Chicken Nihari Recipe 

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Chicken Nihari Recipe

Ingredients:

For the Chicken:

  • 1 kg chicken (bone-in, cut into medium pieces)
  • 4 tablespoons ghee or oil
  • 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • 1 tablespoon red chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons coriander powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin powder
  • 1 tablespoon Nihari masala (store-bought or homemade)
  • ½ cup yogurt, whisked
  • 1 liter water
  • Salt to taste

For the Nihari Masala (if making at home):

  • 1 tablespoon fennel seeds
  • 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
  • 2 black cardamom pods
  • 4 green cardamom pods
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 4 cloves
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg powder
  • 1 teaspoon mace powder

For Garnishing:

  • Fresh coriander leaves,
  • Chopped ginger,
  • Julienned lemon wedges
  • Green chilies, sliced

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Prepare the Nihari Masala (if making at home):
  • Dry roast all the masala ingredients (fennel seeds, cumin seeds, black peppercorns, black cardamom, green cardamom, cinnamon stick, and cloves) on low heat until fragrant.
  • Grind the roasted spices into a fine powder and mix with nutmeg and mace powders.
  • Set aside.

2.Cook the Onions:

  • Heat ghee/oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add sliced onions and fry until golden brown. Remove half of the fried onions and set aside for garnishing.

3.Add the Spices and Chicken:

  • To the pot, add ginger-garlic paste and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
  • Add turmeric, red chili powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, and the prepared Nihari masala. Stir well.

4.Add Chicken:

  • Add the chicken pieces to the pot and cook until they are lightly browned and coated with the spices, about 5-7 minutes.

5.Add Yogurt and Water:

  • Add whisked yogurt and cook for a few minutes until the yogurt is well combined with the spices. Pour in water, stir, and bring it to a boil.

6.Simmer:

  • Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 30-40 minutes or until the chicken is tender and the oil separates on top.

7.Adjust the Gravy:

  • Adjust the consistency of the gravy by adding more water if needed.
  • Season with salt as per taste.

8.Serve:

Serve the Chicken Nihari hot, garnished with the reserved fried onions, fresh coriander, ginger slices, green chilies, and lemon wedges. Enjoy with naan or steamed rice.

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