Chicken bhuna masala requires large chicken pieces, with or without bones, which have been marinated with lemon juice, salt, a bit of turmeric powder, and ginger-garlic paste. The cooking process starts by using low heat in a masala base which contains finely cut ginger, garlic, onions, tomatoes, chilies, yogurt, curry leaves, coriander leaves and a special blend of roasted whole spices which includes fennel, cumin, coriander, black pepper, cardamom and others. My recipe describes the simple steps to make chicken bhuna masala at home.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Chicken bhuna masala is a very common dish consumed in North India as well as in other regions.
- Serve it with chapati, tandoori roti, plain or lachha paratha, plain or garlic naan, puri, pulao, fried rice, jeera rice, or steamed rice.
- Chicken bhuna masala tastes slightly spicy, tangy, creamy, and earthy.
- Other similar recipes are chicken kadai, chicken chettinad, chicken jalfrezi, chicken kosha, butter chicken, and chicken tikka masala.
The Ingredients:
To marinate the chicken:
- 1 kg chicken
- 4 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
To make the masala:
- 4 tbsp cooking oil
- 2 tbsp garlic (finely chopped)
- 2 tbsp ginger (finely chopped)
- 4 pieces onions (medium size, finely chopped)
- 4 pieces green chilies (finely chopped)
- 4 pieces tomatoes (medium size, finely chopped)
To make the spice mix:
- 1 tbsp coriander seeds
- 1 tsp fennel seeds
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp black peppercorns
- 1 piece black cardamom (whole pod)
- 1 piece mace
- 3 pieces cloves
- 2 pieces green cardamom (whole pods)
- 1 piece cinnamon (1 inch size stick, broken into small pieces)
- 1 piece bay leaf
- 1 tbsp Kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
- 1 tbsp Kashmiri red chili powder
To cook the chicken:
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup yogurt (whisked nicely)
- 1 tbsp curry leaves
- 2 tbsp coriander leaves (finely chopped)
A long time back, we visited Himachal Pradesh during a vacation. There we stayed at a homestay, and the lady of the house was an exceptional cook. One chilly night, she served this unique dish with hot and soft parathas, which complemented each other extremely well. I was taken back by the taste and softness of the chicken and insisted that she teach me the process. She did write it down for me on a piece of paper and handed it to me before we left for our next destination.
Coming back home, I made it one day, and it was really nice, though not as nice as hers, being my first time. However, my two sons were overwhelmed at the taste, and my husband liked the flavor and perfection. I felt so nice seeing them enjoy the food and thanked the kind lady from the bottom of my heart.
How to Make Chicken Bhuna Masala? (Step by Step Guide with Images)
Step 1: Wash and make cuts on large pieces of 1 kg of chicken.
Step 2: Marinate with 4 tsp of lemon juice, 1 tbsp of ginger-garlic paste, 1 tsp of salt, and ½ tsp of turmeric powder.
Step 3: Fry 2 tbsp of finely chopped garlic and 2 tbsp of ginger in 4 tbsp of cooking oil, followed by 4 pieces of medium-sized onions and 4 pieces of green chilies.
Step 4: Add 4 pieces of finely chopped tomatoes.
Step 5: Dry roast 1 tbsp of coriander seeds, 1 tsp of fennel seeds, 1 tsp of cumin seeds, 1 tsp of black peppercorns, one whole pod of black cardamom, a piece of mace, 3 pieces of cloves, 2 pieces of green cardamom (whole pods), a piece of a 1-inch-sized cinnamon stick broken into small pieces, a piece of bay leaf until slightly golden, and 1 tbsp of Kasuri methi.
Step 6: Grind it with 2 tbsp of Kashmiri red chili powder.
Step 7: Add this spice mix and 1 tsp of salt.
Step 8: Add a cup of nicely whisked yogurt and the marinated chicken.
Step 9: Mix, cover, and cook for 20 minutes.
Step 10: Add 1 tbsp of curry leaves and 2 tbsp of finely chopped coriander leaves.
Step 11: Your tasty and spicy homemade chicken bhuna masala is ready.
Recipe Card
Chicken Bhuna Masala
Ingredients
To marinate the chicken:
- 1 kg chicken
- 4 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
To make the masala:
- 4 tbsp cooking oil
- 2 tbsp garlic finely chopped
- 2 tbsp ginger finely chopped
- 4 pieces onions medium size, finely chopped
- 4 pieces green chilies finely chopped
- 4 pieces tomatoes medium size, finely chopped
To make the spice mix:
- 1 tbsp coriander seeds
- 1 tsp fennel seeds
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tsp black peppercorns
- 1 piece black cardamom whole pod
- 1 piece mace
- 3 pieces cloves
- 2 pieces green cardamom whole pods
- 1 piece cinnamon 1 inch size stick, broken into small pieces
- 1 piece bay leaf
- 1 tbsp Kasuri methi dried fenugreek leaves
- 1 tbsp Kashmiri red chili powder
To cook the chicken:
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup yogurt whisked nicely
- 1 tbsp curry leaves
- 2 tbsp coriander leaves finely chopped
Instructions
- Wash and make cuts on large pieces of 1 kg chicken.
- Marinate with 4 tsp of lemon juice, 1 tbsp of ginger garlic paste, 1 tsp of salt, and ½ tsp of turmeric powder.
- Fry 2 tbsp of finely chopped garlic and 2 tbsp of ginger in 4 tbsp cooking oil followed by 4 pieces of medium-sized onions and 4 pieces of green chilies.
- Add 4 pieces of finely chopped tomatoes.
- Dry roast 1 tbsp of coriander seeds, 1 tsp of fennel seeds, 1 tsp of cumin seeds, 1 tsp of black peppercorns, one whole pod of black cardamom, a piece of mace, 3 pieces of cloves, 2 pieces of green cardamom (whole pods), a piece of 1 inch size cinnamon stick broken into small pieces, a piece of bay leaf until slightly golden, and 1 tbsp of Kasuri meth.
- Grind it with 2 tbsp of Kashmiri red chili powder.
- Add this spice mix and 1 tsp of salt.
- Add a cup of nicely whisked yogurt and the marinated chicken.
- Mix, cover and cook for 20 minutes.
- Add 1 tbsp of curry leaves and 2 tbsp of finely chopped coriander leaves.
- Your tasty and spicy homemade chicken bhuna masala is ready.
