A Mangalorean-style chicken dish coated in yoghurt and turmeric, then simmered in a ghee-fried onion and red chilli masala until tender. It tastes rich, tangy and gently spicy, with curry leaf and jaggery balancing the heat.
Stir the marinade turmeric (1.5 g ground turmeric) and salt to taste into 30 g greek yoghurt, then coat 700 g skinless chicken on the bone with the mixture and marinate in the fridge for 2 hours or overnight.
To start the masala paste, heat a large frying pan over a medium heat, add 9–10.5 g dried kashmiri chilli and roast for 5 minutes until darker, then transfer to a plate to cool.
In the same pan, dry-roast 2.9 g black peppercorn, 3.4 g coriander seeds, 2.1 g cumin seed and 4 g fennel seed over a medium heat for 2–3 minutes.
Put the roasted chillies and dry-roasted spices in a blender with 9 g garlic, 5 g ginger and 99.4 g water, then blend to a fine smooth paste; set the masala paste aside.
Heat 39.6 g ghee in a heavy-based saucepan over a medium heat, add 100 g finely chopped white onion and fry for 8–9 minutes until softened and starting to colour.
Add the masala paste and fry for 2–3 minutes, stirring, until the oil begins to separate.
Add the marinated chicken with any leftover marinade, raise the heat slightly and stir for 7–8 minutes to seal the chicken pieces.
Season with salt to taste, lower the heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring once halfway through.
Add 2.5 g curry leaf, 7.2 g jaggery and 30.6 g lemon juice, stir until the jaggery dissolves, and serve warm.
Steep a tiny pinch (0.1 g per 2 g turmeric) in 2 tbsp warm water; use to match the rich golden hue. Contributes an aristocratic, honeyed floral flavour rather than earthy bitterness.
Use 120% of the weight; melt gently over low heat to avoid burning the milk solids, which will yield a softer, creamier richness rather than a nutty aroma.
Use 80% of the weight. Granulated sugar is sweeter by weight, but gives a cleaner, one-dimensional sweetness that lacks jaggery's caramel, molasses depth.
Soak and blend into a paste; use 100% to 120% of the weight. Adds rich, natural, fruity sweetness with complex, dark molasses notes that thicken the gravy.
Use 1 g powder for every 1.5 g whole dried chilli; whisk with a spoonful of warm water and stir into the masala to provide identical ruby colour and mild heat.
Use 15% to 20% of the weight (about 1 g for every 5 to 6 g fresh cloves). Whisk into sauces; gives a savoury, toasted garlic flavour without raw pungency.
Use 20% to 25% of the weight (1 g for every 4 to 5 g fresh). Stir into the gravy; adds peppery heat and warmth, though it misses the crisp, zesty kick of raw root.