Chicken in coconut gravy

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cups grated coconut 

1cup Coconut milk

1.5tbsp vegetable Oil

6 whole dried red chilies

1.5 tsp coriander seeds

1/8 tsp mustard seeds

1/4 tsp fenugreek seeds

1-inch cinnamon stick

1 tsp cumin seeds

5 Black pepper

4 cloves

1/2 tsp tumeric powder

1 tsp tamarind powder/paste

1.5 cups chopped onions

1tbsp fresh ginger paste

750-800gm chicken pieces

salt to taste

DIRECTIONS

• In a skillet, over a low heat, put 1 or 2 tbsp of the oil just to grease the pan and saute the coconut for 5 minutes or until brown. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Add 1tsp of oil just to grease the pan and saute the dried red chilies for 2-3 minutes, then add the coriander, mustard,fenugreek seeds, cinnamon, cumin seeds, peppercorns, cloves and tumeric, in this order. Stir continuously one minutes after putting in the last item, remove from heat.
• Put above spices into a blender with fried coconut,tamarind, half the onion, the ginger and garlic, and 1tbsp of  coconut milk and blend to make a smooth paste. 
• Heat oil in a cooking pot. Saute the remaining chopped onion until medium-brown.
• Add the spice paste together with a little water and saute for 10 mins on medium heat, then add the chicken and saute for a few minutes.
• Add the half of coconut milk and salt to taste. Add 1 cup of water. Cook over a low heat, covered, until the chicken is almost done, then add remaining coconut milk and the curry leaves, and boil for just 1-2 minutes.

# Use only dried red chilies, not fresh/paste/powder.
## For coconut milk:Soak 1 cup of grated coconut in 1 cup of warm water for 30 minutes, then put it into a blender to obtain the 1st extract of milk. Strain and reserve.