Malnad Chicken Curry, also called Koli Saaru or Karnataka-style chicken gravy, is a spicy and flavorful chicken side dish prepared using aromatic spices and herbs. The unique flavors in the dish are because of the combination of ingredients that makes this irresistible.
While you are here, don't forget to check out our best chicken handi recipe, easy chicken biryani or chicken tikka masala.
It was in early April this year we first visited Chikmagalur, and we ordered Malnad-style chicken curry for lunch at the restaurant in our hotel. It was so delicious, and the flavors were something that I had never tasted before in curry. We loved the gravy so much that we ordered it again for dinner. If you have been following our blog for a long time - you would know that we would try replicating this dish at home.
After we returned from the trip, the dish was replicated to perfection. It is an excellent country-style chicken curry that you should try.
What is so special about this Malnad chicken curry?
The combination of spices, cilantro, and mint gives the masala a unique flavor. The curry is then taken to the next level with the addition of coconut milk. I am sorry, but I am drooling while writing this post. To know why it is the best, you should try this out. You won't be disappointed.
How to serve Malnad chicken curry?
This dish can be served with steamed rice, parboiled rice or Indian bread like naan, roti, or chapatis. In the Malnad region, this curry is served with akki rotti (rice chapati) or ragi mudde.
Ingredients For Malnad Chicken Curry | Kozhi Curry | Koli Saaru | Green Chicken Curry Indian
For chicken marination
400 grams of Chicken thighs
1 teaspoon Salt
½ teaspoon Turmeric powder
Juice of 1 lemon
For the curry masala paste
5 to 6 Green chilies
12 to 15 Garlic cloves
1 inch Ginger, chopped
2 tablespoon Coriander seeds, dry roasted
1 teaspoon Black peppercorn
1 inch Cinnamon stick
2 Cardamom pods
2 Cloves
2 Handful of coriander leaves or Cilantro
1 Handful, Mint leaves or Pudina
½ cup Water
2 tablespoon Cashews
Other ingredients
2 tablespoon Oil
2 Onions, medium-sized, sliced
2 Sprigs of curry leaves
¼ cup Water or use as required
¾ cup Coconut milk
1 teaspoon Garam masala powder
How To Make Malnad Chicken Curry? | Kozhi Curry | Koli Saaru
Chicken Marination
- In a bowl, add chicken pieces, salt, turmeric powder, and juice of a lemon, and mix well.
- Keep it aside for at least 15 minutes.
How to make Malnad curry masala?
- Add all the ingredients mentioned under "for the curry masala paste" in a blender or mixie jar and blend it into a smooth paste.
- You can check out the video here.
Best country-style chicken curry or kozhi curry
- In a pan on medium flame, add oil. Once the oil is hot, add onions and curry leaves and saute for 5 minutes or until the onion becomes translucent.
- Add marinated chicken and cook on one side for 3 minutes. Flip and cook on another side for another 3 minutes.
- To this, add the ground masala paste. Cover and cook it for 5 minutes. Give it a toss, cover, and continue to cook for another 5 minutes.
- Now add ¼ cup of water to the blender jar to clean any masala and add it to the gravy along with coconut milk. Stir well. Cover and cook for 5 minutes on low flame.
- Add garam masala powder, stir. Cover and cook for additional 5 minutes on low flame.
- When oil starts leaving the side of the pan, switch off the flame.
Tips:
- Adding cashews makes the gravy thicker, creamier, and richer. You can skip it or reduce the amount if needed.
- Adjust all the spices to taste.
- Adjust salt and water for desired taste and consistency.
Video recipe for Malnad Chicken Curry | Kozhi Curry | Koli Saaru | Green Chicken Gravy
Detailed recipe for Malnad Chicken Curry | Kozhi Curry | Koli Saaru | Hariyali Chicken
Recipe card
Malnad Chicken Curry | Kozhi Curry | Koli Saaru | Green Chicken Curry Indian
Ingredients
For chicken marination
- 400 grams Chicken thighs
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric powder
- Juice of 1 lemon
For the curry masala paste
- 5 to 6 Green chilies
- 12 to 15 cloves Garlic
- 1 inch Ginger , chopped
- 2 tablespoon Coriander seeds , dry roasted
- 1 teaspoon Black peppercorn
- 1 inch Cinnamon stick
- 2 pods Cardamom
- 2 Cloves
- 2 handful Cilantro or Coriander leaves
- 1 handful Mint leaves or Pudina
- ½ cup Water
- 2 tablespoon Cashews
Other ingredients
- 2 tablespoon Oil
- 2 medium Onions , sliced
- 2 sprigs Curry leaves
- ¼ cup Water or use as required
- ¾ cup Coconut milk
- 1 teaspoon Garam masala powder
Instructions
Chicken Marination
- In a bowl, add chicken pieces, salt, turmeric powder, juice of a lemon, and mix well.400 grams Chicken thighs, 1 teaspoon Salt, ½ teaspoon Turmeric powder, Juice of 1 lemon
- Keep it aside for at least 15 minutes.
How To Make Malnad Chicken Curry Masala?
- Add all the ingredients mentioned under “for the curry masala paste” in a blender or mixie jar and blend it into a smooth paste.5 to 6 Green chilies, 12 to 15 cloves Garlic, 1 inch Ginger, 2 tablespoon Coriander seeds, 1 teaspoon Black peppercorn, 1 inch Cinnamon stick, 2 pods Cardamom, 2 Cloves, 2 handful Cilantro, 1 handful Mint leaves, ½ cup Water, 2 tablespoon Cashews
- You can check out the video here.
Best Chicken Curry Or Kozhi Curry
- In a pan on medium flame, add oil. Once the oil is hot, add onions and curry leaves and saute for 5 minutes or until the onion becomes translucent.2 tablespoon Oil, 2 medium Onions, 2 sprigs Curry leaves
- Add marinated chicken and cook on one side for 3 minutes. Flip and cook on another side for another 3 minutes.
- To this, add the ground masala paste. Cover and cook it for 5 minutes. Give it a toss, cover, and continue to cook for another 5 minutes.
- Now add ¼ cup of water to the blender jar to clean any masala and add it to the gravy along with coconut milk. Stir well. Cover and cook for 5 minutes on low flame.¼ cup Water, ¾ cup Coconut milk
- Add garam masala powder, stir. Cover and cook for additional 5 minutes on low flame.1 teaspoon Garam masala powder
- When oil starts leaving the side of the pan, switch off the flame.
Notes
- Adding cashews makes the gravy thicker, creamier, and richer. You can skip it or reduce the amount if needed.
- Adjust all the spices to taste.
- Adjust salt and water for desired taste and consistency.
Nutrition
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Katherine
Such an incredible combo of ingredients in this curry!
Beth
Such a tasty chicken curry and a bit different to the usual curries! Delicious.
Amanda Wren-Grimwood
I have been looking for a new chicken curry recipe to try. This looks gorgeous!
Vidya Narayan
Best part about traditional recipes is that they never go out of style. Such flavorful green curry base! Absolutely delicious!
Casey
SO SO much flavor in this dish! Loved all the freshness --a perfect summer dish!