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Serving piping hot Restaurant Style Chicken Karahi Recipei with naan or tandoori roti

Basic Restaurant Style Chicken Karahi Recipe (1 kg Chicken)

This recipe shares the best way to make an authentic, restaurant-style Chicken Karahi at home in just 30 minutes. It uses bone-in chicken, fresh tomatoes, and special spices to give you a truly delicious flavor and aroma just like a roadside dhaba. This dish is perfect for 4 people.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: pakistani
Calories: 450

Ingredients
  

  • Chicken: 1 kg bone-in, curry cut
  • Oil/Ghee: 3/4 cup
  • Tomatoes: 5–6 medium finely chopped or halved
  • Ginger-Garlic Paste: 1.5 – 2 tbsp
  • Spices: 1 tsp salt 1 tsp red chili powder, 1 tsp chili flakes, 1 tsp cumin powder, 1 tbsp coriander powder (ideally dry-roasted and coarsely crushed).
  • Optional: 1/2 cup yogurt for extra richness and a pinch of black pepper or garam masala at the end.

Method
 

  1. Sear the Chicken: Heat oil in a wok or heavy-bottomed pan on high heat. Add the chicken and fry until it changes color from pink to white/light golden.
    Chicken being seared in a wok until golden brown for Restaurant Style Chicken Karahi Recipe
  2. Sear the Chicken: Heat oil in a wok or heavy-bottomed pan on high heat. Add the chicken and fry until it changes color from pink to white/light golden.
    Sautéing ginger garlic paste for authentic Restaurant Style Chicken Karahi Recipe
  3. The Tomato Base: Add the tomatoes and spices (salt, red chili, cumin, coriander). Mix well. Cover and cook on medium heat for about 10 minutes until the tomatoes soften.
    Thickening gravy and separating oil for Restaurant Style Chicken Karahi Recipe
  4. hicken the Gravy: Remove the lid. If there is excess skin from the tomatoes, pick it out with tongs. Mash the tomatoes thoroughly into the chicken. Increase the heat to high and stir-fry until the oil begins to separate from the gravy.
    Thickening gravy and separating oil for Restaurant Style Chicken Karahi Recipe
  5. Finishing Touch: If using yogurt, whisk it and add it now, cooking on high heat until the liquid evaporates. Add a sprinkle of black pepper, garam masala, and your garnishes (julienned ginger, green chilies, and coriander).
    Serving piping hot Restaurant Style Chicken Karahi Recipe with naan or tandoori roti
  6. Serve: Turn off the heat and let it sit for a minute. Serve piping hot directly in the karahi with naan or tandoori roti.
    Serving piping hot Restaurant Style Chicken Karahi Recipei with naan or tandoori roti

Notes

  • Calories: 450–550 kcal
  • Note: Yeh calories ka andaza 1kg chicken aur istemal hone wale tel/dahi ki miqdaar par mabni hai. Yeh aapki cooking style aur oil ke istemal ke hisaab se thoda kam ya zyada ho sakta hai.