Nadan Chicken Curry with bone-in chicken in a coconut gravy, served with Kerala Matta rice

Nadan Chicken Curry

About Nadan Chicken Curry

Nadan Chicken Curry is a home-style Kerala chicken curry built around small bone-in chicken pieces cooked in a balanced onion, tomato and coconut-milk gravy. “Nadan” points to a country-style, everyday approach rather than one rigid recipe, so the seasoning and richness can vary between households.

Its character comes from coconut oil, curry leaves, green chilli and a steady layering of spice, with coconut milk softening the heat without making the gravy overly heavy. The result is warming, aromatic and suited to everyday meals as well as a larger family lunch. It is commonly served with Kerala Matta rice, appam, idiyappam or parotta.

Cooking Nadan Chicken Curry Outside Its Home Region

For home cooks, South Indian caterers and restaurant kitchens outside Kerala, including across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, North America, Australia and New Zealand, Nadan Chicken Curry can be more difficult to recreate when chicken cuts, coconut products and fresh curry leaves are sold in different formats.

For home cooks, smaller skinless curry-cut chicken is not always easy to find. A butcher can usually prepare a mix of bone-in thigh and drumstick pieces, while frozen curry leaves and full-fat coconut milk are practical options where fresh ingredients are unavailable. Keeping the chicken pieces similar in size and adding the richer coconut milk near the end helps the curry cook evenly and stay balanced.

For professional kitchens, the main challenge is consistency. Variable chicken cuts, different coconut-milk brands and rushed service can lead to uneven cookery or a gravy that becomes too thin or heavy. A standardised bone-in cut, measured liquid and gentle final finish help maintain the familiar home-style character across batches.

Nadan Chicken Curry

CoChilli pro

Servings

4 servings

Prep Time

20 minutes

Cook Time

40 minutes

Cuisine

Kerala Cuisine

Category

Main Course

Nadan Chicken Curry is a traditional dish built around chicken, layered aromatics and a balanced South Indian flavour profile.

Nadan Chicken Curry

Ingredients

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    • 1 kg skinless chicken, cut into curry pieces

    • ½ teaspoon turmeric powder

    • ¾ teaspoon fine salt

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    • 3 tablespoons coconut oil

    • 2 medium onions, thinly sliced

    • 2 green chillies, slit

    • 2 tablespoons finely chopped ginger

    • 2 tablespoons finely chopped garlic

    • 2 medium tomatoes, chopped

    • 2 sprigs curry leaves, divided

    • 1½ tablespoons coriander powder

    • 1½ teaspoons Kashmiri red chilli powder

    • ½ teaspoon hot red chilli powder

    • ½ teaspoon turmeric powder

    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

    • ½ teaspoon ground fennel seeds

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    • 350 ml full-fat coconut milk, divided

    • 250 ml water

    • ½ teaspoon garam masala

    • 1 tablespoon coconut oil, for finishing

    Directions

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      1. Mix the chicken with turmeric and salt. Rest for 15 minutes while preparing the sauce.

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      1. Heat coconut oil in a wide pan. Cook onions, green chillies and one sprig curry leaves until soft and lightly golden.

      2. Add ginger and garlic. Cook for 2 minutes.

      3. Lower the heat. Add coriander, chilli powders, turmeric, black pepper and fennel with a splash of water. Cook for 1 minute.

      4. Add tomatoes and cook until soft and pulpy.

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      1. Add the chicken and turn through the masala.

      2. Add water and 250 ml coconut milk. Cover and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes or until cooked through.

      3. Stir in remaining coconut milk, garam masala, remaining curry leaves and coconut oil. Simmer gently for 2 minutes, then rest before serving.
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      CoChilli Pro Kerala Series

      A More Practical Route to Nadan Chicken Curry

      Nadan Chicken Curry gets its depth from slowly cooking an onion-and-spice base, balancing coconut milk and allowing bone-in chicken to absorb the gravy. It is a rewarding dish to build from scratch, but it can take time and close attention when chicken cuts and pantry ingredients vary. For a more practical route to this rustic, balanced curry style, explore the CoChilli Pro product used for this dish below.

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