Make Anjula Devi’s Indian Chicken Curry Recipe:

PREP: 20 Minutes

COOK: 60 Minutes

SERVES: 4

Ingredients

750g boneless and skinless chickenthighs, cut into bite-size pieces

For the Marinade:
150g natural yoghurt
Juice of one freshly squeezed lemon
1 tsp pulped garlic
1 tsp pulped ginger
1 tsp tomato paste
2 tbsp tamarind pulp

Key Spices
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp coriander seeds
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 inch piece of cassia bark
1 bay leaf
1/4 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp red chilli flakes

Warming Spices
1 tsp fenugreek leaves, soaked in 2 tbsp hot water
4 green cardamoms, lightly bashed
2 cloves

Wet Ingredients
4 tbsp vegetable oil
2 medium onions, finely chopped
400g good quality tinned chopped tomatoes
1 tsp grated jaggery
1 tsp pulped garlic
1 tsp pulped ginger
2-4 fresh finger green chillies, pierced(add less for a milder curry)
6-8 curry leaves, ripped
140ml water (more if you prefer thinner sauce)
2 tsp tamarind pulp

Garnish
Small bunch of fresh coriander, chopped Zest of one lemon

Instructions

Place the chicken thighs in a large bowl, add the marinade ingredients, stir and coat well. Cover the bowl and place in the fridge overnight.

Remove from the fridge and allow the chicken to come to room temperature.

Take a small dry frying pan, set on a low heat and warm through the cumin, coriander and mustard seeds. This should only take 1 minute. Remove from the heat, add to a pestle and mortar and grind coarsely.

Take a large sauté pan, add the oil and warm on a low heat then ad d the onions, cassia bark and bay leaf. Sauté for 5 minutes.

Add the turmeric and red chilli flakes, stir and cook for a further 2 minutes.

Add the tomatoes and jaggery and continue to sauté for a further 10 minutes at least, stirring occasionally.

By cooking these ingredients for a little longer, your curry will definitely taste better.

Now add the garlic, ginger and green chillies and continue to cook for 2 minutes.

Add the contents of the pestle and mortar, stir well and continue to fry until the mixture resembles a paste and the oil starts to separate from the onions and tomatoes. If the ingredients start to become a little dry or the spices start to burn, add a little water.

Add the marinated chicken and fresh curry leaves. Turn the heat up to medium, stir really well and allow the chicken to seal for at least 5 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add the water and bring to the boil then immediately reduce to a simmer.

Add the fenugreek leaves, green cardamoms, cloves and tamarind and place the lid on the pan. Cook for 25 minutes or until the chicken is tender and the sauce is thick.

Remove from the heat and stir in the fresh coriander and lemon zest.

Leave for 5 minutes before serving with chapattis or rice.

For more authentic Indian recipes, Anjula Devi’s fantastic ‘how to’ recipe book comes with  top tips and a glossary of spices, it includes step-by-step instructions for Anjula’s masala base, as well as easy-to-follow recipes for chicken curry, chicken biriyani, stunning samosas and perfect pakoras plus lamb, prawn, vegetarian and vegan dishes, starters, rice, breads and chutneys.  Find out more and buy the book for £5.99 here. 

And if you’re looking for the right kit to help you make them, Lakeland have worked with Anjula to create the Authentic India range of products. From flavouring curries to fluffing chapatis, every one is designed specifically for the job in hand.