Masala Chicken Curry is a flavoursome addictive party dish that consists of bite-sized pieces of chicken. Most of the spicy chicken curry dishes come from the Indian subcontinent where it is made with a complex combination of spices and herbs like ground turmeric, cumin, coriander, ginger, and fresh or dried chillies.
Before starting the preparation, chicken pieces are marinated in whole and powdered herbs, and then cooked in masala curry to get juicy chicken bathed in a rich and thick spiced curry sauce. This is a flavorful recipe, perfect for occasions like a dinner party or informal get together.
Basic information
In the 16th century, Hindu cooks introduced spicy curry meat and chicken dishes into the kitchen of Akbar. The recipe was the same as it was used in the kitchen of King Asoka where peacock was cooked in same spices (instead of chicken). In the royal kitchen of Akbar, Murg masallam was made with similar ingredients to get the most exotic palatable, inviting and highly enjoyable meal.
Related method of preparation is used in the tiffin dish Masala Chicken Curry with slight modifications. Earlier herbs and onion was used to get the hot spicy taste but these days soup is made thick by using tomatoes (fresh tomatoes or puree, both can be used).
While there are many different styles of making a chicken gravy, the basic masala chicken curry is made with tomatoes, onion, ginger, garlic and a variety of spices, cooked till the chicken gets soft, and the dish is finished with a garnishing of coriander leaves.
The first step is to marinate the chicken in some yoghurt and sauté with onions and garlic, to tenderize it; furthermore, marination helps get a thicker finished sauce.
Most authentic Indian food recipes are slow-cooked in open pans, which often take hours to cook but homemade chicken curry can be made in pressure cooker as it speeds up the cooking process.
Pressure cooking method softens the pieces of chicken and it does not lose moisture.
The sauce usually includes tomatoes (frequently as purée) and spices.
The sauce and chicken pieces look reddish-brown in colour due to the presence of turmeric, paprika, tomato purée and Kashmiri Lal Mirch.
Masala Chicken Curry can be paired with some steamed basmati rice, jeera rice, pilau or any Indian bread of your choice like chapatti, naan or hot and piping parathas. The meal can be complemented with whole milk or low-fat yoghurt (or raita) and salads.