Mughlai Chicken (North Indian Curry)

Mughlai chicken is a popular north Indian chicken curry recipe famous for a signature dark brown nutty flavored gravy. Tender chicken cooked with korma spices, yogurt, cream, cashew, and almond paste makes it the best recipe for Mughal cuisine. Don't go to restaurant, make at home.

About Mughlai Chicken

You must be curious to know and I am excited to share that it's a recipe from mughal era when elites used to make fusion food by adopting different cultures in Indian subcontinent. I don't know exactly the origination of this recipe but the style of making is purely based on mughal cuisine. Many people call it a recipe of Moghlai chicken.

Mughlai chicken also famous as shahi chicken that prepared in dark brown texture by adding spices, garam masala and paste of nuts. The tangy, sour and nutty flavor of mughlai chicken gravy makes it distinct from other chicken recipes. If you haven't tried this then give it a try and I am sure you will love it.

I never thought the paste of almonds and cashews will add a divine touch in a simple recipe. I love to make shahi korma which is also from mughal food that people love to eat but this recipe is totally different and makes it distinguished among other gravy recipe ideas.

What's Special?

The blend of cream and nutty ingredients makes it super scrumptious and also executes a viscous gravy texture that enough to tempt this recipe. Traditioanally 'Mughlai chicken recipe' famous as shahi chicken and can be prepared in different ways like some restaurant chef marinate the chicken first to add in gravy and some directly cook chicken in gravy. If you are wondering, why I choose this recipe because it's super simple and give you royal taste just by adding few ingredients.

Chicken Mughlai Ingredients

Chicken: prefer to use chicken with bones as it makes best taste of gravy. The Simmering of chicken adds a broth taste in a thick gravy that makes it super delicious.

Oil: Use any type of canola, or sunflower oil. People also make the same recipe with desi ghee. If you like then you can switch.

Purple Onion: Finely sliced, purple onion is used to make gravy.

Whole Garam Masala: Used Bay leaves, cumin seeds, cloves, green cardamom, and cinnamon sticks.

Ginger Garlic: Add in form of paste. Preferred to used freshly made.

Spices: Ground spices like red chilies, turmeric, and coriander are used to make gravy. The addition of homemade garam masala makes a big difference in taste.

Salt - To Taste (savory recipes will not be complete without this)

Yogurt: It will add a savory, sour and creamy taste in gravy.

Water - Added to tender chicken and to maintain gravy consistency.

Almond & Cashews Paste: will add a specific Mughlai style nutty and creamy taste in chicken gravy that makes it special.

Green Chillies: make it a little spicy in taste. It's optional to use!

Fresh Cream - will add a smooth and creamy texture.

It's best to garnish with Julianne ginger.

How to Make Mughlai Chicken

The making of Mughlai chicken recipe is simple and easy only require few ingredients that make it super special in terms of taste and aroma. So let's make it!

Step 1: Make Hand Crushed Brown Onion
In a heated pan, pour oil and add finely sliced onion. Fry on medium flame to make it crispy and take out as it turned to golden brown color. Crushed with hands (avoid making paste).

Step 2: Curry Making
Now in the same pan, add whole garam masala and let it pop for a few seconds to make it aromatic. Add ginger garlic paste and saute for few minutes on medium heat. Season with salt, red chili powder, turmeric powder, and coriander powder. Cook for few minutes to get rid of spice rawness and until the oil comes over the surface.
Now time to add chicken! cook on high heat until the chicken changes color. Add crushed onion in chicken and mix well. Blend the gravy with yogurt and cook on high heat until it shows one tone smooth texture. Add water and sprinkle homemade garam masala. Give it a good mix and cover with the lid and cook for about 25 minutes to tender the chicken.

Step 3: Prepare Almond and Cashew Paste
In the meanwhile, make almond and cashew paste. Soak the almonds and cashews in hot water for an hour. Blend it in a blending jar to make a thick and consistent paste.
After 25 minutes, add cashews and almond paste and cover again for 10 minutes.

Step 4: Add Cream
After 10 minutes, pour the cream and mix well. Now cover the pan and cook for 5 minutes on medium heat until the oil separates.

Now it's ready to serve. Garnish with Julianne ginger.

Expert Tips

• Use chicken with bones as it makes the perfect taste of gravy. If you are using boneless chicken breast then add chicken broth in the place of water.
• Use purple onion to fry. It's an Indian onion that makes a great taste after getting brown.
• The onion needs to be finely sliced to get a crispy texture.
• If your onion seems to be soggy then keep it in the freezer to get hard.
• It's important to soak the almonds and cashews to make a smooth texture of the gravy.
• Always soak the nuts in hot boiling water to make a perfect paste.
• Mughlai chicken gravy needs to be viscous and thick so don't make it runny.

Watch Video

How to Serve

It's great to serve with garlic naan or kulcha or tandoori roti. If you like rice then serve with garlic butter rice as it makes a perfect flavor. To make a rich platter, add fire roasted tomatoes, tomato salsa, pickles, or veg salad.

See More Mughlai Recipes: Mughlai paratha | Shahi Korma (with mughlai ingredients)

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