45 mins
Chicken Sukka
Recipe by Mamtha Sunil Kumar
Chicken Sukka is a creamy chicken recipe with delicious spices and flavours from South India. Chicken Sukka means "dry chicken" although it's anything but that! The clarified butter (ghee), fennel seeds and poppy seeds give an amazing taste and aroma to this dish. Also this is very simple to make, so it is a win-win situation. Just give it a try and I am sure you all will love this dish too. It can be eaten as a side dish with rice or roti.
Chicken Stock (or white stock) 
Chicken Tikka Ingredients for Chicken Sukka
If you want to know more about Indian ingredients, check our Indian Spices and our Indian Pulses, Rice and Seeds pages.
Currently displaying quantities in US Imperial Measurements
How to Cook Chicken Sukka
- First of all, make the masala paste. Heat 1 tablespoon of the clarified butter (ghee) in a pan and roast the coriander seeds, fennel seeds, black peppercorns, poppy seeds, fenugreek seeds, till aromatic. Allow to cool. Dry grind along with roasted red chillies, turmeric powder and tamarind paste. Set this masala paste aside for later use.
- Drain the 'milk' from the coconut then crack it open and coarsely grate the flesh. Peel and crush (mince) the garlic and mix this with the coconut and cumin seeds.
- Remove any skin from the chicken breasts and cut them into bite-size pieces then, in a large heavy bottomed pan, heat 2 tablespoons of ghee. Add the chicken along with the first masala paste, adding a little water and salt according to taste. Allow this to cook over a medium heat for about 10 minutes until the chicken is almost cooked. Mix in the coconut paste and continue to cook over a low heat for few more minutes or the till the chicken is completely cooked.
- While the chicken is cooking, peel and finely chop the onion. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of clarified butter in a pan, add the curry leaves and onion and fry gently until the onion turns golden brown (about 5 minutes). Stir this into the Chicken Sukka and serve hot with rice or Indian bread.
MAMTHA SUNIL KUMAR'S HOT TIP:
Be sure to grate the coconut coarsely. If it is too fine it will turn "mushy"
Reviews of Chicken Sukka
| July 11 2014 The first time I made this recipe, I couldn't get hold of fenugreek seeds, so carried on without. A few weeks later, I found fenugreek seeds in an Asian food store so made chicken sukka again and the fenugreek, with its distinctive sweet smell, really made a difference. I looked it up and apparently it's also used as a medecine against diabetes - so wholesome as well. This is a great recipe with a dish of rice and really tasty without being overpoweringly strong. It won't be long before I do it again josie (5 reviews) |
What To Eat Tonight
Italian food has a great reputation for a very good reason - it's great food! Don't miss the chance to cook Italian with us.
What do you do with the leftovers? There are so many really great ways to make use of them that your should never waste anything.
Delicious hand-picked meals that were made for sharing. Your family is special so they deserve something special, don't they!
Other Chicken Recipes
This very simple recipe produces a delightfully light and tangy chicken when you want something just a little different.
As the name suggests, Victorian Chicken Pie is based on an old recipe that was much favoured in rural England about 150 years ago.... tastes good too!
One of our favourites, Great when you invite friends round for a meal, and no hassle to cook.
