If you’re looking for a flavorful and spicy dish, Chicken Karahi is a great option. This Pakistani Dhaba variation is especially delicious, featuring fresh tomatoes, ginger, green chilies, and a blend of fragrant spices. Not only is it finger-licking good, but it’s also quick and easy to prepare, making it an ideal choice for a weeknight dinner.
As someone who grew up in Pakistan, I am fortunate to have tasted karahi dishes from various regions of the country. Among the most popular ones are Peshawari karahi, Lahori karahi, and Karachi Highway Karahi. It’s difficult for me to choose a favorite as each region has its unique flavor.
FAQ
What is Karahi?
The cooking pot used to make Karahi (pronounced Kar-ah-hee) is circular and deep, with a flat base. The traditional karahi is made of wrought iron and usually has round loop-shaped handles. It is similar to a wok in appearance.
What Is The Best Cut Of Meat To Use For The Recipe?”
In my opinion, selecting the right type of meat and cuts is critical to creating a perfect dish. The traditional Chicken Karahi recipe usually calls for a whole chicken, but using bone-in meat adds more taste to it. I prefer cuts that are about 2 to 2.5 inches in size.
Would You Like Your Chicken Karahi With Or Without Onions?
The authentic Pakistani Dhaba Karahi recipe typically excludes onions and features a tomato-based gravy. The resulting flavor is exceptional and evokes memories of the highway-style cuisine from my hometown. If you are also from Karachi, you can surely relate to my experience.
In the past, I would prepare karahi without onions, but my husband and children prefer it with gravy. As a result, I have made a slight alteration to my recipe by including onions. However, the decision to add onions is entirely up to personal preference and can be excluded if desired.
Here Are Some Pro Tips And Recipe Notes For Dhaba Style Chicken Karahi:
- Use a heavy-bottomed pan or skillet.
- Usually, chicken karahi requires more oil than the average recipe.
- Use roasted ground spices to enhance flavors and aroma
- Using fresh tomatoes, canned tomatoes or paste will not give you the right results
- Only cover the pan to tender the meat for 10-15 minutes.
- Adding freshly cut ginger, green chilies, and coriander is a game changer in karahi
More Karahi Recipes
Chicken Karahi
4
servings5
minutes40
minutes45
minutesChicken Karahi is a flavorful dish made from fresh tomatoes, ginger, green chilies, and a variety of fragrant spices.
Keep the screen of your device on
Ingredients
1 kg bone-in chicken
1/2 cup oil
1 medium onion
6 large tomatoes
1 1/2 tsp ginger paste
1 1/2 tsp garlic paste
1 tsp red chili flakes
1/4 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp black pepper
Salt as per taste
- Roasted Spices
1 tsp roasted and crushed cumin
1/2 tsp roasted and crushed coriander seeds
- For Garnishing
A hand full of cilantro or coriander
8 green chilies
4 inch piece ginger, julienne cut
Directions
- To begin, heat oil in a deep heavy-bottomed pan. Next, add thinly sliced onions and cook until they become translucent.
- First, add the ginger and garlic paste and sauté for a minute. Then, add the chicken.
- Add salt, turmeric, and red chili flakes.
- Cook the chicken over medium heat until it changes color. Then, cover it for around 10 to 15 minutes until the juice runs clear and there is no pink left.
- In a different pan, pour in 2 tablespoons of oil. Next, add the tomatoes and cook until the water has evaporated.
- Uncover the pan, add the tomatoes to the chicken, and mix to combine
- Now add roasted and crushed cumin and coriander and mix well
- Once the gravy is slightly reduced, add black pepper and green chilies, and cover for 2 minutes to soften them.
- At this point, adjust the gravy consistency. Make sure to cook the karahi until the oil separates from the gravy
- Garnish with sliced ginger and coriander leaves
- Serve with Naan or Rotti
Notes
- To control the level of spiciness, you can adjust the amount of green chilies used. While boneless chicken can be used for Chicken Karachi, it may not provide the same authentic flavor as using chicken with bones.
- Although boneless chicken can be used to cook Chicken Karachi, it may lack some of authentic flavor.
- It is recommended to use a pan or skillet with a heavy bottom.
- Typically, a chicken karahi recipe requires a higher amount of oil compared to the average recipe.
- To enhance the flavor and aroma of your dishes, consider using roasted and ground spices.
- For best results, it is recommended to use fresh tomatoes instead of canned tomatoes or paste.
- To tenderize the meat, cover the pan and let it cook for 10-15 minutes.
- When you add freshly cut ginger, green chilies, and coriander to your karahi dish, it can make a significant difference in its flavor.
Did you make this recipe?
Tag @MasalaSecret on Instagram and hashtag it with #masalasecreturoojnaeem
Like this recipe?
Follow @Urooj|MasalaSecret on Pinterest
Follow us on Facebook!
Follow Masala Secret on Facebook
Chicken Kabab Masala OR Kabab Karahi
The vessel utilized in preparing Karahi, which is pronounced as Kar-ah-hee, is circular and deep with a flat base. The customary karahi is crafted from wrought iron and typically features round loop-shaped handles. It bears a resemblance to a wok in terms of its appearance.
