Yummy Indian Kitchen - Healthy and diet-friendly recipes

  • Home
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Recipe Index
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About Us
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About Us
×
Home » Recipes » Chicken Curries

kadai chicken recipe

LAST UPDATED: Jun 10, 2021 . PUBLISHED: Sep 3, 2019 by Asiya . Leave a Comment

Jump to Recipe

Kadai chicken recipe, a gravy kind of chicken curry made using onion puree, tomato puree, cashew nut puree and it has a semi-dry and slight thick gravy consistency. There are many varieties in which chicken is used and made and every part of chicken can be used to make hundreds of chicken items that are never-ending and unique.

kadai chicken recipe
Jump to:
  • About the recipe
  • Step by step procedure
  • Recipe

About the recipe

  • This gravy chicken recipe is quite popular in North Indian cuisine and is widely served in every restaurant and street corners of Northern India with naan.
  • It is also a pakistani delicacy and is hugely popular dish of Pakistan.
  • It is slowly gaining popularity in all the Indian restaurants as this gravy is perfect with all kinds of Indian flat breads.

Do check out amazing indian chicken recipes collection on the blog such as chicken keema, chicken sukka , tangdi kabab and other non veg recipes such as paya soup etc...

HOW TO MAKE THE GRAVY

  • The making of these masala paste is easy and in this recipe we tried to use tomato puree that is tomato paste as well as onion paste combined with cashew paste.
  • The tomatoes, onions and cashews have to be boiled well as adding blended paste of tomatoes, onions and kaju after boiling gives a real good taste to the curry.
  • If the above ingredients are added as raw paste and not boiled, then the taste of the gravy is not as per desired or as we wish it to be.
  • Normally, we prefer making different kinds of chicken curries but it is less likely that we add rich and creamy paste to the curry but this special kadai chicken uses rich onion and kaju paste which gives a creamy texture to the gravy as well as tastes creamy and goes with flat breads like naan or chapati recipe.
  • It also uses tomato puree in order to get slight tangy touch to the gravy which other wise gets sweet due to the onions and kaju paste that is added into the curry.
kadai chicken- or chicken karahi

KADAI CHICKEN MASALA

  • Usually, spices such as coriander seeds powder, Kashmiri red chillies, black peppercorns, cumin seeds, crushed kasoori methi are dry roasted in a pan or Kadai and blended into a fine powder which is called Kadai masala.
  • This Kadai masala along with garam masala is added into mutton Kadai, Kadai paneer, chicken Kadai etc...

My version of the recipe

  • Here, in this recipe I have not combined all the kadai masala ingredients but added each of them individually as these spice ingredients are always handy in Indian kitchens.
  • To make the process appear simple I have shown all the spices adding individually.
  • One can even combine them, roast them and add all the spices at once as well.
  • I have also used puree of tomato, onion and kaju in order to get gravy consistency but the simpler version of kadai chicken is cooked by just adding chopped onions, chopped tomatoes and cooking the chicken by adding kadai masala such as dhaniya powder, jeera powder, kali mirch powder, kasoori methi, lal mirch powder, garam masala powder etc...
  • My version of kadai chicken is almost similar to street style method or the one that is made in restaurant which has a creamy texture.
chicken karahi or how to make kadai chicken

Different chicken gravies

  • Most of the North Indian punjabi gravies with chicken almost appear same but there are slight variations to it and the complete aroma and taste of the gravy varies.
  • Chicken gravies such as butter chicken recipe, chicken tikka masala, chicken makhani, chicken kadai amost all use rich creamy paste for the gravy but the technique and the masalas added are different and the process of cooking too is different.
  • I would like to update all these chicken gravy recipes as soon as possible on the blog along with video procedures in order to understand how all these similar looking gravies are cooked differently.

Indian chicken recipes are getting huge popularity even in International restaurants with gravies like butter chicken recipe, chicken tikka masala recipe etc....

Non vegetarians should try to include chicken by making healthy chicken recipes which is full of proteins and help us build muscles and strength by eating it often.

Avoid making spicy chicken recipes as much as possible as they lose all the nutrients during cooking and only has a taste. Health conscious people should try to eat chicken by grilling, steaming or using less of oil and spices. These techniques retain their nutrient value and help us give good results when consumed.

Always buy good quality chicken and make sure it is freshly cut as the outcome of the chicken dishes with not so freshly cut chicken is bad and unhealthy.

Check out below my version of making kadai chicken recipe with the recipe card as well as a video procedure.

Step by step procedure

Step 1(To boil the chicken)

  • Take a vessel, add water into it. Add salt to it and add the chicken pieces into it and boil the chicken for 10 minutes.
boiling the chicken pieces
  • Once boiled, switch off the flame. Strain the chicken pieces and set them aside for later use.

Step 2(To make tomato puree)

  • Take 3-4 tomatoes, boil the tomatoes in water by adding a pinch of salt for few minutes, cool them down and make a puree out of it.
  • The puree should be at least 1 cup.

Step 3 (To make onion cashew nut puree)

  • Take 2 onions, 8-10 cashew nuts/Kaju, add them in water and boil them for 5-10 minutes.
  • Switch off the flame.
  • Cool it down.
  • Transfer the onions and cashew nuts to a blending jar and make a fine puree of both ingredients.
  • Transfer the paste into a cup for later use.

Step 4 (Process of cooking chicken karahi)

  • Take a Kadai or a wok or a pan or a cooking utensil. Add 2 tablespoon oil into the Kadai. Add cumin seeds into it and let them splutter. Add ginger-garlic paste, saute for few minutes to get rid of raw smell.
 sauteing ginger-garlic paste for few minutes to get rid of raw smell
  • Add the small cubes of onion into the oil. Add small cubes of green capsicum into it. Saute the onions and green capsicum for few minutes until they turn soft.
Sauteing the onions and green capsicum
  • Add slit green chillies, saute them well.
sauteing green chillies
  • Add the boiled chicken pieces into the Kadai and roast the chicken well.
Adding the boiled chicken pieces
  • Add salt to taste, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, roasted coriander seeds powder. Add garam masala powder, kali mirch powder, crushed kasoori methi.
adding spices
  • Mix all the masala ingredients with the chicken well.
Mixing all the masala ingredients
  • Cook them for few minutes until the masala starts releasing oil at the sides.
Cooking them for few minutes
  • Add red food colour mixed in some water. Give a mix.
Adding red food colour
  • Add the tomato puree that has been made. Give a mix.
Adding the tomato puree
  • Cook the tomato puree for 3-4 minutes on low flame until oil appears at the sides.
Cooking the tomato puree
  • Add 2 cups of onion and kaju paste/puree into the chicken gravy.
  • Mix well.
adding onion and kaju puree
  • Cook the masala for five to ten minutes on low flame.
Cook the masala of kadai chicken
  • Add around ½ to ¾ cup of water into the gravy and mix.
adding water and cooking kadai chicken
  • Cook the gravy for five minutes. Add the deseeded tomato cubes into the chicken gravy.
Adding the deseeded tomato cubes
  • Give a mix and cook for 2-3 minutes. Switch off the flame. Serve hot Kadai chicken in a Kadai.
  • Garnish with malai or cream.
finished step of kadai chicken
  • Add some butter from the top.
  • Also, garnish with some freshly chopped coriander leaves and lemon wedges.
  • Serve hot with naan or roti.

Recipe

kadai chicken recipe

kadai chicken recipe, chicken karahi masala gravy

Asiya
A Punjabi, Pakistani and Indian country popular chicken gravy made in a kadai or a pan which has semi dry semi gravy texture perfect with naan and chapati.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved!
Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Cook Time 35 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins
Course chicken
Cuisine Punjabi
Servings 2
Calories 521 kcal

Ingredients
  

To boil the chicken:

  • 250 gms chicken pieces (cleaned and washed well)
  • salt to taste
  • water to boil the chicken

To make chicken karahi:

  • 2 tablespoon oil
  • ¼ teaspoon jeera/ cumin seeds
  • ½ teaspoon ginger garlic paste
  • 1 medium size onion (diced or cut into cubes)
  • 1 green capsicum (deseeded and cut into small cubes)
  • 2 slit green chillies
  • salt - to taste
  • ½ teaspoon red chilli powder
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder/haldi
  • ½ teaspoon roasted coriander seeds powder (dhaniya powder)
  • ¼ teaspoon garam masala powder
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper corn powder/kali mirch powder
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed kasoori methi/ dried fenugreek leaves
  • ¼ teaspoon red food color mixed in 2 teaspoon water
  • 1 cup tomato puree (use 3-4 tomatoes)
  • 2 cups onion and cashewnut/kaju paste
  • ½ cup water
  • 1 tomato (deseeded and cut into cubes)

For garnishing:

  • 2 teaspoon butter
  • 2 teaspoon cream/malai
  • 1 teaspoon freshly chopped coriander leaves
  • small lemon wedges
Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions
 

Step 1(To boil the chicken):

  • Take a vessel, add water into it.
  • Add salt to it and add the chicken pieces into it.
  • Boil the chicken for 10 minutes.
  • Once boiled, switch off the flame.
  • Strain the chicken pieces.
  • Set them aside for later use.

Step 2(To make tomato puree):

  • Take 3-4 tomatoes, boil the tomatoes in water by adding a pinch of salt for few minutes, cool them down and make a puree out of it.
  • The puree should be at least 1 cup.

Step 3 (To make onion cashewnut puree):

  • Take 2 onions, 8-10 cashewnuts/kaju, add them in water and boil them for 5-10 minutes.
  • Switch off the flame.
  • Cool it down.
  • Transfer the onions and cashewnuts in a blending jar and make a fine puree of both the ingredients.
  • Transfer the paste into a cup for later use.

Step 4 (Process of cooking chicken karahi):

  • Take a kadai or a wok or a pan or a cooking utensil.
  • Add 2 tablespoon oil into the kadai.
  • Add cumin seeds into it and let them splutter.
  • Add ginger garlic paste, saute for few minutes to get rid of raw smell.
  • Add the small cubes of onion into the oil.
  • Add small cubes of green capsicum into it.
  • Saute the onions and green capsicum for few minutes until they turn soft.
  • Add slit green chillies, saute them well.
  • Add the boiled chicken pieces into the kadai and roast the chicken well.
  • Add salt to taste, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, roasted coriander seeds powder.
  • Add garam masala powder, kali mirch powder, crushed kasoori methi.
  • Mix all the masala ingredients with the chicken well.
  • Cook them for few minutes until the masala starts releasing oil at the sides.
  • Add red food color mixed in some water.
  • Give a mix.
  • Add the tomato puree that has been made.
  • Give a mix.
  • Cook the tomato puree for 3-4 minutes on low flame until oil appears at the sides.
  • Add 2 cups of onion and kaju paste/puree into the chicken gravy.
  • Mix well.
  • Cook the masala for five to ten minutes on low flame.
  • Add around ½ to ¾ cup of water into the gravy and mix.
  • Cook the gravy for five minutes.
  • Add the deseeded tomato cubes into the chicken gravy.
  • Give a mix and cook for 2-3 minutes.
  • Switch off the flame.
  • Serve hot hot kadai chicken in a kadai.
  • Garnish with malai or cream.
  • Add some butter from the top.
  • Also garnish with some freshly chopped coriander leaves and lemon wedges.
  • Serve hot with naan or roti.

Video

Notes

  • Adding kaju/cashew paste makes the gravy rich and therefore, regularly kadai chicken making viewers can skip adding kaju paste.
  • Just adding boiled onion and tomato paste is enough for a good gravy.
  • Adding cream at the end too is optional if all the ingredients are not available easily while making at home.
  • One can combine the kadai masala and add into the gravy or add the mentioned kadai masala ingredients separately. Both the ways give good outcome.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
kadai chicken recipe, chicken karahi masala gravy
Amount Per Serving
Calories 521 Calories from Fat 6057
% Daily Value*
Fat 673g1035%
Saturated Fat 172g1075%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 164g
Monounsaturated Fat 201g
Cholesterol 886mg295%
Sodium 43mg2%
Potassium 89mg3%
Carbohydrates 17g6%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 9g10%
Protein 449g898%
Vitamin A 75IU2%
Vitamin C 59mg72%
Calcium 29mg3%
Iron 12mg67%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @yummyindiankitchen or tag #yummyindiankitchen!

Do leave us your queries and comments regarding the recipe and we get back trying to answer them as quickly as possible.

More Indian chicken recipes

  • Indian coconut chicken curry served in a bowl with a bowl of rice
    Indian Coconut Chicken Curry (with coconut milk)
  • chicken breast recipes in indian style showing different recipes made using breast of chicken
    21 Chicken Breast Recipes Indian Style (Boneless)
  • Boneless Skinless Chicken Thigh Recipes to make that are cooked and placed in a skillet
    21 Boneless skinless chicken thigh recipes
  • baked chicken cut into slices on a board for weight loss diet
    healthy chicken breast recipes to lose weight
5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This is Asiya, a graduate in Engineering and Technology from Hyderabad, India with always a passion for cooking and trying different recipes therefore started food blogging...

More about me →

STAY CONNECTED

  • Facebook
  • https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqTdxhfT7YrQ0bdfKgTF6WA
  • https://www.instagram.com/yummyindiankitchen/
  • Twitter

Trending Recipes

  • smoothies to lose belly fat fast and flatten stomach
    smoothies to lose belly fat fast recipes
  • weight loss green juice in a glass with ginger, celery around
    green juice recipe for weight loss and cleansing
  • veg salad with mixed veggies in a bowl with garnishing spread beside
    vegetable salad recipe for weight loss (Healthy)
  • apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice detox drink in a glass with lemon beside
    apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice
  • detox water recipes in mason jar for weight loss with a straw
    13 Detox water recipes for weight loss
  • apple cider vinegar and honey drink served in a glass
    apple cider vinegar and honey with cinnamon (weight loss drink)
  • overnight instant oatmeal bowls with oats shown as garnishing background
    Overnight oats with instant oatmeal packets
  • meals under 200 calories lunch dinner and breakfast
    meals under 200 calories for lunch and dinner
  • cinnamon water in a cup with cinnamon sticks in a small bowl
    cinnamon water, cinnamon for weight loss
  • turmeric tea in a glass with rose petals spread around
    turmeric tea recipe for weight loss, curcumin tea

Footer

↑ back to top

  • About
  • Contact
  • Cooking Guide
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer

Copyright © 2025 Yummy Indian Kitchen

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.