Indian Chicken Curry Pilaf Recipes

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.

PILAF FOR A CURRY BANQUET

Steps:

• Cook the onion in the oil, in a deep saucepan with the cloves, cardamom pods, cinnamon stick, cumin seeds, and nigella seeds, if using, until the onion is slightly browned and soft. Keep the heat medium to low and stir frequently; this should take about 10 minutes.
• Add the rice and move it about in the oily spiced onion until it is slicked and glossy, then pour in the stock and bring the pan to the boil. Cover the pan with a lid and cook over the lowest heat possible for 20 minutes.
• Turn off the heat, take the lid off, cover with a tea towel and clamp the lid back on the saucepan. You can leave the rice to rest like this for at least 10 minutes, and up to about 1 hour. Fork the rice through when you are ready to serve it, scattering the toasted sliced almonds and cilantro on top.

ONE-POT CHICKEN PILAF

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a frying pan, then fry the onion for 5-6 mins until softened. Add the chicken pieces, fry for a further couple of mins just to colour the outside, then stir in curry paste and rice. Cook for another min.
• Pour in the chicken stock and throw in any larger bits of frozen veg. Bring to the boil, lower the heat, then cover the pan with a lid. Cook for 10 mins, then stir in the remaining veg. Scatter over the spinach, cover, then cook for 10 mins more until all the stock is absorbed and the rice is tender. Give everything a good stir, season to taste, then tuck in.

INDIAN RICE PILAF

Steps:

• Bring water and chicken broth to a boil.
• Combine rice, curry powder, garlic powder, cinnamon, paprika, and cloves in a bowl; stir to mix. Add spiced rice and onion to the boiling broth. Cover and cook until rice is tender, 20 to 25 minutes.

INDIAN CHICKEN CURRY PILAF

Steps:

• Season chicken cubes with salt and pepper.
• Heat oil and butter in a Dutch oven with a tight-fitting lid over medium heat; add in chicken then brown until cooked through; remove to plate.
• Add in the onions and 1 teaspoon sugar; saute stirring with wooden spoon for about 15-20 minutes until browned (the onions must be browned!) adding in garlic the last 4-5 minutes of cooking.
• Add in curry powder and turmeric; stir for 1-2 minutes to release flavours.
• Add in basmati rice and stir with wooden spoon for 2-3 minutes.
• Slowly add in the chicken broth and water (for firmer rice use a little less water or broth) stirring with a wooden spoon to combine.
• Return the chicken back to the pot along with the raisins, frozen peas and almonds; stir and bring to a boil over medium heat.
• At this point adjust the curry powder to taste.
• Cover with tight-fitting lid and simmer on top of stove over medium-low heat for about 20 minutes or until the rice is cooked and all broth is absorbed.
• Season with salt and lots black pepper.

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.