Kerala Nadan Chicken Curry
A homestyle ('nadan') Kerala chicken curry: chicken simmered in a deep red gravy of roasted spices, shallots, curry leaves and coconut oil, finished with a splash of coconut milk.
Servings
Ingredients
Nutrition
Per serving
Steps
Fry the seeds and onions
Heat 2 tbsp of the coconut oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the mustard seeds and wait about 30 seconds until they pop. Add the onions, shallots and two sprigs of , and cook over medium heat for about 12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- ½ tsp mustard seeds
- 2 onions
- 6 shallots
- 2 sprigs
✅ Done when: onions and shallots are soft and golden
Cook the spices
Add the and cook for 1 minute over medium heat. Lower the heat, add the chili powder, ground coriander and turmeric with a splash of water, and stir for about 2 minutes until the oil looks red. Add the tomatoes and cook for a few more minutes until soft.
- 1½ tbsp
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp ground coriander
- ½ tsp turmeric
- a splash water
- 2 tomatoes
✅ Done when: oil turns red and tomatoes break down into a soft paste
Cook the chicken
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Finish
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Fry the seeds and onions
Heat 2 tbsp of the coconut oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the mustard seeds and wait about 30 seconds until they pop. Add the onions, shallots and two sprigs of , and cook over medium heat for about 12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- ½ tsp mustard seeds
- 2 onions
- 6 shallots
- 2 sprigs
✅ Done when: onions and shallots are soft and golden
Cook the spices
Add the and cook for 1 minute over medium heat. Lower the heat, add the chili powder, ground coriander and turmeric with a splash of water, and stir for about 2 minutes until the oil looks red. Add the tomatoes and cook for a few more minutes until soft.
- 1½ tbsp
- 2 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp ground coriander
- ½ tsp turmeric
- a splash water
- 2 tomatoes
✅ Done when: oil turns red and tomatoes break down into a soft paste
Cook the chicken
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Finish
This step is part of Foodie Premium. Subscribe to unlock the full method, cooking mode and every recipe in the library.
The Story Behind the Dish
'Nadan' means country-style or homestyle in Malayalam. Kerala's nadan chicken curry is the everyday Sunday dish in many homes, especially in Christian households, where it's served with appam or puttu.
Coconut oil, curry leaves and slowly roasted spices are what make it unmistakably Keralan.
⭐ Why It's Famous
Deeply spiced and fragrant with coconut oil, it's a world away from northern-style curries.
💡 Fun Fact
Kerala's appam — a lacy, bowl-shaped fermented rice pancake — is the classic partner for this curry.
Kerala
9.59°N, 76.52°E
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