Bihari Chicken Curry

Try this traditional Bihari Chicken Curry where chicken pieces are cooked with whole garlic knobs, tomatoes, spice powders, and a few more simple ingredients. Serve it with phulka or rice (gluten-free).

Jump to:

• About Bihari Chicken Curry
• Ingredients
• How To Make Bihari Chicken Curry
• Serving Suggestions
• Storage Suggestions
• You Might Also Like
• Recipe Card

About Bihari Chicken Curry

Bihari Chicken Curry (Bihari Chicken Masala) is a traditional chicken curry recipe that is quite popular in Bihari homes. Chicken pieces are marinated, pan-fried, and then dunked in a spicy onion-tomato-based curry.

The addition of whole garlic knobs makes this chicken curry quite unique and different from others.

It is best served with phulka or steamed rice for weekday meals with some sliced onions and lemon wedges on the side.

This curry is gluten-free and the recipe can be easily doubled or tripled.

Here are some more chicken curry recipes that you may like

• Chicken Keema Masala
• Chicken Salna
• Traditional Andhra Chicken Curry
• Butter Chicken
• Chicken Vindaloo
• Dhaba Style Chicken Curry

Ingredients

For The Marination

Skinless bone-in chicken pieces are marinated with Kashmiri red chili powder, turmeric powder, freshly squeezed lime juice, and salt.

Try to use bone-in chicken pieces, as the bones release their juices and add a beautiful flavor to the curry. But if you are not a bone-in chicken person, use boneless chicken cut into 1-inch cubes.

For The Curry

To make the curry, you will need mustard oil, red onions, salt, a few basic spice powders, ginger garlic paste, pureed fresh tomatoes, whole garlic knobs, plain yogurt (dahi), ghee, and cilantro (fresh coriander leaves).

Mustard oil gives a very unique taste to this curry. If it’s not available, you can use any vegetable oil.

Whole garlic knobs are the unique ingredient of this chicken curry. They also give it a very nice taste.

This recipe uses basic spice powders such as coriander powder, turmeric powder, Kashmiri red chili powder, garam masala powder, and cumin powder.

How To Make Bihari Chicken Curry

Marinate The Chicken

Mix

• 2 pounds (1 kg) bone-in skinless chicken (cut into 1-½ inch chunks)
• 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice

in a large mixing bowl.

Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Fry The Chicken

Heat ¾ cup of mustard oil in a large pan over high heat.

Once the oil is hot, add the marinated chicken to the pan and arrange the pieces in a single layer. Fry for 4-5 minutes on each side. If your pan is not very large, then fry the chicken in batches.

Remove the fried chicken to a plate and set it aside.

Make The Curry

Add 1 and ½ cups of finely chopped onions and 1 teaspoon salt to the same pan and saute until onions turn golden brown in color (10-12 minutes). Stir frequently.

There will be some liquid released by the chicken in the pan but that is normal.

Add 2 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste and saute for another minute.

Now add 1 and ½ cups of pureed fresh tomatoes and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add

• 2 tablespoon coriander powder
• 2 tablespoon Kashmiri red chili powder
• 1 tablespoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon garam masala powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin powder

and saute for 2-3 minutes.

Add 1 cup water and 2 whole garlic knobs and cook until oil starts to separate on the sides of the pan (3-4 minutes).

Now add ½ cup of whisked yogurt and cook for another 2-3 minutes.

Add 2 cups of water and bring the curry to a boil.

Cook for 3-4 minutes.

Add the fried chicken pieces back to the pan and mix well.

Reduce the heat to low.

Cover the pan with a lid and cook for 25-30 minutes until the chicken is cooked and tender and the masala is cooked well too. Stir a few times in between cooking.

Add 2 tablespoon ghee and mix well.

Garnish with 2 tablespoon chopped cilantro and serve hot.

Serving Suggestions

Bihari Style Chicken Curry is best served with phulka or steamed rice. I also like to serve it with tawa paratha or lachha paratha for everyday meals.

Storage Suggestions

This chicken curry will easily last for 2-3 days when stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Reheat in a pan or microwave until nice and hot before serving.

If you feel the curry has thickened while refrigerating, pour in a little hot water to adjust the consistency while reheating.

You can also freeze the curry for up to 2 months. Thaw, heat, and serve!

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