Classic Indian Chicken Curry Recipes

TRADITIONAL CHICKEN CURRY

Steps:

• In a large bowl, toss the chicken pieces with lemon juice, salt, and pepper to coat. Set aside.
• Heat oil in a large, heavy saucepan over medium heat. Stir in cumin seed and cook 1 minute, until lightly toasted. Mix in onion, garlic, and ginger. Cook until onion is tender. Add tomatoes, and season with chili powder, turmeric, garam masala, ground cumin, coriander, and paprika. Continue to cook and stir 2 minutes.
• Mix yogurt into the saucepan until well blended. Add chicken pieces, and potatoes. Mix in water and tomato juice. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer about 40 minutes. Adjust seasonings to taste and garnish with fresh cilantro before serving.

INDIAN CHICKEN CURRY (MURGH KARI)

Steps:

• Sprinkle the chicken breasts with 2 teaspoons salt.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over high heat; partially cook the chicken in the hot oil in batches until completely browned. Transfer the browned chicken breasts to a plate and set aside.
• Reduce the heat under the skillet to medium-high; add the onion, garlic, and ginger to the oil remaining in the skillet and cook and stir until the onion turns translucent, about 8 minutes. Stir the curry powder, cumin, turmeric, coriander, cayenne, and 1 tablespoon of water into the onion mixture; allow to heat together for about 1 minute while stirring. Mix the tomatoes, yogurt, 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro, and 1 teaspoon salt into the mixture. Return the chicken breast to the skillet along with any juices on the plate. Pour 1/2 cup water into the mixture; bring to a boil, turning the chicken to coat with the sauce. Sprinkle the garam masala and 1 tablespoon cilantro over the chicken.
• Cover the skillet and simmer until the chicken breasts are no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 20 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Sprinkle with lemon juice to serve.

CLASSIC INDIAN GREEN CURRY

Steps:

• In a blender, take chopped coriander, green chilies and 2 tablespoon of yogurt and blend into a smooth consistency. Add this to the remaining yogurt and mix. Set aside.
• In a saucepan, on medium heat, add cooking oil, garlic and ginger paste and cook for 30 seconds. Add the chicken to this and cook till the color of the chicken becomes white - indicating that it has cooked from the outside.
• Add salt, turmeric and garam masala at this stage and cook for 30 seconds more.
• Now immediately add the blended green yogurt mixture to the saucepan. Leave it to cook on low heat for 10-15 minutes or until the water evaporates and the curry becomes thick.
• Make sure, before taking the curry off the stove, that the chicken is tender and has cooked all the way through. If the chicken isn't tender yet, add a little more water and cook for 5 minutes more.
• Serve hot with Naan.

CHICKEN CURRY (ADAPTED FROM JULIE SAHNI CLASSIC INDIAN COOKING)

Steps:

• In a large heavy-bottomed pan, preferably with a nonstick surface, heat 2 tablespoons oil over high heat. When oil is very hot add chicken, a few pieces at a time, and sear until browned on all sides, about 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon remove chicken to a plate and continue until all pieces are browned.
• Add remaining oil and onions to pan, reduce heat to medium-high and fry 30 minutes until light brown, stirring constantly to prevent burning. Add garlic and ginger and fry 5 minutes. Add cinnamon and cardamom and fry 2 minutes, until spices are puffed and beginning to brown. Add turmeric and cayenne and stir rapidly 15 seconds. Return chicken to pan and stir in tomatoes, salt and 2 cups boiling water. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook about 45 minutes, until chicken is tender and gravy has thickened. Check frequently, and add a little water if sauce is evaporating too quickly. Turn off heat and let dish rest, covered at least 1 hour, preferably 2. When ready to serve, reheat, fold in cumin and cilantro, and adjust seasonings if needed.

CLASSIC INDIAN CHICKEN CURRY

Steps:

• Warm the oil in a large pan. Dice the onion finely and fry it for as long as you can without it burning, normally this takes about 10-15 minutes. you can add salt , about a teaspoon and a half at this stage, which speeds up the frying process. the onions need to be gold and crispy.
• Add the garlic and ginger and fry till gold.
• Add the cumin, coriander, fenugreek, garam masala, tumeric and chilli powder, stir fry for about 8-10 minutes till really fragrant, stir to avoid sticking and burning.
• Add the tomato puree and fry again all together, should thicken immediately. then add the chopped tomato, breaking the pieces into the spice mixture, till the whole thing is red. the whole idea is to fry for as long as possible without burning. this is the secret to a good curry!
• Add the chicken, combine well and fry a further few minutes till sealed. then add a cup of water, lower the fire and let cook till the oil rises above the sauce and chicken is tender. keep checking to make sure it doesnt dry out, but not too often.
• Check the salt, add if necessary. then add a handful of chopped coriander.
• Serve with boiled rice or nan.

CLASSIC CHICKEN CURRY

Steps:

• Dry fry the cumin and mustard seeds until they begin to pop, remove from the heat and grind in a pestle & mortar.
• Fry the onion, garlic and ginger until they soften and turn brown.
• Add all spices to the cumin and mustard seeds and mix in the tomato puree to make a paste. Add the paste to the pan and continue to fry for 1-2 minutes.
• Next add the chicken and continue to cook for approx. 5 minutes. Pour in the water and simmer on a medium heat for a further 20-25 minutes. Add the green pepper and continue to cook for a further 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile bring a large pan of water to the boil, pour in the rice and bring to a simmer for 12-15 minutes, drain, allow to stand for 2 minutes.
• Serve curry with Tilda Basmati Rice and garnish with fresh coriander and a squeeze of lime.