Kozhi Nirachathu (Malabar Stuffed Chicken)

Malayalees especially from Malabar needs no introduction to this dish. It is one of the popular dishes among the Malabar Muslims. It is stuffed and roasted chicken and is usually made on festive occasions.The cuisine  of Malabar is rich and has many unique recipes and this stuffed chicken has a unique flavor and taste..no wonder it is so popular!

Kozhi nirachathu means stuffed chicken.The stuffing is a spicy onion and egg masala. This recipe invokes some sort of traditional and nostalgic feeling of good old times,with joint families and huge gatherings and bountiful supply of food. Here I have used Cornish hen, it is small and is perfect for one family dinner.

This is the first time that we tried this recipe.We made it as part of our Christmas dinner and is now a family favorite.Recipe source is from here

Ingredients
To marinate
Whole chicken-1
Red chilly powder- 1 tsp
Turmeric powder- 1/2 tsp
Salt to taste
Lemon juice- a few drops

For the stuffing
Onion sliced- 1 medium
Egg-1
Ginger-1 inch thick
Garlic- 2-3 pods
tomato- 1/2
Turmeric powder- a pinch
Chilly powder- 1/3 tsp
Fennel powder- 1/3 tsp
cloves-2
Cashew nuts- 5-6
Raisins- a few
Coriander leaves chopped- a little
oil- 2 tsp

For the masala
Onion sliced- 2
Ginger garlic paste- 2 tsp
Green chilly-2
Tomatoes-2
Chilly powder- 1 tsp
Kashmiri chilly powder- 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder- a pinch
Coriander powder- 1 tsp
Garam masala- 1 tsp
Biryani masala- 1/3 tsp
Curry leaves-a few
Coriander leaves- to garnish
salt to taste
oil as needed

Remove the skin and clean the chicken thoroughly both inside and outside.Squeeze and rub lemon juice inside the cavity and wash it thoroughly.Cut slits to allow the marinade to penetrate. Mix all ingredients listed under marinade into a smooth paste and rub all over the chicken and apply in the inside too. Allow this to marinate for about an hour.

Boil eggs and remove the shell and keep aside.
To prepare the stuffing heat oil in a pan and add cashews and raisins followed by ginger and garlic. Saute till raw flavor disappears .Add onions and fry till golden brown. Add tomatoes and cook till it becomes soft. Finally add turmeric powder, chilly powder fennel powder and coriander leaves. Saute for one more minute and switch off the flame.Allow this to cool.

To stuff the chicken.
Into the cavity first stuff the egg followed by the above masala. Do not over stuff the chicken.Bring the legs together and using a twine tie the legs. Pull the wings together to the front and tie them.
In a wide fry pan heat 1/4 cup of oil and place the chicken. Cook in medium flame till it gets fried slightly browned up.Turn around and fry the other side. Similarly rotate the chicken and brown up the sides. This will take about 8-10.Mean while pre heat oven to 350 degree F and grease a baking dish. Place this fried chicken in the baking pan and bake for about 25 minutes.

To make the masala gravy
Use the same pan in which the chicken was fried. Heat and add sliced onion and curry leaves and saute till golden brown followed by ginger garlic paste and saute for about one minute. Add tomatoes and allow to cook till completely mashed up and oil separates. Add all the spice powders and fry till there is a nice aroma.Add 1/3 cup of water and simmer for about a minute. Place the baked chicken on top. Fully cover and coat with the masala and gently roast it in low flame  for another three to four minutes on each side till chicken gets coated with the masala and together they get slightly roasted. Serve this with pathiri or rice.

You might also like,
Kerala Chicken Fry
Tandoori Chicken
Indian Spiced Roasted Cornish Hen
Quail/Kada Fry
Nadan Chicken Curry
Baked Spicy Mexican Chicken

Try this..
Hope you will all enjoy.