Malai Chicken or Murgh Malaiwala is an easy to make yet a very delicious preparation of chicken. It has a rich texture of cream and a finely balanced taste of spices as well as dry fruits. So, here’s how to make this one of its kind Chicken Malai Curry recipe at home.
There are no two says about Chicken Tikka Masala or Butter Chicken being a party favourite. However, on several festive occasions, a slightly richer chicken dish rises up to the occasion, no? Well, this Malai Chicken sure lives to that expectation, ladies and gentlemen!
In this recipe, chicken pieces are lightly cooked in cream and milk. Apart from that, they are very mildly spiced with garam masala powder, cardamom powder, saffron, ginger garlic, lemon juice and some green chilies. Hence, the spices are absorbed by the succulent chicken to create a dish that is difficult to resist whenever made.
Especially relevant to this chicken recipe is the process of marinating the chicken first with curd, spices. As by doing so, you ensure that the pieces of chicken soak up all the amazing masalas.
Consequently, when you simmer and cook them with the gravy they bring a whole new gamut of flavours, oh boy! Therefore, do not miss marinating them at all because you would miss all the yumminess otherwise.
How to serve Murgh Malaiwala?
Being a versatile chicken dish, Murgh Malaiwala goes well with both rice and Indian bread. Therefore, you may serve Murgh Malaiwala with some Laccha Paratha, Butter and Garlic Naan or Zeera Rice.
Here is the easy and simple recipe to make this chicken delicacy. Do try it out this weekend and I shall be waiting to hear from you!
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How to make Malai Chicken Curry Step by Step
Mix hung curd, lemon juice, ginger paste, garlic paste, salt and garam masala powder in a bowl.
Add chicken pieces and mix well. Cover the bowl with a cling film and refrigerate for up to 3-4 hours.
Heat oil and ghee in a pan.
When the oil is hot, add cloves and black peppercorns. Add onion and fry till translucent.
Now add green chilli and fry for a few seconds.
Add the marinated chicken along with the marinade and cook on high heat for 5-6 minutes till the chicken is slightly browned and the raw smell is gone.
Add 1 cup water and cover and cook until chicken is done.
Now add cream, milk, saffron strands, cardamom powder, white pepper powder and fenugreek leaves and cook for another 2 minutes.
Add red chilli powder and garam masala powder and mix well.
Add crushed fried onions and cook for 4-5 minutes.
Malai Chicken Recipe

Malai Chicken
Malai Chicken or Murgh Malaiwala is an easy to make yet a very delicious preparation of chicken. It has a rich texture of cream and a finely balanced taste of spices as well as dry fruits.
Ingredients
- 1 kg Chicken Curry cut
- 2 tbsp Hung curd
- 1 tbsp Lemon juice
- 1 tsp Ginger paste
- 1 tsp Garlic paste
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Garam masala powder
- 1 tbsp Oil
- 1 tbsp Ghee Clarified butter
- 3-4 Clove
- 5-6 Black peppercorn
- 1 and 1/2 cups Onion chopped
- 2 Green chilli slit into half
- 100 ml Fresh cream
- 1/2 cup Milk
- 1 pinch Saffron strands
- 1/2 tsp Cardamom powder
- 1/2 tsp White pepper powder
- 2 tbsp Kasuri methi crushed
- 2 tsp Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder
- 1/2 tsp Garam Masala
- 1/2 cup Fried Onion
Instructions
Mix hung curd, lemon juice, ginger paste, garlic paste, salt and garam masala powder in a bowl.
- Add chicken pieces and mix well.
- Cover the bowl with a cling film and refrigerate for up to 3-4 hours.
- Heat oil and ghee in a pan.
- When the oil is hot, add cloves and black peppercorns.
Add onion and fry till translucent.
Add green chilli and fry for a few seconds.
Now add the marinated chicken along with the marinade and cook on high heat for 5-6 minutes till the chicken is slightly browned and the raw smell is gone.
Add 1 cup water and cover and cook until chicken is done.
Add cream, milk, saffron strands, cardamom powder, white pepper powder and fenugreek leaves and cook for another 2 minutes.
Now add red chilli powder and garam masala powder and mix well.
Add crushed fried onions and cook for 4-5 minutes.
- Add warm water if you want a thinner gravy and bring it to a boil.
- Garnish with almond flakes and serve hot with Laccha paratha or Naan.
Are you making this recipe? I LOVE to see your creations so snap a photo and tag Whiskaffair on Instagram with the hashtag #Whiskaffair and please give a star rating below ★. You can follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for more such easy recipes.
Preetha Soumyan
Such an inviting dish to be served for an awesome dinner at home….and be a star
sunil
Ur recipes r great n easy to make really….
Neha Mathur
Thnx a lot 🙂
kavish
dear its awesome, by your way of writing, it is very easy to understand each and every process
Neha Mathur
Thnx
FARIDA BANU
Hi, Neha your recipe was simply super.
Neha Mathur
Thnx 🙂
FARIDA BANU
Hi, Neha your recipe is very simple and Awesome,
Neha Mathur
Thnx a lot 🙂
Poonam
Absolutely delicious !!!!! Everyone just loved it..thank you
Neha Mathur
Thnx a lot for trying 🙂