Southern Indian Chicken Curry with Mustard Seeds

Name: Southern Indian Chicken Curry with Mustard Seeds
Ingredients: 1/4 cup vegetable oil; 6 whole, dried, red hot chiles, each broken into 3 or 4 pieces; 2 teaspoons brown or yellow mustard seeds; 1 whole cinnamon stick (3 inches); 1/2 teaspoon urad dal or yellow split peas; 1 1/4 cups very thinly sliced shallots (about 4); 10 garlic cloves, very thinly sliced; 10 fresh curry leaves (optional); 2 teaspoons grated peeled fresh ginger; 1 1/4 cups chopped plum tomatoes (about 3); 1 1/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces; 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric; Coarse salt; Pooris, for serving (optional); Carrot raita