Chicken and Cashew Nuts in Black Spices

Description: This is a curry with a thick and nutty sauce. The recipe was passed to me by Mrs. Shirodkar, he wife of a famous doctor in Bombay. My thanks to her again, for a wonderful dish with not too many ingredients.

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs skinless chicken, and jointed
• 4 ounces desiccated coconut
• 12 garlic cloves, peeled
• 1/2 inch piece fresh ginger, chopped
• 2 1/2 tablespoons coriander seeds
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin seeds
• 6 dried red chilies
• 6 cloves
• 3 inches cinnamon sticks
• 8 ounces cashew nuts
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 5 tablespoons oil
• salt

Steps:

1. In a dry pan roast the coconut, garlic, ginger, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, red chillies,cloves and cinnamon over low heat for 5 minutes.
2. Add 2 oz of the cashew nuts and the onion cook for 10 mins stirring all the time to prevent burning and sticking.
3. Turn off the heat and allow to cool.
4. In a blender process the spices with 3/4 cup water to make a fine smooth paste.(a coarse paste will give the appearance of a curdled curry) Set the paste aside. Wash blender.
5. Grind 1 oz of the nuts with 1 tbsp water to make a paste.
6. Heat the oil in a heavy pot and fry the spice mixture over low heat for 10 minutes Add the ground cashew nuts and salt to taste, cook 2 minutes.
7. Add the chicken and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes.
8. Add 3 cups warm water and cook on low for 10 mins with the pot covered.
9. Add the remaiming nuts and cook till the chicken is tender.
10. The curry should appear as a dark thick sauce with the whole nuts and chicken.
11. Serve with lemon rice for a nice change.