Malai chicken masala is made of fresh chicken pieces cooked in a thick and rich white gravy comprising onions, ginger and garlic paste, white pepper, yogurt, fresh cream and a variety of aromatic whole spices. A thick white paste of cashew nuts, peeled almonds and milk is also added to enhance its richness. Follow my recipe to learn the steps to make malai chicken masala at home.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Malai chicken masala is a very popular dish in India and is widely consumed across all regions.
- Serve it with pulao, jeera rice, steamed rice, plain or butter naan, plain or lachha paratha, chapati or tandoori roti.
- Malai chicken masala tastes mildly spicy, creamy, savory and earthy.
- Other similar recipes are shahi chicken korma, chicken malai tikka gravy, murgh malai handi, white chicken kali mirch, and white butter chicken.
The Ingredients:
To cook the chicken:
- 1 kg chicken (cut into medium pieces)
- 4 tbsp cooking oil
- 2 pieces cinnamon sticks (1 inch in size)
- 6 pieces green cardamom (whole pods)
- 1 piece black cardamom (whole pod)
- 1 piece mace
- ½ tsp black peppercorns
- 6 pieces green chilies (whole)
- 3 pieces onions (medium size, finely chopped)
- 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
- 1 tbsp salt
- ½ cup yogurt (whisked)
- 1 tsp white pepper powder
- 3 tbsp fresh cream (or malai)
- ¼ tsp garam masala powder
- Coriander leaves (a fistful, finely chopped)
To make the white paste:
- 15 pieces cashew nuts
- 15 pieces almonds (peeled)
- ½ cup milk
A Punjabi neighbor taught me this recipe. She was a great cook and her culinary expertise especially in non-veg dishes is quite enviable. One day at dinner, she made this dish for the guests. Everyone was very pleased with the taste and flavor. I went a step further and asked her whether she would share the recipe with me. She agreed smilingly and sent me the recipe via text message the next day.
I tried this recipe on a weekend. Though I was a bit nervous, I followed the steps and instructions very carefully. The outcome was splendid. Everyone in the family loved it. The texture of the gravy, the tenderness of the chicken and the balance of taste and flavor were just perfect. My sons said I was as good as a hotel chef and my husband approved it with a smile. I was so happy and grateful to the lady for sharing the recipe with me.
How to Make Malai Chicken Masala? (Step by Step Guide with Images)
Step 1: Fry 2 pieces of cinnamon sticks (1 inch in size), 6 pieces of green cardamom (whole pods), 1 piece of black cardamom (whole pod), 1 piece of mace, ½ tsp of black peppercorns, and 6 pieces of whole green chilies in 4 tbsp of cooking oil. Add and fry 3 pieces of onions (medium size, finely chopped) until soft.
Step 2: Add 1 kg of chicken (cut into medium pieces). Cook on a high flame until white. Mix 1 tbsp of ginger garlic paste and 1 tbsp of salt.
Step 3: Add half a cup of whisked yogurt. When it releases moisture, cover and cook for 15 minutes on a low flame.
Step 4: Make a paste of 15 pieces of cashew nuts and 15 pieces of peeled almonds with ½ cup of milk. Add it to the chicken along with 1 tsp of white pepper powder.
Step 5: Add 3 tbsp of fresh cream (or malai). Then mix ¼ tsp of garam masala powder and a fistful of finely chopped coriander leaves.
Step 6: Check the consistency and doneness. Transfer it to a serving bowl.
Step 7: Your delicious and creamy homemade malai chicken masala is ready.
Recipe Card
Malai Chicken Masala
Ingredients
To cook the chicken:
- 1 kg chicken cut into medium pieces
- 4 tbsp cooking oil
- 2 pieces cinnamon sticks 1 inch in size
- 6 pieces green cardamom whole pods
- 1 piece black cardamom whole pod
- 1 piece mace
- ½ tsp black peppercorns
- 6 pieces green chilies whole
- 3 pieces onions medium size, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
- 1 tbsp salt
- ½ cup yogurt whisked
- 1 tsp white pepper powder
- 3 tbsp fresh cream or malai
- ¼ tsp garam masala powder
- Coriander leaves a fistful, finely chopped
To make the white paste:
- 15 pieces cashew nuts
- 15 pieces almonds peeled
- ½ cup milk
Instructions
- Fry 2 pieces of cinnamon sticks (1 inch in size), 6 pieces of green cardamom (whole pods), 1 piece of black cardamom (whole pod), 1 piece mace, ½ tsp of black peppercorns, and 6 pieces whole green chilies in 4 tbsp of cooking oil. Add and fry 3 pieces onions (medium size, finely chopped) until soft.
- Add 1 kg of chicken (cut into medium pieces). Cook on a high flame until white. Mix 1 tbsp of ginger garlic paste and 1 tbsp of salt.
- Add half a cup of whisked yogurt. When it releases moisture, cover and cook for 15 minutes on a low flame.
- Make a paste of 15 pieces of cashew nuts and 15 pieces of peeled almonds with ½ cup of milk. Add it to the chicken along with 1 tsp of white pepper powder.
- Add 3 tbsp of fresh cream (or malai). Then mix ¼ tsp of garam masala powder and a fistful of finely chopped coriander leaves.
- Check consistency and doneness. Transfer to a serving bowl.
- Your delicious and creamy homemade malai chicken masala is ready.
