Southern indian chicken curry with mustard seeds
Instructions:
- 1/ 4 cup vegetable oil
- 6 whole dried red hot chiles, each broken into 3 or 4 pieces
- 2 teaspoons brown or yellow mustard seeds
- 1 whole cinnamon stick (3 inches)
- 1/ 2 teaspoon urad dal or yellow split peas
- 1 1/ 4 cups very thinly sliced shallots (about 4)
- 10 garlic cloves, very thinly sliced
- 10 fresh curry leaves (optional)
- 2 teaspoons grated peeled fresh ginger
- 1 1/ 4 cups chopped plum tomatoes (about 3)
- 1 1/ 4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1/ 4 teaspoon ground turmeric
- Coarse salt
- Raita, for serving
- Pooris, for serving (optional)
- Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven over mediumhigh heat until hot but not smoking. Add the chiles, mustard seeds, cinnamon, and urad dal; cook, shaking the pot, until the seeds pop, about 45 seconds. Add the shallots, garlic, and curry leaves; cook, stirring, until the shallots are golden, about 4 minutes. Add the ginger; cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add the tomatoes; cook, stirring, 2 minutes.
- Add the chicken; sprinkle with the turmeric and 1 1/ 2 teaspoons salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes. Stir in 2 cups water. Bring to a boil. Cover; reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until the chicken is very tender, about 30 minutes.
- Uncover. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil until the sauce coats the meat, about 10 minutes. Season with salt. Serve with raita and pooris, if desired.