Kuttanadan Chicken curry

Recipe for Kuttanadan Grandmas Special Chicken curry - Kozhi Kurumulagu - masala curry
Serves - 4-6
Total cooking time - 45 minutes.
Ingredients:-
Chicken - 1 kg
Bowl 1
Green chili -3

Ginger  - an inchpiece

Garlic crushed -6-7 cloves

Whole black peppercorns - 1 tea spoon

Fennel seeds - 1/4 to 1/2 tea spoon

Bowl 2

Bay leaves - 1or Cinnamon stick - 1 inch piece

Cloves - 3

Cardamom - 4

Star anise - 1

Coconut Oil - 2 tablespoon

Curry leaves - lots

Onion chopped - 2
Green chili slit lengthwise - 7-8( adjust all the spices as per ur level)
Turmeric powder - a generous pinch
Garam masala - 1 tea spoon
Whole black peppercorns - 1.5 tea spoon
Coconut milk - 1 cup
Vinegar or lemon juice - 1/2 to 1 tablespoon (optional)
Salt to taste
Method :-

Clean and cut the chicken into medium pieces.
Crush all the ingredients in Bowl 1 in the small jar of mixie or coffee grinder. Lightly crush all in Bowl 2 in a mortar and pestle
Heat oil in a pan and add curry leaves and chopped onions saute till they are soft followed by the spice mix in Bowl 1 , and Bowl 2 and saute till the raw smell disappears.

Add Turmeric powder ,Garam masala and stir in the chicken pieces and mix it well and fry for a couple of minutes.

Add coconut milk and cook it covered for 30 minutes , stirring in between , or until  done. Uncover add freshly crushed black peppercorns and vinegar / lemon juice and let simmer for 5-8 minutes. Let stand covered for 15 minutes before serving.
Pressure cooker method :- cook without coconut milk , uncover and simmer for couple of minutes after adding coconut milk.