit green chillies and curry leaves.
• Once the onions start turning a little brown, add the coarsely ground paste, salt and turmeric.
• Stir fry until you get a nice smell making sure the mixture does not stick to the bottom of the pan.
• Add the diced tomatoes and cook until the tomatoes get pulpy.
• Add the chicken pieces and pour enough water to cover the chicken pieces.
• Simmer covered until the chicken is cooked.
• Check for spice and salt and add a little sugar. :- Adding a little sugar enhances the taste of the dish.
• When the gravy becomes thick, check for salt and spice again. If its too spicy add a little more salt.
• Add the chopped coriander and remove from fire.
:- Serve with plain rice, idli, dosa or chappathis. If serving with rice, pappad would be the best side dish.