Indian Kadai Chicken Recipe

Indian Kadai Chicken or Kadai Chicken or Karahi Chicken Recipe

This Kadai Chicken recipe is creamy,spicy and aromatic.Its served in most Indian restaurants and goes best with Naan,Roti,Paratha.

Preparation Time - Chicken marination 30 min to 1 hr and other preparation 15-20 min.
Cooking Time - 35- 40 min.


Ingredients :-

1. Kadai Masala homemade or you can buy it(Coriander seeds,Cumin Seeds,fennel/mouri/saunf seeds,Black peppercorns or Golmorich,Black Cardamom,Whole Kashmiri chilly)

NOTE - the measurements for Homemade Kadai masala or Spice mix  are given in details in the link below:-

Kadai Chicken Masala or Spice mix ( Homemade )

2. Chicken around 500 grams

3. Chicken Marination Ingredients :-
a) 1 and 1/2 teaspoon from the prepared kadai masala and rest keep aside.
b) 1 and half teaspoon of ginger garlic paste or crushed in mortar and pestle (hamaldista)[2 garlic cloves and 1 inch ginger ]
c) Paprika or kashmiri chilly powder 1/4 teaspoon.
d) Turmeric powder 1/4 teaspoon
e) Lime juice of half a lime
f)1 tablespoon sunflower oil or any vegetable oil of your choice.
g) Salt as per your taste ( I added 1/2 teaspoon )

4. Whole spices ( 2 cloves or lobongo,2 green cardamoms or elaichi,1 inch cinnamon or darchini,1/4th teaspoon black peppercorns or golmorich,1 bay leaf and 1dry  red chilly )

5. 1 teaspoon dry roast cumin/jeera seeds and grind it.
6. Kasoori methi or dried fenugreek leaves crushed 1/2 teaspoon.
7. Onion 1 big
8. Ginger 1 inch
9. Garlic 4 medium cloves.
10. Tomato 1 big
11. Turmeric powder 1/4 teaspoon
12. Paprika or Kashmiri chilly powder 1/4 teaspoon
13. Red chilly powder or Cayenne 1/4 teaspoon ( I did not use )
14. Coriander powder 1 and 1/2 teaspoon.
15. Cilantro chopped
16. Fresh green chilly sliced
17. Ginger cut into julienne or long strips ( about 1 teaspoon )
18. 1 tablespoon of sour cream
19. Red and Green capsicum or bell peppers or any colour capsicum you like.
20. Salt 1 and teaspoon or as per your taste.
22. Ghee or clarified butter 1 teaspoon.

Preparation:-

1. Marinate chicken with all the ingredients mentioned under point 3 and keep it inside the refigerator for 1/2 an hour.
2. Chop the capsicum into big cubes.
3. Take the outer fleshy  parts of the onion and cut into big cubes and rest chop it .( see the picture to get an idea ).
4. Mince the Tomato
5. Crush the ginger and garlic in a mortar and pestle ( hamaldista ) and also cut some ginger julienne.
6. Slice the green chilly.
7. Chop the cilantro or dhaniya patta.
8. Dry roast cumin/jeera seeds and cool it then grind it.
9. Prepare the kadai masala or spice mix.

Cooking :-

1. Take an utensil ( kadai ) ,I used my normal non stick cooking pot and add oil.Fry the capsicum and outer big cubes of onion lightly and keep aside.
2. Next add all the whole spices mentioned in point 4 and let the spices infuse its flavours.
3. Then add the chopped Onions and fry til it turns brown.Then add the crushed ginger and garlic and mix it and continue cooking until raw smell of  garlic is gone.
4. Add the tomatoes  along with turmeric powder,paprika or kashmiri chilly powder and coriander powder ( also add the cayenne or red chilly powder if you are using it ).Cover and cook mixing everything together . Intermittently open and check to avoid burning of the spices.Add very little water if needed to avoid the spices from burning.
5. Cook til oil seeps out.Then add the marinated chicken ( before adding the chicken take it out of the refrigerator and let t come to room temperature )and cover and cook ,opening intermittently and mixing til oil seeps out.
6. When chicken is cooked and the kadai masala,roasted cumin powder ,salt and mix.
7. Also add the sour cream ( to prevent it from curdling you can add little curry into the cream mix it and then add it back into the cooking pot or else you can lower the flame take the pot off the flame add the sour cream mix and then put it back on the flame).
8. Also add the ginger julienne , cilantro and fresh chilly .Lastly add the ghee or clarified butter.
9. Garnish with little sour cream,cilantro,fresh chilly ,ginger julienne and sprinkle of kadai masala.


Pictures :-