Keralan Chicken Stew - a Syrian Christian Recipe

Found on Kuk's Kitchen blog. The poster is unnamed but the intro reads thus: "Chicken stew and appam was a staple at my home when guests came. But the stew I remember the most was one that my mum made on my cousin S's wedding day breakfast. Not sure if that special taste was due to the prior shallow frying of chicken pieces by my aunt E, my mum's special loving touch or the fact that it was such an enjoyable day with all of us cousins sitting around the breakfast table before our dear S chettan got married". Times shown are my guess only.

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 1  kg chicken piece
• 2  large potatoes
• 3  green chilies (nothing more was specified, go with you like)
• 1  inch fresh ginger, juliened
• 4  cinnamon sticks (2 inches each)
• 4  whole cloves
• 4  cardamom pods
• 4  peppercorns
• 2  bay leaves
• 200  ml  thick coconut milk (or more to taste)
• 100  ml water
• 2  tablespoons  oil, preferably coconut oil -
•  salt and pepper
•  fried cashew nuts (optional)
•  fried onions, slices (optional)

Directions

1. Heat oil in a pan and heat the whole spices.
2. Add cleaned medium sized chicken pieces , preferably with bone, to this and let both sides turn partially golden brown.
3. Add 100 ml of coconut milk together with 100 ml water to the pan.
4. Add diced potatoes, green chilli, ginger, salt and pepper and cook on medium flame till chicken is cooked through.
5. Add the rest of thick coconut milk and let it come to boil. Switch of flame at the first sign of boiling.
6. If you wish, garnish with fried cashew nuts and onion slices.