I don’t usually make idly for dinner but due to the onset of summer it took just few hours to ferment the batter instead of the usual 10 to 15 long hours. So the freshly fermented batter tempted me to make idlies for dinner.
As it was Sunday, I cooked chicken gravy to go with it. This recipe for chicken gravy is by MIL and she used to make it every Sunday or when we visit her for breakfast and the leftover would be served with lunch. But this recipe works great with idly/dosa.
Basic Information:
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 45 minutes
Serves: 4
Ingredients:
For Chicken Gravy:
Oil – 2 tbsp
Fennel seeds – ½ tsp
Bay leaf – 1
Star anise – 1
Cardamom – 2
Cloves – 3
Cinnamon – 2 inch
Onion – 1 cup, chopped
Ginger garlic paste – 1 and ½ tbsp
Tomato – 1 cup, chopped
Red chilli powder – 2 tsp
Coriander powder – 2 tsp
Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp
Salt – to taste
Chicken – ½ kg Water – ¾ cup to 1 cup
Coriander leaves – 1 tbsp, for garnishing
For Grinding:
Coconut – ¼ cup
Rice flour – 1 tbsp
Water – ¼ cup
Video Recipe:
Method with step by step pictures:
1) Cut the chicken into pieces and wash it well. chop onion, tomato and prepare ginger garlic paste.
2) Heat oil in the pressure cooker. Add all the spices (fennel seeds, bay leaf, star anise, cardamom, cloves and cinnamon) one by one. Allow the spices to splutter.
3) Add onion and saute till the onion becomes soft and translucent.
4) Add the ginger garlic paste. Saute it well.
5) Add the tomato and cook till it becomes mushy.
6) Add red chilli powder, coriander powder and turmeric powder one by one. Stir well and let it be in low flame till the oil oozes out of the gravy.
7) Then, add the chicken pieces, salt to taste and 3/4 cup of water. Mix well and cover it using a lid.
8) Pressure cook it for 3 whistles. Wait for the steam to suppress completely and then open the lid.
9) Grind coconut and rice flour together with 1/4 cup of water into a smooth paste.
10) Add this paste to the gravy. Mix well and allow it to boil.
11) Boil till the desired consistency is reached. Adjust water according to your personal preference.
12) Towards the end, garnish with chopped fresh coriander leaves.
Serving Suggestion:
1) Best to be served with idly and dosa for breakfast/dinner as a sidedish.
2) It can also be served for rice for lunch as a side dish.
Notes:
1) Increase or decrease the water quantity based on your personal preference.
2) Use only fresh coconut and ginger garlic paste for the perfect taste, flavor and texture.
3) Rice flour act as a thickening agent and due to this, the gravy tend to become thick when it cools down. so, choose the consistency accordingly.
4) Both Chicken with bone and without bone work well for this recipe.
