Cookings By Maria

Kerala Style Chicken Varuval

• By admin_maria
• September 28, 2015
• No Comments

Kerala Style Chicken Varuval, is a dish which has a unique way of preparation of varuval (dry dish). It is an easy recipe but very delicious. Marinate the chicken pieces in lots of masala, pre-cook it and add it into sauteed ingredients. Adding vinegar during marination will make the chicken become soft and tender. Optional adding of grated fresh coconut will give extra flavor to the dish. In this recipe, I used half chicken, cut into smaller pieces.

Ingredients :

For Marinating the chicken 

• Chicken – 1kg ( cut small pieces)
• Tomato – 2 (medium size – paste it without water)
• Ginger/garlic paste – 1 tablespoon ( 3cm ginger + 3 clovers garlic)

Grounded Masala :

• 1 tblspoon chili powder + 1 tblspoon coriander powder + 1/2 teaspoon garam masala + 1/2 teaspoon white pepper powder
• Add salt- 1/2 tablespoon
• Vinegar – 1/2 tablespoon

For Sauteing 

• Cinnamon – 1 stick
• Star Anise – 3pcs
• Onion – 1 large (sliced)
• Green chili 1 – slit
• Dry chili – 3pcs
• Grated fresh Coconut – 2 tablespoon
• Curry leaves – 2
• Salt to taste

How to make the dish :

1. Marinate the chicken pieces for about 30 minutes with the ingredients mentioned (marination) above.
2. In a pot, cook the marinated chicken portion. It will take about 15 minutes to cook well.
3. Do not add any water or oil at this steps, as the moisture from chicken will be sufficient to cook them.
4. Let the chicken cook in a medium heat and  stir occasionally. Meanwhile, we start to prepare the saute pan.
5. In a pan, heat about 2-3 tablespoon oil.
6. Add in the  cinnamon, star anise, curry leaves and the sliced onion, saute the onion till translucent (1-2 minutes)
7. Add in the dry chili and green chili. Stir fry with low heat for a while.
8. Add in the grated coconut. Keep stir (1 minute) . The grated coconut shouldn’t be over fried as well.
9. Now add in the previously cooked chicken portion all together into the sauteed pan.
10. Add little hot water (around 1/2 cup).
11. Let the chicken mix and other ingredients to cook well (within 5-8 minutes). Add salt as per taste. Stir occasionally.
12. When the gravy looks almost getting drier, again add in some curry leaves, give a good stir. Off the heat.
13. The Kerala Style Chicken Varuval is ready for serving.