Sri Lankan · Dinner

Sri Lankan chicken curry

Name: Sri Lankan chicken curry
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 40 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Sri Lankan
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon coriander seeds; 2 teaspoons cumin seeds; 1 teaspoon fennel seeds; 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns; 1/4 teaspoon fenugreek seeds; 3 pounds bone-in chicken thighs and drumsticks, skin removed; 2 teaspoons kosher salt; 1 teaspoon Kashmiri chile powder; 1/2 teaspoon turmeric; 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar; 3 tablespoons coconut oil; 1 large red onion, thinly sliced; 2 tablespoons grated ginger; 6 garlic cloves, minced; 3 green chiles, slit; 16 curry leaves; 1 six-inch pandan leaf, knotted, optional but characteristic; 1 small Ceylon cinnamon stick; 2 medium tomatoes, chopped; 1 cup water; 1 1/2 cups full-fat coconut milk; 6 cups steamed red or white rice

Everyday Sri Lankan bone-in chicken curry with freshly roasted spice, curry leaves, pandan, Ceylon cinnamon, chile, tomato, and coconut milk cooked until fragrant oil rises.

About 1 hr 40 minTotal

About 1 hr 10 minActive

$$Cost

ModerateDifficulty

Makes 6 servings

Equipment

Use a hot sheet pan under an inverted oven-safe metal bowl for the covered phase.
Best value covered pot
Lodge Essential Enamel 6-Quart Dutch Oven · EC6D43
View at Amazon
Another workable path: Use a hot sheet pan under an inverted oven-safe metal bowl for the covered phase.
Paid links. As an Amazon Associate, Kwilt earns from qualifying purchases.
How we chose
Research-backed · reviewed Aug 2026
We matched capacity, lid fit, oven rating, heat retention, maneuverability, care, stable model identity, and usefulness outside bread baking. Kwilt has not baked with this pot.
Lodge Essential Enamel 6-Quart Dutch Oven · EC6D43: The six-quart capacity, heavy cast-iron body, and fitted lid create the enclosed high-heat environment used by these bread methods while remaining useful beyond baking. Trade-off: At more than thirteen pounds it is demanding to move when hot, and the enamel needs gentler utensils and hand washing.
Another workable path: Bake on a preheated heavy sheet pan under an inverted oven-safe metal bowl, keeping face and hands clear when removing the hot cover.
Sources
Lodge six-quart Essential Enamel specifications
Amazon exact product listing

Ingredients

1× recipe · Makes 6 servings

1 tablespoon coriander seeds
2 teaspoons cumin seeds
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
1/4 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
3 pounds bone-in chicken thighs and drumsticks, skin removed
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon Kashmiri chile powder
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons coconut oil
1 large red onion, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons grated ginger
6 garlic cloves, minced
3 green chiles, slit
16 curry leaves
1 six-inch pandan leaf, knotted, optional but characteristic
1 small Ceylon cinnamon stick
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 cup water
1 1/2 cups full-fat coconut milk
6 cups steamed red or white rice

Instructions

Toast coriander, cumin, fennel, pepper, and fenugreek until deep fragrant brown, not burnt; cool and grind finely. Coat chicken with the ground spice, salt, chile powder, turmeric, and vinegar for 30 minutes.
Heat coconut oil and cook onion until golden. Add ginger, garlic, green chiles, curry leaves, pandan, and cinnamon and fry 2 minutes until intensely aromatic.
Add chicken and marinade and brown on all sides, then add tomatoes and cook until collapsed and oil begins to show, 8 minutes.
Add water, cover, and simmer 15 minutes. Stir in coconut milk and continue uncovered at a until chicken reaches 165°F at the bone and the gravy concentrates, 15 to 20 minutes.
Cook until a little red-gold coconut oil rises at the surface, remove pandan and cinnamon, adjust salt and vinegar brightness, and serve with rice.

Sri LankaSri Lankan household cooking

From the table

About this recipe

Sri Lankan chicken curry varies by household; this declared kirata form uses roasted curry powder, curry leaf, pandan, Ceylon cinnamon, and coconut milk reduced until aromatic oil rises.

Sri Lankan chicken curry varies by household and may be mirisata, without coconut milk, or richer kirata. This recipe declares the kirata direction. Fresh Sri Lankan-style roasted curry powder, curry leaf, pandan, Ceylon cinnamon, chile, and deliberate coconut-oil separation distinguish it from the Indian chicken curries preceding it in the roster. This Kwilt version follows the reviewed household adaptation: Prioritize Sri Lankan-authored repeated-practice evidence over absent rating pairs, state the kirata choice transparently, and preserve the fresh roasted spice and oil-separation endpoints.

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