My Favourite Food(dish 1)

SPICY DRY-FRIED CHICKEN(CHICKEN VARUVAL)

 The authentic flavour from the Tamil Nadu,India

Spicy dry-fried chicken(chicken varuval) is the dry chicken curry originated from the Chettinad region of Tamil Nadu in Southern India.

This is my favourite Indian dry curry dish. I always enjoy having it whenever I thought of having some very authentic Indian flavour and I will ask my mom to cook for me. The Malaysian version is close to the original Chicken Varuval Chettinad with some minor alteration with the use of a small amount of Malaysian meat curry powder.

Malaysian style chicken varuval made by my mom

It has an intense flavour of herbs and spices since it is fried until nearly dry. If you have eaten rendang beef, butter chicken, chicken tikka masala, manchurian chicken or any other similar curries with gravy, you will find that Chicken Varuval is jam-packed with the complex flavour of herbs and spices more than any curry with sauce.

Fresh ground herbs and spices

Chettinad cuisine is one of the spiciest and most aromatic cuisines in India. It is renowned for the use of fresh ground herbs and spices. Chicken Varuval is one of the most popular Chettinad cuisines. The combination fennel seeds, cumin seeds, dry chillis and coriander seeds create the unique aroma & flavour to this dish. In older days, in order to feel the unique aroma of the dish the Indians will prepare or make the masala powder and paste by themselves whenever they want. These spices will toast lightly on a pan over low heat without oil. The toasted spices are not only more aromatic, but it is also dryer and easy to grind into powder or paste. You can use a mortar and pestle to grind it, but it is quicker with an electric spice grinder.

Spicy dry-fried chicken with capatti

This spicy dry-fried chicken goes well with rice, bread or any other more traditional indian accompaniments such as dosais, appams, parattha, and idlis.

And it is quick and easy to prepare- some simple steps and nearly foolproof.(don't forget to try the recipe out click here ).