Shahi chicken, or makhni chicken, is made with chicken pieces cooked mainly in a mixture of butter and cooking oil. The gravy consists of onions, ginger and garlic paste, Dahi, fresh cream, Kasuri methi and a variety of whole and powdered spices. Lightly sautéed capsicum, tomatoes, ginger juliennes and green chilies are also included to add to the texture and visual appeal of the dish. Follow my recipe to learn the steps to make shahi chicken at home.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Shahi chicken is a very popular dish in North India.
- Serve it with pulao, jeera rice, hot steamed rice, naan, paratha, chapati or tandoori roti.
- Shahi chicken tastes mildly spicy, creamy, earthy, tangy, and savory.
- Other similar recipes are malai chicken handi, creamy pepper chicken, chicken shahi korma, creamy chicken tikka, and butter chicken.
The Ingredients:
To cook the chicken:
- 1 kg chicken
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp cooking oil
- 4 pieces green cardamom (slit pods)
- 3 pieces onion (medium size, paste)
- 2 tbsp ginger garlic paste
- 1 tsp cumin seeds (roasted, crushed)
- 2 tsp dry red chilies (crushed)
- 1 tsp white pepper powder
- 2 tsp coriander seeds powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup yogurt (whisked)
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup fresh cream
- 1 tbsp dried fenugreek leaves (Kasuri Methi)
- 1 tsp garam masala powder
To cook the vegetables:
- 1 tbsp cooking oil
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 piece capsicum (medium size, cut in square shape)
- 1 piece tomato (medium size, cut in square shape)
- 2 tbsp ginger juliennes
- 4 pieces green chilies (slit from the middle)
I learned this recipe from a cookbook I bought years back from a second-hand bookstore. Honestly, the taste wasn’t exactly what first got my attention. I was initially attracted by the visual appeal of the dish. You could tell there was something special about it. I thought I’d make this at home for the party of my elder son’s upcoming birthday.
Though I was a bit apprehensive about the outcome, the dish turned out to be a hit at the party. Everyone was talking about it and asking for the recipe. Even some of the critics, like my husband, for example, appreciated the taste, flavor, and, above all, its visual appeal. And the kids? They were overwhelmed. I felt so happy and satisfied with myself.
How to Make Shahi Chicken? (Step by Step Guide with Images)
Step 1: Melt 2 tbsp of butter and 2 tbsp of cooking oil.
Step 2: Add 4 pieces of green cardamom (slit pods) and then fry the paste of 3 pieces of medium sized onions until slightly brown.
Step 3: Add 1 kg of chicken and cook it for 10 minutes on a high flame until it changes color.
Step 4: Reduce the flame and add 2 tbsp of ginger garlic paste and then mix 1 tsp of cumin seeds (roasted, crushed), 2 tsp of dry red chilies (crushed), 1 tsp of white pepper powder, 2 tsp of coriander seeds powder and 1 tsp of salt. Also, add a cup of whisked yogurt.
Step 5: Add 1 cup of water, cover and cook for 15 minutes on a medium to low flame. Then add ¼ cup of fresh cream, 1 tbsp of dried fenugreek leaves (Kasuri Methi) and 1 tsp of garam masala powder.
Step 6: Fry 1 tsp of cumin seeds in 1 tbsp of cooking oil for 10 seconds. Then add 1 tbsp of butter, 1 piece of capsicum, and 1 tomato, both medium size and cut in a square shape, 2 tbsp of ginger juliennes and 4 pieces of green chilies (slit from the middle) for half a minute or so.
Step 7: Add and mix it with the chicken.
Step 8: Cook further until done. Check doneness. Transfer it to a serving bowl.
Step 9: Your tasty and creamy homemade shahi chicken is ready.
Recipe Card
Shahi Chicken | Shahi Murg | Shahi Makhmali Chicken
Ingredients
To cook the chicken:
- 1 kg chicken
- 2 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp cooking oil
- 4 pieces green cardamom slit pods
- 3 pieces onion medium size, paste
- 2 tbsp ginger garlic paste
- 1 tsp cumin seeds roasted, crushed
- 2 tsp dry red chilies crushed
- 1 tsp white pepper powder
- 2 tsp coriander seeds powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup yogurt whisked
- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup fresh cream
- 1 tbsp dried fenugreek leaves Kasuri Methi
- 1 tsp garam masala powder
To cook the vegetables:
- 1 tbsp cooking oil
- 1 tsp cumin seeds
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 piece capsicum medium size, cut in square shape
- 1 piece tomato medium size, cut in square shape
- 2 tbsp ginger juliennes
- 4 pieces green chilies slit from the middle
Instructions
- Melt 2 tbsp of butter and 2 tbsp of cooking oil.
- Add 4 pieces of green cardamom (slit pods) and then fry the paste of 3 pieces of medium sized onions until slightly brown.
- Add 1 kg of chicken and cook it for 10 minutes on a high flame until it changes color.
- Reduce the flame and add 2 tbsp of ginger garlic paste and then mix 1 tsp of cumin seeds (roasted, crushed), 2 tsp of dry red chilies (crushed), 1 tsp of white pepper powder, 2 tsp of coriander seeds powder and 1 tsp of salt. Also, add a cup of whisked yogurt.
- Add 1 cup of water, cover and cook for 15 minutes on a medium to low flame. Then add ¼ cup of fresh cream, 1 tbsp of dried fenugreek leaves (Kasuri Methi) and 1 tsp of garam masala powder.
- Fry 1 tsp of cumin seeds in 1 tbsp of cooking oil for 10 seconds. Then add 1 tbsp of butter, 1 piece capsicum and tomato, both medium size and cut in square shape, 2 tbsp of ginger juliennes and 4 pieces of green chilies (slit from the middle) for half a minute or so.
- Add and mix it with the chicken.
- Cook further until done. Check doneness. Transfer it to a serving bowl.
- Your tasty and creamy homemade shahi chicken is ready.
