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Kerala Chicken Fry


Kerala Chicken Fry

Today's recipe is a spicy and delicious home-style chicken fry. It is similar to the ones popular in thattukadas in Kerala's, Trivandrum region. Fried chicken and chapatis/ parottas is a usual favorite combo in hotels and fast food outlets in Kerala. Do you like fried chicken? I am addicted to crispy, spicy fried foods and spicy fried chicken is any favorite. This is calorie-rich food but I make them once in a while, and this is always my go-to recipe. In Kerala, we often go-to fast food joints and buy this kind of chicken. But I love my mom's recipe that tastes just like the thattukada chicken. For me, this is absolute comfort food and has the deep essence of homey Kerala food.

This chicken fry is finger-licking good, crispy on the outside and succulent on the inside with the flavors of earthy spices, coconut oil, and the crispy fried onions adds a delicious flavor to the chicken fry. Chicken lovers will love this simple, yet flavorful chicken with the enticing flavor of chilies and spices. The highlight of this chicken is crushed chilly flakes which adds a spicy kick. It tastes best when warm and crispy and is perfect with parottas or with steamed rice and rasam. It is a quintessential dish for parties and Christmas feasts in Kerala. It tastes best when warm and crispy. Serve it as a party appetizer, you are going to amaze your friends and guests. It is deep-fried, but you can also use the pan fry method or bake in the oven. Give this recipe a try, you will surely love it. Let me know how it turned out for you :)


The wonderful flavor of this much-loved chicken delicacy of Kerala comes from the marinade. It consists of ginger garlic paste, crushed chilly flakes, black pepper, fennel seeds, and earthy spices. Chilly powder like Kashmiri is preferred for the color rather than heat. For the chilly flakes, you can use Kashmiri chilly flakes. As for the spiciness, you can adjust as per your liking. I have used Kashmiri chili powder. It is less spicy and has a good color. You can soak chilly and make a paste or use the store brought Kashmiri chili powder. For best results marinate overnight and keep it in the refrigerator. The marinade has the right balance with chilies, aromatic spices, and tang of vinegar- a perfect balance of acidity, spicy heat, and flavor of earthy spices.

This chicken is deep-fried but you can also shallow fry or use the air fryer. 
Use coconut oil for authentic Kerala flavor. The delicate flavor of curry leaves, fried ginger and fried onion that is used as garnish enhances the flavor. You can use thinly sliced toasted coconut pieces for a sweet crunch. 

I have shared a lot of chicken recipes in this space. Here are a few chicken recipes if you are interested.

 Spicy Almond Chicken
Korean Chilli Garlic Chicken
Chicken Cutlet
Jamaican Jerk Chicken
Chicken Liver Fry
Malabar Chicken Fry
Coq au Vin/ Anglo Indian Rooster Curry



Recipe for Kerala Chicken Fry- Trivandrum style
Cooking time- 25 minute
Recipe type- side dish/appetizer
Cuisine- Kerala

Ingredients
Chicken drumsticks- 4-5
Ginger garlic paste- 2 tsp
Whole red chilly-8-10
( Or 1 1/2 tbs of Kashmiri chilly powder
Add as per your tolerance )
Turmeric powder- 1/4 tsp
Coriander powder- 1/2 tsp
Garam Masala- 1/2 tsp
Fennel powder- 1/2 tsp
Pepper powder- 1/3 tsp( optional)
lemon juice- a few drops
Rice flour or vinegar-1 tsp(optional)
Salt to taste
Crushed Chilly flakes- 1 tsp
Pepper powder- 1/2 tsp
For garnish
Sliced onion- 1 medium
Sliced ginger- 1 inch thick
Left over chicken marinade
Curry leaves
Oil to fry - 2 cups

Clean and pat dry the chicken drumsticks( remove the skin) and make two or three gashes. Meanwhile, remove the seeds of the dry red chilly and soak it in a little warm salt water for half an hour. Grind this into a fine paste along with ginger and garlic and a spring of curry leaves. Mix the rest of the ingredients except those listed under garnish and marinate the chicken. Keep in refrigerated for at least half an hour. You can marinate it overnight( add lemon juice or vinegar just before frying).

Just before frying sprinkle rice flour (or use corn starch).Pour oil, approximately 2 cups in a pan and heat it to medium-high temperature, and carefully drop in the chicken. First, fry in high and then reduce the heat to medium. Fry on one side for about four to five minutes and then turn around and continue to fry till done and till it is nice and crispy.
Mix all the ingredients listed under three and fry them in the same oil that you used to fry the chicken. Arrange this on a plate and place the chicken on top. You can drizzle a few drops of lemon juice just before serving.

Shallow fry method
Marinate the chicken as stated above. Heat oil in a pan. When hot add the chicken pieces and fry till one side is golden brown. Using a spatula flip and turn to the other side.Cover and cook in medium flame for 8-10 minutes. Remove the lid, if necessary add one or two tbs of oil and continue frying till it is nice and crispy on all sides. 
Remove the chicken and in the same pan mix the reserved marinade with onions, sliced ginger, and curry leaves. Saute till it is crispy and golden brown. Sprinkle it over the fried chicken. 
Serve this with rice, chapatis, parottas or pathiri.





You might also like,
Malabar Chicken Fry
Kodavu/Coorg Chicken Fry
Quail/Kada Fry
Chicken Liver Fry
Kerala Chicken Roast
Indian Spice Roasted Cornish Hen

Like to try more chicken recipes, check my page 100 Chicken/Meat Recipes

Try this
Hope you will all enjoy..


Comments

  1. Hey u r making me drool.bookmarking it.u have lot of patience.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a fry that's Suja.What I found extremely unique with the recipe is the buttermilk portion.I am sure this is a super hit.Would love to try this.
    Seeing this I am drooling here sujee.You made me remember about the thattukada special fry..Thanks a lot for this.

    ReplyDelete
  3. o my.. drooling .. Bookmarked dear..Soon u can expect this dish from me

    ReplyDelete
  4. Porottayum chicken fryum kazhicha kalam marannu!! Fry adipoli aayittundu, superb recipe!

    ReplyDelete
  5. awesome yummy and tempting :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. looks delicious, u got an awesome click too!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow.... My mouth is seriously watering looking at your picture... :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. wow looks so tempting dear !! loved it !!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Absolutely delicious and gorgeous chicken fry.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Chicken fry adipoli, that is why i call you non-vegetarian queen.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Wow, like everything you make, chciken fry is looking awesome Suja.,

    ReplyDelete
  12. Looks delicious love to have them with biriyani..

    Valar
    http://valarskitchen-basics.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  13. Seriously am drooling here...wat a tempting chicken fry..

    ReplyDelete
  14. Mouthwatering recipe...superb...slurp...

    ReplyDelete
  15. Loved the color of it......So tempting

    http://www.panchamrutham.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  16. wow...fry looks just so deliciouss dear...just too tempting to resist !

    ReplyDelete
  17. This is a superb dish. Loved the preparation. What an awesome chicken!

    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

    ReplyDelete
  18. wow fry looks superb mothwatering clicks dear

    ReplyDelete
  19. Drooling here> Slurp! Bookmarked to try out.

    ReplyDelete
  20. ho aa thilangi irikkana chicken kandittu sahikkunnilla :D

    ReplyDelete
  21. oo chechi, parottayum chickenum daivame kalam kure ay randum koode onnichu kazhichitte..Kidukkan aytundeee...Yummy recipe..

    ReplyDelete
  22. I can dig into the chicken right away :) YUM!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Looks so delicious , love the colour!

    ReplyDelete
  24. iyyo..enikkum kurachu tharane!!!! adipoli!!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Awesome and so tempting. Love it very much.

    Hamsamalini Chandrasekaran,
    http://indianyummykitchen.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thanks all for stopping by and for the sweet comments:)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Awesome clicks !!! This is one of my favorite !!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. wow. this is really good...i bring it to your notice tht thomas has rated your blog the best!

    ReplyDelete
  29. wow. looks delicious .will try soon

    ReplyDelete
  30. Thanks all for the sweet comments..do visit often...
    Thoma thanks, so happy that you find this blog interesting,Thanks for the encouraging comment:)

    ReplyDelete

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