CHETTINAAD FRIED CHICKEN

CHETTINAAD FRIED CHICKEN
Pieces of chicken marinated in a spicy masala and cooked till crisp.
Preparation Time : 3 1/2 hours
Cooking Time : 40 minutes
Servings : 4

INGREDIENTS
Chicken 1(800) grams) medium

Onions 2 medium

Ginger 1 inch piece

Garlic 4-6 cloves

Green chillies 4

Whole dry red chillies 4-6

Curry leaves 10-12

Turmeric powder 1/2 teaspoon

Lemon juice 1 tablespoon

Rice flour 2 tablespoons

Salt to taste

Oil to shallow fry

METHOD
Clean, wash and slit chicken through the backbone and the breast, into two equal halves. Make three to four half-inch deep cuts on breast and leg pieces. Peel, wash and roughly chop onion, ginger, garlic. Remove stems, wash and roughly chop green chillies. Remove stems of red chillies and grind to a smooth paste along with onion, ginger, garlic and green chillies, adding a little water if required. Wash, drain and finely shred curry leaves. Blend turmeric powder, lemon juice and rice flour into the masala paste and mix in salt to taste. Apply this mixture thoroughly and liberally on the chicken and leave to marinate for two to three hours, preferably in the refrigerator. Mix in shredded curry leaves into the chicken. Heat oil in shallow pan, add marinated chicken and sauté on high heat for two minutes on both sides to seal the exterior. Reduce heat to medium, cover with a lid and cook for fifteen to twenty minutes, turning over and basting frequently with the remaining marinade. Sprinkle a little water, if the chicken starts drying. The last few minutes of the cooking should be done on high heat again, so that the surface of the chicken is crisp and golden brown. Cut into smaller pieces and serve hot.