chicken ambulthiyal curry(black pepper-sour chicken curry).

A hot chicken dish without gravy that looks and tastes like grilled chicken, only it’s made over a stovetop.
Ingredients
- To make the goraka spice paste.
- 18 pieces of goraka(in a paste form 3 tablespoons. if you are substituting goraka with tamarind, in a paste form use, 2 and 1/2 tablespoons.
- Tamarind pulp with seeds-soak 3 tablespoons of tamarind in 1/4 cup of hot water for 10 minutes, squeeze and remove seeds to use the thick tamarind juice).
- To make the chicken ambulthiyal.
- 700 g of chicken
- 1 and 1/2 tablespoon of black pepper powder
- 1 teaspoon of turmeric
- 1 tablespoon of red chilli powder(reduce to 1 teaspoon if you need it less spicy)
- 1 tablespoon of roasted curry powder(read notes above if you are looking for a substitute ingredient)
- A sprig of curry leaves
- 2-inch piece Pandan leaf
- 1 stalk of lemongrass slightly bruised
- 1-inch piece cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon of minced or roughly chopped garlic
- 1 cup of water
- 2-3 tablespoons of oil
- 1 tablespoon of black peppercorns
- 4 cloves of garlic
Instructions
- 1
Cut and wash the chicken parts thoroughly, remove any excess fat trimmings, make sharp and deep incisions(2-3) over the meat especially if you are using legs, set aside.
- 2
I have given the quantity for both paste or pulp with seeds on the ingredient list.
- 3
Once the goraka is soft, use a few tablespoons of the same water, peppercorns(1 tbs), the garlic cloves, the goraka(brindleberry)and blend it to make a thick paste.
- 4
MAKING THE AMBULTHIYAL PASTE.Place the goraka pieces(18 pieces), garlic(4 cloves) in a pan with 1/2 cup of water. slow simmer for 10 minutes or until the goraka is soft.
- 5
If you are using tamarind as a substitute– do not boil just blend the garlic, peppercorns to make a watery paste.
- 6
HOW TO MARINATE THE CHICKEN FOR THE AMBULTHIYAL.
- 7
Place the chicken parts(700g)in a large bowl.
- 8
Add pepper(1 and 1/2 tbs), chilli powder(1tbs), turmeric(1 tsp), roasted curry powder(1 tbs), season with salt(1 tsp or a little more for seasoning with caution not to make it too salty).
- 9
Finally, add the goraka paste and rub it onto the chicken parts.
- 10
Combine all ingredients and rub the dry spices on to the chicken, if you are sensitive to spices, wear disposable gloves to combine the curry powders with the chicken.
- 11
Let the chicken marinate for 15 minutes.
- 12
Transfer the marinated chicken to a cooking pan.
- 13
Add curry leaves(a sprig), pandan leaf(1 inch) lemongrass(1 stalk), garlic(1 tbs). oil(2 tbs).
- 14
Add water(1 cup), place the chicken ambulthiyal curry over low flame and slow simmer.
- 15
Check for seasoning once you have a thick gravy and season with salt if needed.
- 16
Continue to slow simmer until all water is absorbed and the chicken turns to a dry curry.
- 17
Maintaining low-medium heat. slightly sear the meat to give it a charred taste and look. add a tablespoon of oil if you need.
- 18
Cook the pepper chicken until you have a dry chicken ambulthiyal curry.
- 19
Made this recipe?
- 20
Please don’t forget to rate the recipe on the recipe card so other readers find it helpful and show me your recipe by tagging me #islandsmile178 on Instagram.
Cook it from the original
This recipe comes from islandsmile.org. Their page has the author’s own photos, notes and tips — the best place to cook it from.
Open the recipe on islandsmile.org