Madras Chicken Curry

Madras chicken curry is a common style of preparation of chicken curry in the southern part of India.
Chicken curry is made differently in different parts of India, where i come from Tamil Nadu there are a many styes of chicken curry. Every family has a particular style and is proud of it.
It varies from district to district and like i said before even from home to home. As a person born and brought up in madras (now Chennai) if you asked what is madras chicken curry mean to you. It means something quick and easy to make.
As people in madras city are always on the run. Some thing simple quick and delicious is madras chicken curry to me.
Today I wanted to introduce my home style chicken curry aka madras chicken curry. This madras chicken curry uses no coconut milk or tomatoes and is a spicy curry for rainy days. Trust me it will be an absolute hit if you make it.
I have always been fascinated by so many different ways of making Indian chicken curry even adding one extra ingredient or add a fresh ground masala changes the whole taste game of the these chicken curries.
Now lets jump to recipe. Do check out my other chicken recipes here
South Indian recipes similar to Madras Chicken curry
White chicken curry | Chicken Vellai Kuruma
Chicken Kuzhambu with coconut milk

How to eat Madras Chicken Curry
Serve this delicious madras chicken curry with poori, chapathi, rice or dosa.

Ingredients required
- 3 tbsp Coconut Oil/or any regular cooking oil –
- 1 tbsp Ginger Garlic paste – 1 table spoon
- 4-5 leaves Curry leaves – 4-5 leaves optional
- 1 no. Bay leaf
- 1 no. Star anise
- 1 no. Cardamon pod – 1
- 1 inch piece Cinnamon stick – 1 inch piece
- 1 no. Onions (big sized – finely chopped)
- 3 tsp Chilli powder reduce the spice to your preference
- 4 tsp Coriander powder
- 2 tsp Salt approx or to taste
- 1.5 cups Water – 1.5 cup
- 1 tsp Fresh pepper powder optional
- 400 gms Chicken cut into medium sized pieces
- 2 tbsp yoghurt
- 1 tsp Turmeric powder
Notes
This is a spicy curry and goes well with roti, phulkas, poori, idli and dosa. If you wish to make it less spicy reduce the quantity of chilli powder or skip the pepper powder.
Pictorial recipe (step by step)

- 1 : In a big bowl mix marinate the washed chicken pieces in turmeric, and yoghurt and keep aside for 30 mins
- 2 : heat a medium sized pressure cooker or a pot, add oil, the whole spices (bay leaf, star anise, cardamon pod, cinnamon stick, cloves),

3 : once the spices get infused in the oil, add in ginger garlic paste sauté well (ensure not to burn it)

4 : next add in the chopped onions, add a little salt and cook till the onions go nice and soft. It will take some time so be patient and this is an important step to bring the right smooth gravy.

5 : Next add in the marinated chicken pieces, curry leaves,

6 : next add the spice powders ( chilli powder, coriander and salt), and cover and simmer in medium flame for 5 mins. Stir in occasionally to avoid burning.

7 : Now add in the water. The measurement I have given here is for a liquid gravy if you wish to make it semi gravy, please reduce the water enough to cover the chicken pieces.

8 : Cover the pressure cooker and cook in medium flame for about 3 whistles. If you are cooking in a pan, cook covered in medium flame for about 25-30 mins.

9 : once the pressure is released, open it and add some fresh pepper powder, transfer to a bowl, garnish with fresh coriander leaves.

Thats it your delicious Indian chicken curry ready.

Chicken curry without coconut
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp Coconut Oil/or any regular cooking oil –
- 1 tbsp Ginger Garlic paste – 1 table spoon
- 4-5 leaves Curry leaves – 4-5 leaves optional
- 1 no. Bay leaf
- 1 no. Star anise
- 1 no. Cardamon pod – 1
- 1 inch piece Cinnamon stick – 1 inch piece
- 1 no. Onions (big sized – finely chopped)
- 3 tsp Chilli powder reduce the spice to your preference
- 4 tsp Coriander powder
- 2 tsp Salt approx or to taste
- 1.5 cups Water – 1.5 cup
- 1 tsp Fresh pepper powder optional
- 400 gms Chicken cut into medium sized pieces
- 2 tbsp yoghurt
- 1 tsp Turmeric powder
Instructions
- Step 1 : In a big bowl mix marinate the washed chicken pieces in turmeric, and yoghurt and keep aside for 30 mins
- Step 2 : heat a medium sized pressure cooker or a pot, add oil, the whole spices (bay leaf, star anise, cardamon pod, cinnamon stick, cloves),
- Step 3 : once the spices get infused in the oil, add in ginger garlic paste sauté well (ensure not to burn it)
- Step 4 : next add in the chopped onions, add a little salt and cook till the onions go nice and soft. It will take some time so be patient and this is an important step to bring the right smooth gravy.
- Step 5 : Next add in the marinated chicken pieces, curry leaves,
- Step 6 : next add the spice powders ( chilli powder, coriander and salt), and cover and simmer in medium flame for 5 mins. Stir in occasionally to avoid burning.
- Step 7 : Now add in the water. The measurement I have given here is for a liquid gravy if you wish to make it semi gravy, please reduce the water enough to cover the chicken pieces.
- Step 8 : Cover the pressure cooker and cook in medium flame for about 3 whistles. If you are cooking in a pan, cook covered in medium flame for about 25-30 mins.
- Step 9 : once the pressure is released, open it and add some fresh pepper powder, transfer to a bowl, garnish with fresh coriander leaves.
- Thats it your delicious Indian chicken curry ready.
Notes
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