Kerala Chicken Stew for the Christmas Menu

I love love love this combo-Appam and Chicken stew with Fruit cake and sweet wine ( Manischewitz)

I am fully in the holiday spirit. Who could be otherwise with all the lights, music and "Sale" wherever you go? Shopping is so an integral part of this holiday season isn't it? Oh well i say that often just to convince myself that it is okie to be a Becky Bloom wood occasionally .

Kerala Chicken stew aka Kozhi ishtu ! The one must have recipe in our family on Christmas day , so does in the most of the Syrian christian homes in Kerala. The bite size pieces of chicken is simmered in whole spices, coconut milk and topped with fried onions and cashew nuts. Its rich , creamy and delicious with mild flavors and a bit sweet from soft onion and coconut milk. There is nothing to beat the Appam and meat stew combination on a joyful Christmas day.

If I remember correctly i had not had a Christmas breakfast without this creamy stew (chicken, duck, beef or mutton) and Appam ever in my life. No matter I spend my holiday in my house or relation's house we always have this. So it has come to a point where Christmas morning = A beautiful mass and yummy Stew and Appam . 

Appam and kozhi stew with Fruit cake and sweet wine ( Manischewitz)

There are hundreds of recipes for making chicken stew and I believe each family has their own way of making it.  Like the yellow stew , white stew, brown stew whatever...Each and every one of those are authentic in its own way. Anyways This is the Kozhi Ishtu / Chicken stew recipe i grew up eating in my grandma's , my mom;s and her sister's kitchen. So a recipe that has passed down to the third generation is making my Christmas breakfast a glorious one .

But that doesn't necessarily mean that I make this only on Christmas day . N loves this and i make it whenever he feels like having it .This pictures is from November last week , just before lent started. Let's say, this Appam and chicken stew is a yummy combination to add to your party list and guests would love it and praise you for your "Kaipunyam "

Recipe for Nadan Kozhi Ishtu / Kerala Chicken Stew

Ingredients:-

Chicken - 1 lb ( cut into medium or bite size pieces)

Potato - 1 cubed 
Bowl 1

Onion finely chopped - 1 small

Cashew nuts - a handful
Bowl 2

Cinnamon - a 2 inch stick

Cardamom - 4

Cloves -5

Star anise - 1

Bay leaves - 1-2

Oil or Butter

Bowl 3

Shallots or Onion finely chopped - 1.5 cup ( I used 2 white onions)

Green chili slit lengthwise - 3-4

Garlic chopped - 3-4 cloves

Ginger thinly sliced - a 1 inch small piece

Crushed Pepper corns - 1 tsp

Garam Masala - 1/2 tsp

Curry Leaves

Thin Coconut milk - 1 cup 

Thick coconut milk - 3/4 cup (See "notes" below on how to make thin and thick coocnut milk with canned coconut milk)       

Salt to taste

Method 

Heat Oil or butter  in a cooking pan and add all the ingredients in Bowl 1 . Fry it till it turns brown and drain on kitchen towel.

To the same pan add all the ingredients in Bowl 2. Fry it for a minute.Then add sliced onions and fry for a few minutes.

When they turn soft add green chili , ginger and garlic and curry leaves and saute for 2 minutes.Add Chicken , salt to taste and mix well.

Pour 1 cup thin coconut milk and crushed pepper corns and sprinkle a tsp of garam masala.

Cook it covered for 15 minutes . 

Uncover it and add cubed potatoes and continue cooking for another 15-20 minutes or till the chicken is cooked.

Pour 3/4 cup of Thick coconut milk and simmer for 4-5 minutes on low flame . Adjust the salt level .Remove from fire and sprinkle the fried onions and cashew on top of it.

Serve warm with Appam.

Appam and Chicken stew with Fruit cake and sweet wine ( Manischewitz)

Notes:-

• You can add carrots and other vegetables along with potato in this stew. 
• To make thin coconut milk take 1/4 cup of canned coconut milk and add water to make a cup
• To make thick coconut milk add 50-50 mix of canned coconut milk and water( this is how i use , you can make it more thick by adding less water or no water at all).
• You can follow this recipe to make the stew with any meat like beef , mutton or duck. I am not sure about Pork since i have not tried it yet. So in case of all above mentioned meat, just pressure cook the meat with salt , curry leaves and a tsp of ginger and garlic and follow the recipe.

Cheers
Sarah