GOAN XACUTI CHICKEN

Xacuti (pronounced Shakuti) is a typical Goan curry bursting with flavours from a number of spices. This dish also has a beautiful red tinge from the Kashmiri chillies and is perfect served with Goan Coconut Rice.

Serves: 6 people | Prep : 15 mins | Cooking : 40 mins

Health Hack: Spices like kashmiri chillies, star anise and ginger add to the flavour of the dish along with promoting calorie burn through heat generation.

Fresh Ingredients

Chicken - 1 kg, skinned thighs & drumsticks on the bone
Fresh coconut – 150gms, thinly sliced
Onion – 1 large, sliced lengthwise
Tomatoes – 2 large, sliced lengthwise
Garlic – 5 large cloves, sliced
Ginger – 2-inch piece, sliced
Curry leaves – 20
Fresh coriander – 1 tbsp, finely chopped
Water – 200mls
Coconut milk – 200mls

Spices

Star anise – 1
Bay leaf – 1
Cinnamon – 2-inch stick
Black cloves – 7
Black peppercorns – 10
Cumin - ¼ tsp
Coriander seeds – 2 tbsp
Poppy seeds – ¼ tsp
Fennel seeds – 1 tsp
Whole Kashmiri chilli – 5
Mustard seeds – ½ tsp
Salt - to taste
Oil - 5 tbsp

Step 1

Heat 3 tbsp. of oil in a pan on medium heat. Add onion, coconut, ginger, and garlic one after the other and fry until light golden. Just before removing from heat, add coriander leaves and sauté for another minute. Allow this mixture to cool down on a plate.

Step 2

Now add another tbsp of oil to the pan to fry all the whole spices (except mustard seeds) on low heat for around 3-4 minutes, until they release aroma.

Step 3

Once these have cooled, put them in a blender along with the onions, coconut, garlic, and ginger fried before. Keep adding water in small quantities as you blend and make a smooth paste.

Step 4

Cooking Instructions (For the Curry): Heat the remaining 1 tbsp oil in the pan on medium heat. Add the mustard seeds and wait for them to splutter. Then add around 15 curry leaves followed by the tomatoes. Fry well until oil appears on the surface.

Step 5

Now add the paste, remaining curry leaves and fry on medium heat until oil starts separating from the paste. Add chicken to the pan and fry with the paste for a few minutes. Add a little water and let the gravy come to a boil. Cover with a lid and allow the chicken to simmer for around 20 mins until it becomes tender. Make sure to stir halfway through.