Chicken Xacuti / Goan Chicken Curry

This recipe is my entry to the event "Shhh!!! Cooking Secretly" challenge conducted by Mayuri Patel of Mayuri's Jikoni.  For the month of January, I have paired with Vidya Narayan of " Masala chilli " and the ingredients given by her are coconut and cumin.

We planned to try Goan cuisine with the given ingredients.  

Seafood, coconut, spices and rice are main ingredients of this cuisine.

After I explored many recipes, I want to this try this exotic chicken xacuti recipe from the vast goan cuisine.  It was a lip smacking and aromatic gravy.

Chicken Xacuti ( also known as chacuti in Portuguese) is one of the popular dish from Goan cuisine. This dish has wonderful blend of spices, red chilli and coconut. 

Instead of chicken, you can try this using vegetables,prawn or mutton too.

Try and enjoy this  goan delicacy with your family members!

                          

PREP TIME

20 min

COOK TIME

20  mins

TOTAL TIME 

40 mins

                                                                                                                                                   

Recipe for Chicken Xacuti

Recipe type: Main course

Cuisine: Goa

Serves: 4 persons (approximately)

Ingredients:

Chicken - 800 gms
Onion - 1 large(finely chopped)
Turmeric powder - ½  tsp

Tamarind water - 2 to 3 tablespoon
Salt - as reqired

Coconut oil - 2 to 3 tablesppon

For the Xacuti masala
Coriander seeds - 2 tbsp
Dry red chillies - 5 to 8 nos (preferably kashmiri red chillies)
Peppercorns - 1
Fennel seeds - 1 tsp
Cumin seeds - 1 tsp
Cinnamon sticks - 1
Cloves - 3
Star anise - 3
Coconut - 1 to 1 ½ cup

Grind it along with ginger 1" paste and garlic cloves - 4 to 6

Directions:

Clean and wash the chicken; cut into pieces.     Marinate with salt and turmeric powder; keep aside.

Heat a pan, add the ingredients from coriander seeds to star anise.  Start roasting in medium flame. Once the aroma started to come.

Add grated coconut and saute till it reaches golden brown in colour.

Allow to cool; add ginger and garlic to the coconut mixture. Grind it into fine paste by using water.

Heat oil in a wide pan, saute onion till it becomes translucent.   Add the marinated chicken, saute for 2 to 3 minute.

After that add the grounded spice coconut mixture.   Saute well till masala coats the chicken.

Add 2 glass of water to the chicken and close the pan with the lid; allow to cook.

Once the chicken is cooked , add tamarind paste.   Mix well and reduce the flame; continue to cook for another 5 to 10 minute till oil comes out.

Switch of the flame and garnish with coriander leaves.

Serve hot along with rice and relish!