Chicken Thigh Curry Recipes

HOME-STYLE CHICKEN CURRY

Steps:

• Roughly chop 1 large onion, transfer to a small food processor, and add 3 tbsp of water - process to a slack paste. You could use a stick blender for this or coarsely grate the onion into a bowl - there's no need to add any water if you are grating the onion. Tip into a small bowl and leave on one side.
• Put 6 roughly chopped garlic cloves and 50g roughly chopped ginger into the same food processor and add 4 tbsp water - process until smooth and spoon into another small bowl. Alternatively, crush the garlic to a paste with a knife or garlic press and finely grate the ginger.
• Heat 4 tbsp vegetable oil in a wok or sturdy pan set over a medium heat.
• Combine 2 tsp cumin seeds and 1 tsp fennel seeds with a 5cm cinnamon stick and 1 tsp chilli flakes and add to the pan in one go. Swirl everything around for about 30 secs until the spices release a fragrant aroma.
• Add the onion paste - it will splutter in the beginning. Fry until the water evaporates and the onions turn a lovely dark golden - this should take about 7-8 mins.
• Add the garlic and ginger paste and cook for another 2 mins - stirring all the time.
• Stir in 1 tsp garam masala, 1 tsp turmeric, and 1 tsp caster sugar and continue cooking for 20 secs before tipping in a 400g can chopped tomatoes.
• Continue cooking on a medium heat for about 10 mins without a lid until the tomatoes reduce and darken.
• Cut 8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs into 3cm chunks and add to the pan once the tomatoes have thickened to a paste.
• Cook for 5 mins to coat the chicken in the masala and seal in the juices, and then pour over 250ml hot chicken stock.
• Simmer for 8-10 mins without a lid until the chicken is tender and the masala lightly thickened - you might need to add an extra ladleful of stock or water if the curry needs it.
• Sprinkle with 2 tbsp chopped coriander and serve with Indian flatbreads or fluffy basmati rice and a pot of yogurt on the side.

HONEY-MUSTARD AND CURRY CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Flatten chicken thighs and squeeze tightly into a square baking dish.
• Combine honey, mustard, curry powder, and salt in a bowl. Spoon over chicken. Sprinkle tarragon on top.
• Bake, uncovered, in the preheated oven until chicken is no longer pink in the center and juices run clear, about 50 minutes, basting occasionally with the honey-mustard sauce. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

CHICKEN THIGHS IN MILD RED CURRY

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides. Brown the chicken well in the pan, 3 to 4 minutes on each side, then remove to a plate. Add the butter to melt, then add the curry paste, cumin, garlic, onions, ginger, cinnamon and bay leaf. Cover the pan and cook to soften, 10 minutes.
• Grind the almonds in food processor. Slice chicken thighs into 1/2-inch pieces. Add the stock to the pan and stir in the almonds, chutney and sliced chicken. Stir to combine and simmer 3 to 4 minutes more. Cool and store for a make-ahead meal.
• Reheat over medium heat, adding the yogurt just before serving to make the sauce creamy.
• To serve the same night, cook the rice or heat the griddle for the naan while the chicken is cooking, otherwise begin rice while you reheat the dish. For the naan bread, heat the griddle over medium-high heat. Add a little water to griddle and cook the bread until blistered on each side and slightly puffed. Brush with melted butter to serve. Serve the curry topped with sliced scallions and cilantro.

NORTH INDIAN CHICKEN CURRY

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or a deep, wide saucepan set over medium-high heat. Add the onions and stir to coat them with the oil. Spread them in an even layer and cook for 2 min. Stir well, rearrange in an even layer again, and cook for 2 min.; the onions should have begun to brown at the edges. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are a rich brown, another 10 to 12 min. Lower the heat if necessary so the onions caramelize but don't burn.
• Meanwhile, put the yogurt in a small bowl, stirring until it's creamy. Add the cornstarch and mix well.
• Add the ginger, garlic, and chiles to the onions. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, for 2 min. so they meld with the onions. Add all the chicken thighs and cook, stirring occasionally, until they lose their raw color and begin to brown, 5 to 6 min. Lower the heat to medium low and add the coriander, cumin, turmeric, and cayenne. Cook for 2 min., stirring frequently and scraping the bottom of the pan.
• Add the tomatoes and their juices, the yogurt mixture, the chopped cilantro, and the salt. Stir well, cover with a tight-fitting lid, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, 20 to 25 min. Remove from the heat and taste for salt.
• To serve, sprinkle on the garam masala, transfer to a serving dish, and garnish with more chopped cilantro.

INDIAN CURRIED CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Season cubed chicken with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Preheat a large dry skillet over medium heat. Add curry powder and toast until lightly browned and fragrant, stirring constantly, 2 to 3 minutes. Add paprika, cinnamon, ginger, and turmeric and roast, stirring constantly, for 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in onion, garlic, and bay leaf. Pour in olive oil and mix to combine.
• Mix chicken, coconut milk, yogurt, tomato paste, salt, and pepper into the spices in the skillet. Stir well to combine. Mix in chickpeas, peas, and pineapple. Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes. Remove bay leaf and stir in lemon juice and cayenne pepper. Simmer for 5 more minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning to your liking.

COCONUT CURRY CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Melt the coconut oil in a large frying pan then fry the chicken until golden and crisp, remove and set aside.
• Fry the onion in the same pan (add a little more coconut oil if needed) until soft and translucent then add the ginger, garlic and spices and fry for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
• Pour in the coconut milk, cream and honey and allow to come to a simmer. Add the chicken thighs to the sauce then turn down the heat and allow to cook for 15-20 minutes until the chicken is cooked.
• In the meantime, steam the broccoli until almost cooked through and transfer to the chicken and coconut curry sauce to finish cooking.
• Season the chicken with lemon juice, salt and pepper and serve.

SRI LANKAN CHICKEN CURRY

Steps:

• Marinate chicken with all the marinating ingredients given in the list overnight or at least half an hour.
• In a mortar and pestle, grind cardamom and cloves. You can remove the shells.
• Then add ginger and garlic into the mortar and pestle and crush them to a coarse paste.
• Heat a pan. (clay pots are ideal, if not use any heavy bottom pan) Add the ginger-garlic paste you made in the previous step. Also, add curry leaves and pandan leaves.
• When the mixture starts to turn brown add roasted curry powder and roasted chili powder. Mix and toast well in the oil for about 30 seconds. Do not let the spices burn.
• Add the piece of goraka (Garcinia cambogia) onions and tomatoes. Mix well with the spices. Lower the heat.
• cover, and cook until onions start to sweat and tomatoes become mushy. Make sure to mix in between to distribute even heating and avoid the bottom from burning.
• Then add your chicken and mix really well. Cook for about a minute while continuously stirring.
• Add a cup of water (you can substitute it with thin coconut milk for a creamier curry). Cover and simmer for 30mins on low heat.
• In 30 mins, adjust salt to your taste and also add about 1/2tsp of black pepper. Mix, cover back and simmer for another 15mins.

CURRIED CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Heat oil in large skillet and stir in butter to melt. Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Cook thighs skin side down until golden brown. Flip chicken and continue to cook until golden brown. Remove chicken to a plate.
• Stir in onions and cook until tender. Stir in curry, cayenne, cinnamon and cumin and cook until aromas are released. Stir in carrots and toss to coat. Add chicken stock and bring to a simmer.
• Place chicken thighs back into skillet and stir in broccoli. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes to cook chicken.
• Stir in cream and peas. Season to taste. Serve with basmati rice.