10 Traditional Kerala Nattu Kozhi Recipes

Country chicken — free-range, slow-grown, deeply flavourful — transforms even the simplest curry into something extraordinary.

1. Nadan Kozhi Curry with Coconut

Sunday lunch classic. Shallots, tomatoes, coconut paste, Kashmiri chilli. Simmer 40-50 min. Serve with red rice or appam.

2. Nattu Kozhi Roast (Dry Roast)

Celebration dish. Spice paste, then pan-roast with caramelised onions and curry leaves until dark and crispy.

3. Kozhi Rasam (Pepper Garlic Broth)

Kerala’s flu remedy. Bone-in pieces simmered 1 hour with crushed pepper, garlic, cumin. Golden healing broth.

4. Kozhi Biryani — Kerala Style

Jeerakasala rice, kalpasi, marathi mokku. Layer rice over chicken masala, dum cook 25 min.

5. Kozhi Varutharachathu

Roasted coconut gravy. Coconut + spices dry-roasted until dark, ground smooth. Smoky, nutty, unique.

6. Kozhi Thoran

Dry stir-fry with fresh coconut. Minced chicken, shallots, curry leaves. Light, coconut-forward side dish.

7. Mutta Curry (Egg Curry)

Country eggs with deep orange yolks. Blistered eggs in shallot-tomato-coconut milk gravy.

8. Kozhi Ularthiyathu

Semi-dry. Chicken cooked down with coconut pieces until liquid evaporates. Chewy, spiced coconut pieces.

9. Kozhi Mappas

Mild coconut milk curry. Whole spices, green chillies, no chilli powder. Made for appam and idiappam.

10. Kozhi Piralan

Pan-fried with spices. Marinate 2+ hours. High-heat sear in coconut oil until deeply browned. Perfect starter.

Cooking Tips

• Low and slow (40-60 min vs 20-25 for broiler)
• Marinate generously (1 hour minimum, overnight ideal)
• Use coconut oil — no substitute
• Don’t discard bones (collagen, flavour)
• Grind spices fresh

Whole Country Chicken | Curry Cut | Eggs

FAQ

Why takes longer to cook?

Firmer muscles, denser meat from free-range life. 40-60 min vs 20-25 min.

Pressure cooker OK?

Yes — 2-3 whistles on medium. Can pre-tenderize then finish by roasting/frying.

How to verify genuine nattu kozhi?

Smaller (800g-1.2kg), darker skin, firmer meat, longer legs. Buy from trusted farms.