Description
Simmering with rich Indian spices, Chicken Bhuna delivers a restaurant-worthy meal straight from your kitchen that’ll make your taste buds dance. Bold flavors and tender chicken combine in this simple yet spectacular dish that brings restaurant magic home without complicated techniques.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 kg chicken
- 4 tomatoes
- 2 large onions
Main Spices:
- 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
- 1 tablespoon coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon red chili powder
- 2 tablespoons ginger-garlic paste
Supporting Ingredients:
- 2–3 green chilies
- Salt
- ½ cup oil
- Fresh cilantro
Instructions
- Drop ½ cup oil into a large skillet and heat at medium-high temperature (375°F). Toss in 1 tablespoon cumin seeds and listen for their sizzling sound.
- Slide 2 large onions, thinly sliced, into the skillet. Sauté for 8-10 minutes until they transform into a rich golden-brown color.
- Introduce 2 tablespoons ginger-garlic paste and 2-3 green chilies. Stir constantly for 3 minutes to prevent burning and develop deep flavors.
- Add 1 kg chicken pieces to the pan. Stir and cook for 6-7 minutes until the meat turns opaque white and starts releasing its juices.
- Pour 4 pureed tomatoes into the skillet. Simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally until the oil visibly separates from the sauce.
- Sprinkle 1 tablespoon coriander powder, 1 teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon red chili powder, and salt across the chicken. Mix thoroughly to coat each piece.
- Add ½ cup water, reduce heat to low (325°F), cover the skillet, and let the chicken simmer for 25-30 minutes until tender.
- Remove the lid, let excess liquid evaporate for 5 minutes, and scatter fresh chopped cilantro on top before serving.
Notes
- Use a heavy-bottomed pan to prevent burning and ensure even heat distribution for the perfect bhuna.
- Caramelize onions slowly to develop a deep, rich base flavor that defines this dish’s complexity.
- Adjust green chili quantity based on your spice tolerance, keeping the authentic heat balanced with other spices.
- For a healthier version, swap chicken with tofu or paneer and use less oil while maintaining the same aromatic spice blend.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 627 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 35 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 43 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg