Chicken Jalfrezi Recipe

Chicken Jalfrezi is a classic Indian dish featuring succulent pieces of chicken that are marinated in spices and cooked in a thick and hot sauce. The dish is served with basmati rice or naan and is bound to leave one astonished!

Ingredients

For the Sauce:

• ½ large onion, roughly diced
• 2 garlic cloves, sliced and chopped
• 1 green chili, minced
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• 400g canned cherry tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon ground coriander
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• ½ tsp turmeric powder

For the Meat & Veg:

• 2-3 chicken breasts, cubed into 1-inch pieces
• 1 tsp cumin powder
• 1 tsp coriander powder
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• ½ large onion, cut into slices
• Red bell pepper, diced into small pieces
• 2 red hot chilies, finely chopped (optional)
• 2 teaspoons garam masala
• Handful of coriander leaves, chopped
• Basmati rice or naan bread, cooked and ready to serve

Method

Step 1: Marinating the Chicken

In a bowl, add the diced chicken breasts and mix in 1 teaspoon of cumin powder, 1 teaspoon of coriander powder, and 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder. Whisk together and leave for 4 hours in the refrigerator to allow the flavors to develop.

Step 2: Prepare the Sauce

Add a little vegetable oil to a wide pan, and fry the ½ chopped onion, 2 chopped garlic cloves, and 1 minced green chili for about 5 minutes, or until they turn brown.

Step 3: Simmer the Onion Mixture

Pour 300ml of water into the onion mixture and simmer for about 20 minutes.

Step 4: Blend the Tomatoes

In a food processor, blend the canned cherry tomatoes until smooth.

Step 5: Spice It Up

In another large pan, heat a little oil and stir-fry 1 tablespoon of ground coriander, 1 tablespoon of ground cumin, and ½ teaspoon of turmeric for about 1 minute. Then pour in the blended tomatoes and let it cook for about 10 minutes.

Step 6: Combine Sauces

Add the onion mixture from earlier to the spiced tomato sauce. Season generously, stir, and simmer for another 20 minutes. This sauce can be prepared in large quantities and stored in the freezer for later use.

Step 7: Prepare the Chicken

In a different pan, heat some vegetable oil and fry the marinated chicken pieces. After a few minutes, lower the heat. Add the remaining sliced onion, diced red pepper, and finely chopped red chilies. Cook until the onions and peppers are soft.

Step 8: Combine the Chicken with the Sauce

Add the cooked chicken to the sauce and heat for about 10 to 20 minutes. Add water if the sauce becomes too thick.

Step 9: Wrap Up and Serve

Right before serving, stir in 2 teaspoons of garam masala and chopped coriander leaves. Serve the Chicken Jalfrezi hot with basmati rice or naan bread.