Chicken Xacuti

 Chicken Xacuti is a delicious goan chicken curry made with perfectly roasted spices, freshly grated coconut along with onion and ginger and Xacuti is pronounced as 'shakuti'  derived from the Portuguese word "Chacuti"which refers to a curry-like dish that was originally introduced to Goa by Portuguese colonizers. Over time, the dish has evolved and taken on a unique Goan twist.The dish is traditionally served with steamed rice or bread. It is a hearty and flavorful dish that is sure to please anyone who loves bold and spicy flavors.Overall, Goan Chicken Xacuti is a delicious and satisfying dish that represents the unique blend of Indian and Portuguese influences that make up Goan cuisine.

Recipe:

Preparation time -15 mins
Cook time - 45 mins
Serves -5

Ingredients :
Chicken Pieces - 500 Gms
Salt-1 tsp
Lemon juice - 1 tbsp
Ginger Garlic Paste - 2 tsp

•For Masala
Cloves 10 nos
Cinnamon 2 inch stick
Mace - 1/2 inch piece
Green Cardamon - 3 nos
Star anise - 2 petals
Black pepper corns - 20 nos Nutmeg 1 cm piece
Fennel seeds - 1 tsp
Poppy seeds - 2 tbsp
Coriander seeds - 1 tbsp
Ginger 1 inch piece Garlic 6 cloves
Onions 1 onion
Dried Kashmiri Chillies - 6 nos Coconut (Grated) - 1 1/2 cup
Coconut Oil - 1 tbsp
Turmeric powder - 1 tsp
Water - 1 1/2 cup or as needed 

•For Gravy
Coconut Oil-2 tbsp Onions - 3 nos
Curry Leaves - 15 nos Tomatoes - 2 nos
Salt-1/4 tsp
Sugar - 1/2 tsp Coriander leaves (Chopped) - Handful

Instructions :
1) Wash the chicken pieces thoroughly and drain water.

2) Apply Salt, Lemon juice and Ginger - Garlic Paste, mix well & Marinate for 6 hours or overnight.

3) Heat a pan without oil, add all the spices excluding poppy seeds, dry roast this spices till you get nice aroma out of it. (3 mins on medium heat) Make sure you don't burn it because it will have the final impact on the taste and flavour of the curry, now add the poppy seeds and roast for more 2 mins and them remove it in a plate and cool it.

4) Heat coconut oil in the same pan, add Dried kashmiri chillies and fry till it gets dark on the surface and oil turns bit red and you can smell the smoky chilli aroma. remove and cool it.

5) In the same pan add ginger, garlic and onions and saute till light brown in colour. Remove and cool it.

6) Finally add grated coconut and fry till it turns light brown in colour, now add turmeric powder and mix well, remove and cool it.

7) once all the ingredients are cooled, grind the spices in a mixer using 1/2 cup water till you get a smooth paste. 8) similarly grind the coconut with water till you get thick coarse paste.

9) For Making Gravy heat coconut oil in a vessel, add chopped onions and give a quick stir, add curry leaves and saute onion till light brown in colour, then add the tomatoes and fry till mashy 

10) Now add the marinated chicken pieces and mix well,add 1/2 cup and cover the lid, cook the chicken for 10mins. 11) Once the chicken is almost cooked add the ground spice paste and coconut paste and mix well. add the residual water depending on the consistency.

11) cook for more 10 mins, check for taste add more salt as needed, some sugar and finish it off with some chopped coriander leaves.

Serve with rice or roti, enjoy 🍗!