Simple Chicken Curry for Beginners | Easy Hotel-Style Chettinad Gravy

Ready to graduate from instant noodles and egg bhurji? If you’ve always wanted to make a real, flavorful, hotel-style chicken gravy but felt too intimidated, this recipe is for you.

We are tackling the famous Chettinad Simple Chicken Curry for Beginners, but I’m sharing a simplified version that is absolutely perfect for beginners. Don’t let the name “Chettinad” scare you. Yes, it’s known for its bold spices, but the method is surprisingly straightforward.

This is the perfect bachelor chicken curry recipe to make on a weekend. It’ll impress your friends, your family, or just yourself! The secret is in the fresh ground paste, which gives it that authentic, rich flavor that you just can’t get from a packet.

Let’s get cooking!

Simple chicken curry for Beginners | Bachelors | Chicken Gravy

Why This is the Perfect "Beginner" Chicken Curry

No Complicated Steps: We break it down into two easy parts: cooking the chicken and making the paste.
Authentic Taste: The fresh ground paste with cashews, coconut, and spices gives it a creamy, restaurant-quality texture and taste.
It’s Impressive: This is the kind of dish you serve when you want to show off your new cooking skills. It’s a “special” meal without the “special” effort.

Ingredients You’ll Need

We’ll break this down into three parts to keep it simple.

1. For Cooking the Chicken (The Base):

Chicken: 1/2 kg, washed and cut
Oil: Required amount (Pro-tip: Use Good Sesame Oil (Nallennai) for that authentic Chettinad taste!)
Small Onions (Chinna Vengayam): A handful, finely chopped
Green Chillies: 3, just slit them
Curry Leaves: A sprig
Ginger-Garlic Paste: 1 spoon
Tomato: 1, chopped
Water: As needed

2. The Dry Masalas (for the gravy):

Turmeric Powder: 1 spoon
Chilli Powder: 1 spoon (or more!)
Garam Masala: 1/2 spoon
Coriander Powder: 1 spoon
Pepper: 2 spoons (Chettinad is famous for pepper!)
Salt: To your taste

3. For the Fresh Ground “Secret” Paste:

Small Onions: 10
Coconut: A small piece
Pepper: 2 spoons
Cumin (Seeragam): 2 spoons
Cardamom (Elaikkai): 1
Cinnamon (Pattai): 2 small pieces
Fennel (Sombu): A little
Star Anise: 1
Cashews: 10 (soak them in a little hot water)
Poppy Seeds (Kasakasa): 1 tsp (soak this with the cashews)

The Easy Step-by-Step Cooking Guide

Part 1: Sauté and Cook the Chicken

Heat your oil in a pan. Once it’s properly hot, add the chopped small onions, green chilies, and curry leaves. Sauté (or vadakki) them well until the onions are soft.
Add the ginger-garlic paste and fry for one minute until the raw smell disappears.
Toss in the chopped tomato, and right after, add your washed chicken pieces.
Now, add all the “Dry Masalas” – turmeric, chili powder, garam masala, coriander powder, salt, and pepper. Give it a great mix, coating every piece of chicken.
Pour in enough water to just cover the chicken. Cover the pan and let it boil for about 10 minutes.

Part 2: The Magic Paste & Finishing the Curry

While the chicken is boiling, make your paste. In a mixer jar, add all the “Ground Paste” ingredients except the soaked cashews and poppy seeds. Give it a quick first grind.
Now, add the soaked cashews and poppy seeds. Grind this again until it becomes a super fine, smooth paste (add a splash of water if needed). This is your gravy base!
Check your pan. The chicken curry should be boiling well (nalla kothikkanum!). Pour this beautiful, freshly-ground paste directly into the boiling curry.
Stir everything together well. You’ll see the gravy instantly become thicker and creamier.
Cover the pan again, lower the heat to a simmer, and let it cook for another 15 minutes. Stir it occasionally to make sure the masala (மசாலால்லாம்) incorporates beautifully and doesn’t stick.

That’s it! You’ve just made an incredible, hotel-style Chettinad Chicken Curry.

How to Serve This Chicken Gravy

This curry is a champion all-rounder. It’s perfect with:

Hot steamed rice (the best combo!)
Chappatis or Rotis
Dosas and Idlis
Even Bread or Pav

More Recipes You Have to Try!

If you loved making this, why not try some of our other easy recipes?

Street Style Aloo Bonda (15-Min Snack): https://youtu.be/cgKhAxD4NVk
Hotel Style Spicy Tomato Chutney (Perfect for Dosa!): https://youtu.be/vMlnGf9uDPs
Easy 15-Min Butter Bun Snack: https://youtu.be/Oq4-6G6y4FI

Did you try this beginner’s chicken curry?
How did it turn out? Let me know in the comments!
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