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Chicken Chettinad

Name: Chicken Chettinad
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 700 g Chicken, cut into pieces; 6 pc Whole red chilli; 1 tsp Black pepper; 1 tsp Fennel seeds; 1 tsp Cumin seeds; 3 tbsp Grated coconut, grated; 4 tbsp Cooking oil; 2 pc Onion, sliced; 1 tbsp Ginger, paste; 1 tbsp Garlic, paste; 2 pc Tomato, chopped; 0.5 tsp Turmeric; 1.5 tsp Salt, to taste; 10 pc Curry leaves

60 min Medium 4 servings

Serves 4 · Total 60 min · Prep 20 min · Cook 40 min

Updated on 8 November 2026

Photo: Maccess Corporation / CC BY-SA 4.0

A fiery curry from the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu, built on a freshly ground masala of dried red chillies, black pepper, fennel and coconut. One of India's spiciest regional chicken curries.

Quick answer: 60 min in total · serves 4 · main ingredients: Chicken, Whole red chilli, Black pepper, Fennel seeds · amounts in metric and US

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Ingredients

Metric US

700 g 1.5 lb Chicken, cut into pieces
6 pc 6 pc Whole red chilli
1 tsp 1 tsp Black pepper
1 tsp 1 tsp Fennel seeds
1 tsp 1 tsp Cumin seeds
3 tbsp 3 tbsp Grated coconut, grated
4 tbsp 4 tbsp Cooking oil
2 pc 2 pc Onion, sliced
1 tbsp 1 tbsp Ginger, paste
1 tbsp 1 tbsp Garlic, paste
2 pc 2 pc Tomato, chopped
0.5 tsp 0.5 tsp Turmeric
1.5 tsp 1.5 tsp Salt, to taste
10 pc 10 pc Curry leaves (Optional)

Steps

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Dry-roast whole red chillies, black pepper, fennel, cumin and grated coconut until fragrant.
⏱ Roasting masala · 3 min
Cool and grind into a fine paste with a splash of water.
Heat oil; fry sliced onion and curry leaves until deep golden.
⏱ Frying onion · 6 min
Add ginger-garlic paste and cook for a minute, then add tomato and turmeric, cooking until soft.
⏱ Cooking the tomato · 5 min
Add the chicken and sear for 5 minutes on high heat.
⏱ Searing chicken · 5 min
Add the ground spice paste and salt, along with 1 cup of water; cover and simmer until the chicken is tender and reaches 74 °C / 165 °F, about 20 minutes.
⏱ Simmering curry · 20 min
Serve hot with steamed rice or dosa.

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Frequently asked questions

How long does Chicken Chettinad take?

60 minutes in total: about 20 minutes of prep and 40 minutes of cooking.

Is Chicken Chettinad hard to make?

Degchi rates it medium. The method has 7 steps, and 5 of them have a timer you can start on this page.

How many people does Chicken Chettinad serve?

This recipe serves 4. Use the toggle above the ingredient list to see the amounts in metric or US measures. For more or fewer portions, scale every amount in the same proportion, or use the servings control in the Degchi app.

Is Chicken Chettinad halal, vegetarian or eggless?

It is marked halal in our recipe data. It is not vegetarian. It has no egg. It has no beef. Check the labels on any packaged ingredients for your own needs.

What will I probably need to buy for Chicken Chettinad?

Everyday staples that Degchi counts as pantry basics: cooking oil, turmeric, salt. Spice-box items: whole red chilli, black pepper, fennel seeds, cumin seeds. Fresh items you will probably need to buy: chicken, onion, ginger, garlic, tomato. Lentils, grains and other dry goods: grated coconut.

Any tips for making Chicken Chettinad?

Grinding your own whole spices fresh, rather than using pre-made curry powder, is what gives Chettinad food its signature punch.