A tomato-based chicken karahi recipe from Pakistan. Slow-cooked for 2:30 hours until all the flavors combine to produce a masterpiece!
Chicken Karahi is a dish that is packed with bold flavors!
This is a type of curry that originated from Pakistan and is one of their national dishes. The name is derived from the dish in which the meal is cooked. And is a very popular meal that can even be ordered by the kilogram at restaurants!
This dish is packed with natural flavors and the main ingredients are chicken, tomatoes , ginger and garlic, and is on par with my chicken stew recipe. The two green chillies adds just the right amount of heat to this dish to enhance the flavor. Also don’t be shy with the ginger and garlic. This is one meal where you want that freshness to come to the table.
Onions and potatoes?
Plenty of recipes on the internet adds onions to thicken the base. I would not recommend it since it is not part of the original recipe. When you add enough tomatoes it will produce a beautiful thick sauce that is jam packed with flavor. How many tomatoes should you add? Well the rule of thumb is to add tomatoes that are the same weight as the chicken when it is uncooked. (For me it was eight tomatoes cut into quarters)
Let’s be clear potatoes are not part of the original recipe. But I added them because those taters really go down well with this dish! And since I cook my Karahi for two and a half hours the chicken is moist and soft aswell as the potatoes to soak up that delicious sauce. So the potatoes are completely optional, and if you are a purist rather leave them out.
How long should you cook a Chicken Karahi?
I have noticed that plenty of recipes cook this meal between 20 and 50 minutes with the lid removed. After extensive testing I have found that two and a half hours on low heat and with the lid on produces the best results. This ensures that the chicken is soft and the tomatoes have completely dissolved to form a thick gravy. It is also the perfect amount of time that ensures the potatoes are cooked to perfection. Coinsidence? I think not:)
If you enjoy this recipe please take the time to review it under the comment section. Enjoy.
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The Best Chicken Karahi Recipe
- Total Time: 3 hours
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
A tomato-based chicken karahi recipe from Pakistan. Slow-cooked for 2:30 hours until all the flavors combine to produce a masterpiece!
Ingredients
- 6 Mixed chicken pieces
- Ghee or Olive oil
- Tomatoes cut into quarters( Same weight as chicken)
- 1 tbsp ginger minced
- 1 whole piece of ginger root
- 1 tbsp garlic minced
- Salt
- Pepper
- 1tsp paprika
- 2 green chilies sliced in chunks
- 0.5 tsp cumin powder
- 0.5 tsp allspice
- 0.5 tsp coriander powder
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 0.5 bunch of fresh coriander leaves washed.
- 2 Peeled Potatoes cut into halve (Optional)
Instructions
- Add ghee or olive oil to a deep pan and brown the chicken pieces on medium heat then remove from the pan.
- Add the ginger and garlic. Gently fry them until fragrant. 5 minutes or so. Add all the spices except the garam masala and gently fry them for another 2 minutes.
- Deglaze the pan with a little bit of water( No more than 2 tbsp). Add the tomatoes, chilies, and potatoes with some salt and pepper.
- Cook uncovered for 10 minutes stirring occasionally and squashing the tomatoes until they start to form a sauce.
- Replace the lid and cook on the lowest heat for 2 hours 30 minutes until the potatoes are soft.
- Stir in the garam masala and coriander leaves and cook uncovered for 5 more minutes until you have a sauce thickness to your liking.
- Serve with rice, naan, or roti.
Equipment
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Notes
- The equipment section above contains affiliate links to products I use or recommend.
- Prep Time: 30 min
- Cook Time: 150 min
- Category: Main meal
- Method: Slow cooked
- Cuisine: Pakistani
Keywords: Chicken Karahi
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