Kozhi Nirachathu (Stuffed Chicken)

Kozhi Nirachathu is a popular and traditional Malabari dish from the Indian state of Kerala. It involves stuffing a whole chicken with a spicy onion masala and then pan-frying it to perfection.

📝 Ingredients

• 800 grams skinless whole chicken
• 1 1/2 tbsp Kashmiri red chilli powder
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon cooking oil (sunflower or coconut oil)
• salt to taste
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil (sunflower or coconut oil)
• 3 medium-sized red onions (finely sliced)
• 1 to 2 sprig of curry leaves
• 3 to 4 green chillies (chopped finely)
• 2 teaspoons ginger garlic paste
• 1 large tomato (quartered (this makes it easy to fish out the skin))
• 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chilli powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoon coriander powder
• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds powder
• 1/2 teaspoon Malabar garam masala
• Fresh coriander leaves
• salt to taste
• 1 to 2 hard-boiled eggs (peeled)
• 1/4 cup cooking oil (to roast and cook the chicken)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1--- Marinate the whole chicken: ---
2. 2Wash the chicken thoroughly under running water and then drain and blot dry with paper towels. Blot dry the cavity and remove any large traces of blood.
3. 3Place the chicken in a shallow pan to marinate. Make a deep incision on the breast, legs, and thighs.
4. 4Take a small mixing bowl and make a paste of the marination ingredients. Rub this marinade all over the chicken making sure to get inside the incisions. Let it marinate for at least 1 hour or overnight in the fridge.
5. 5--- Prepare the Gravy Stuffing: ---
6. 6Heat coconut oil in a thick-bottomed pan or Kadai that has a fitting lid and is large enough to hold the whole chicken.
7. 7Add onions, curry leaves, green chillies, ginger and garlic and sauté till the onion turns golden brown.
8. 8Next, add tomato and ground spices with salt and sauté on medium heat until it melts down completely - fish out the tomato skin if possible. sauté till it forms a pulpy gravy.
9. 9Finish it off with some coriander leaves and a sprinkle of malabar garam masala.
10. 10--- Stuff the Chicken ---
11. 11Place the boiled egg into the cavity of the chicken along with some portion of the prepared gravy taking care not to overstuff it.
12. 12Close the cavity with a toothpick. Tie the legs together with twine and tuck the wings.
13. 13--- Pot Roast the stuffed Chicken ---
14. 14Heat more coconut oil in the same pan enough to cover the whole surface of the pan and add the curry leaves.
15. 15Place the whole chicken carefully over the pan and roast on all sides until you see some browning. This is the make or break of the dish. You need to carefully turn the chicken on each side ensuring the stuffing is intact. So, use two spatulas to hold and turn the chicken.
16. 16While pan-frying each side, ensure to scoop some oil and pour it over the chicken including areas between thighs, legs, and wings. Keep doing this every single time you turn the chicken.
17. 17Close the lid and cook further to make sure that the chicken is cooked through. Keep an eye, lest it burns. Cook for at least 15 to 20 minutes.
18. 18Towards the end, add the leftover gravy and close and let it cook for a few more minutes. This is the traditional method, but I serve the remaining gravy as a side.
19. 19Switch off and serve the chicken garnished with fresh coriander leaves and drizzle lime juice. Serve warm with any Indian flatbread or rice.