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    Whisk Affair » Recipes » Dal & Curries » Chicken Curries » Mughlai Zafrani Chicken

    Published: Jul 14, 2015 | Last Updated On: Feb 22, 2022 by Neha Mathur | This post may contain affiliate links. I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Mughlai Zafrani Chicken

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    Mughlai Zaafrani Murgh is a rich Chicken curry cooked with cashewnut paste and spices and flavored with saffron. Here is a traditional recipe to make it. #ChickenCurry #Curry Recipes #ChickenRecipes

    Make this rich and creamy Mughlai Zafrani Chicken for festivals and special occasions, which has cashews, saffron and fried onions as its key ingredients. Here is how to make it.

    Try a few more of my North Indian chicken recipes, that will surely satiate your taste buds – Indian Tomato Chicken Curry, Butter Chicken, Chicken Curry, Dhaba Style Chicken Curry, Achari Chicken Curry and Kadai Chicken.

    Mughlai Zafrani Chicken is a rich Chicken curry cooked with cashewnut paste and spices and flavored with saffron. Here is a traditional recipe to make it.

    About This Recipe

    Zafrani Chicken, traditionally known as Zafrani Murgh is a popular recipe from Mughlai cuisine. Chicken is cooked in a rich and creamy gravy prepared with ghee, saffron, cashews, fried onions and spices.

    It is quite royal and can be prepared for festivals, dinner parties and special occasions. Serve it with Naan, Tandoori Roti, Lachha Paratha or a flavourful Dry Fruits Pulao for a satisfying meal.

    Ingredients

    Chicken – Use bone in chicken pieces for this royal recipe. The bone in pieces soaks up the flavours nicely and makes the curry taste even better.

    Saffron – Adds a rich flavour along with beautiful orangish hue to the curry.

    Fried Onions – Use of fried onions gives the curry a darkish brown colour and also makes it richer.

    Cashews – Cashews are soaked for a few minutes before grinding along with fried onions. Use of cashews makes the curry richer and creamier.

    Curd – Use fresh curd and make sure it’s not sour.

    Whole spices – Addition of whole spices such as black cardamom, green cardamom, black peppercorns, cloves and cinnamon in hot oil infuses a beautiful flavour in the curry.

    Spice powders – It uses basic spice powders such as Kashmiri red chilli powder, coriander powder, garam masala powder and salt.

    Ghee & Oil – I use ghee and oil both, but you can make it only ghee as well. Do not skip ghee as it is an important ingredients in this royal curry.

    Others – Ginger garlic paste, kewra essence and cardamom powder are other few ingredients that adds a royal taste in the Zafrani chicken.

    Serving Suggestions

    Zafrani Chicken can be served along with Indian breads such as phulka, naan, tandoori roti, tawa paratha or lachha paratha. A delicious pulao like peas pulao, Kashmiri pulao or jeera rice would also be a great accompaniment with this rich chicken curry.

    Storing Suggestions

    Zafrani Chicken will last for 2-3 days in a clean and dry air tight container. Reheat in a pan or microwave before serving. Add in some hot water to adjust the consistency, if you fee the curry has thickened after refrigeration.

    Recipe Card

    Loved this recipe?Click here to leave a review and give us a five star rating ★★★★★
    Mughlai Zaafrani Murgh is a rich Chicken curry cooked with cashewnut paste and spices and flavored with saffron.

    Mughlai Zaafrani Murgh

    This Murgh recipe is a rich Chicken curry cooked with cashew nut paste and spices and flavored with saffron.
    4.60 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Indian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 468kcal
    Author: Neha Mathur

    Ingredients 

    • 10-12 strands Saffron (Soaked in 2 tablespoon warm milk)
    • 3 tablespoon Ghee
    • 2 tablespoon Oil
    • 2 Black Cardamom
    • 2 Green Cardamom
    • 4-5 Black peppercorns
    • 2-3 Cloves
    • 1 inch Cinnamon
    • 1 kg Chicken (Curry Cut)
    • 2 teaspoon Ginger Garlic Paste
    • 1 cup Golden Fried Onion
    • 10-15 Cashew Nuts (Soaked in warm water)
    • 2 teaspoon Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder
    • 2 teaspoon Coriander Powder
    • ½ teaspoon Garam Masala Powder
    • Salt to taste
    • ¼ cup Curd (Whisked with 1 teaspoon Maida)
    • 3-4 drops Kewra Essence
    • ½ teaspoon Cardamom powder
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    Instructions

    • Heat ghee and oil in a pan.
    • When the oil is hot, add black cardamom, green cardamom, black peppercorns, cloves and cinnamon stick.
    • Fry for a few seconds.
    • Add chicken and fry on high heat for 3-4 minutes.
    • Blend golden fried onions and cashew nuts with little water to make a paste.
    • Add the paste in the pan along with ginger garlic paste, curd, Kashmiri red chilli powder, coriander powder, garam masala powder and salt.
    • Add ½ cup of water and cover the pan and cook till chicken is done.
    • Now add kewra essence, cardamom powder and saffron soaked in milk and cook for another minute.
    • Garnish with golden fried onions, almond flakes and saffron strands.
    • Serve hot with laccha Paratha or pulao.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 468kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 118mg | Sodium: 118mg | Potassium: 364mg | Fiber: 1g | Vitamin A: 600IU | Vitamin C: 5.6mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 2.3mg
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Thalia @ butter and brioche

      March 16, 2015 at 11:04 pm

      I’ve never heard or tried mughlai zaafrani murgh before – but I love how rich with flavour and spice it looks. It is the perfect recipe for me to make for this cool weather right now.

      Reply
      • msnehamathur

        March 17, 2015 at 2:08 am

        Thalia. This is an age old recipe which got lost in time. Since it is very heavy and rich, It can only be eaten occasionally.

        Reply
    2. Roy Brophy

      July 31, 2018 at 9:00 pm

      Looks an interesting recipe but….

      “1/4 cup Curd Whisked with 1 tsp Maida” – mentioned in the ingredients – but nowhere to be seen in the Instructions?

      Also in the EU Maida is banned on health grounds.

      Reply
      • Neha Mathur

        August 01, 2018 at 1:03 pm

        Curd and yogurt are the same thing. You can use plain flour in place of maida.

        Reply
    3. Neha

      April 07, 2020 at 5:01 pm

      4 stars
      I absolutely loved it. I added green chilli while frying the chicken because the recipe lacked spice. Overall, my first attempt was very successful and it’s rich and tasty.

      Reply
      • Neha Mathur

        April 08, 2020 at 4:17 am

        Nice 🙂

        Reply
    4. Matt

      April 12, 2021 at 12:11 am

      5 stars
      Has become a favorite of my whole family!

      Reply
    5. Margaret Mason

      December 06, 2021 at 2:19 pm

      At what stage is the curd whisked with maida added to the cooking? It is not mentioned in the instructions.

      Reply
      • Neha Mathur

        December 06, 2021 at 3:26 pm

        Step 6.

        Reply

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