Creating a delicious Peshawari Chicken Karahi is a journey through the flavors of Pakistan. This recipe hails from the city of Peshawar, known for its rich culinary heritage and vibrant spices.

Peshawari Chicken Karahi offers a delightful combination of tender chicken, ripe tomatoes, and aromatic spices, all cooked to perfection in a sizzling pan.

While it may sound complex, this recipe is surprisingly simple, making it perfect for both beginner and seasoned cooks alike. With just a handful of ingredients and straightforward instructions, you can recreate the authentic taste of Peshawari cuisine right in your own kitchen.

Expert Tip: Ensure the oil is hot before adding the ginger and garlic paste to the pan. This helps to release their flavors and aromas, enhancing the overall taste of the dish.

Ingredients

Oil: The oil serves as the cooking medium for this recipe, helping to sauté the ginger and garlic paste and cook the chicken to perfection. It adds richness and depth of flavor to the dish.

Ginger Paste: Ginger paste brings a warm, spicy kick to the Peshawari Chicken Karahi, infusing the dish with its unique flavor. It also adds depth and complexity to the overall taste.

Garlic Paste: Garlic paste adds a savory, aromatic flavor to the dish, complementing the ginger and enhancing the overall taste of the chicken karahi.

Salt: Salt enhances the natural flavors of the ingredients and helps to balance the taste of the dish. It brings out the richness of the tomatoes and spices, making the Peshawari Chicken Karahi more flavorful.

Chicken: Chicken provides protein and flavor to the dish. It cooks up tender and juicy, soaking up the delicious flavors of the tomatoes and spices.

Tomatoes: Ripe tomatoes add sweetness and tanginess to the Peshawari Chicken Karahi, creating a rich and flavorful base for the dish. They break down as they cook, forming a luscious sauce that coats the chicken beautifully.

Green Chillies: Green chillies add heat and spice to the dish, giving it a fiery kick that is characteristic of Pakistani cuisine. They provide a burst of flavor and heat, balancing out the richness of the chicken and tomatoes.

Black Pepper: Black pepper adds a subtle warmth and depth of flavor to the Peshawari Chicken Karahi, enhancing the overall taste of the dish. It pairs beautifully with the other spices, adding a hint of complexity.

Ginger: Fresh ginger adds a bright, zesty flavor to the dish, complementing the other ingredients perfectly. It adds a pop of freshness and aroma, elevating the overall taste of the Peshawari Chicken Karahi.

Expert Tip: For added depth of flavor, marinate the chicken in yogurt and spices for 30 minutes to 1 hour before cooking. This helps to tenderize the meat and infuse it with delicious flavors.

Serving Suggestions

• Pair this flavorful dish with freshly made buttered naan for a classic Pakistani meal experience. The soft and fluffy texture of the naan perfectly complements the rich and spicy flavors of the chicken karahi.
• Alternatively, serve the Peshawari Chicken Karahi with plain chapati for a simpler yet equally delicious option. The thin and crispy texture of the chapatti provides the perfect vehicle for scooping up the tender chicken and flavorful sauce.
• For a complete meal, serve the chicken karahi alongside fragrant basmati rice and a fresh salad of cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions. The rice helps to balance out the heat of the dish, while the salad adds a refreshing contrast of textures and flavors.
• Garnish the Peshawari Chicken Karahi with freshly chopped cilantro for a pop of color and freshness. The bright green herbs not only enhance the visual appeal of the dish but also add a hint of herbal aroma to each bite.
• To round out the meal, serve traditional Pakistani beverages such as mango lassi or fresh fruit juice. These refreshing drinks help to cool down the palate after enjoying the spicy flavors of the chicken karahi.

Expert Tip: Don’t skip the step of cooking the tomatoes until they break down and form a thick sauce. This is essential for achieving the rich and flavorful gravy that defines Peshawari Chicken Karahi.

Frequently Asked Questions

How spicy is Peshawari Chicken Karahi?

Peshawari Chicken Karahi can be adjusted to your desired level of spiciness. By controlling the amount of green chillies and black pepper used, you can make it mild, medium, or spicy according to your taste preferences.

Can I use boneless chicken for this recipe?

Yes, you can use boneless chicken for Peshawari Chicken Karahi if you prefer. Simply adjust the cooking time accordingly as boneless chicken tends to cook faster than bone-in chicken.

What can I substitute for green chillies if I don’t have them?

If you don’t have green chillies, you can substitute with jalapeños or serrano peppers for a similar level of heat and flavor. Alternatively, you can omit the green chillies altogether if you prefer a milder version of the dish.

Can I make Peshawari Chicken Karahi in advance?

While Peshawari Chicken Karahi is best enjoyed fresh, you can prepare the base gravy in advance and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. When ready to serve, simply reheat the gravy and add the cooked chicken, green chillies, and ginger before serving.

Is Peshawari Chicken Karahi gluten-free?

Yes, Peshawari Chicken Karahi is naturally gluten-free as it does not contain any wheat-based ingredients. However, always double-check the labels of pre-packaged spices and condiments to ensure they are gluten-free if you have gluten sensitivities or allergies.

Check Out These Other Recipes

Here are some more recipes for you to enjoy! If you my recipes don’t forget to rate and leave a comment.

• Lamb Karahi
• Vegetable Karahi
• Keema Karahi
• Chicken Karahi

If you have any recipe suggestions, please do not hesitate to ask me. A great way to stay in contact with me is through Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Don’t forget to tag me @CookwithNabeela in your recipe photos!

Peshawari Chicken Karahi

by Nabeela Kauser

Let's dive into the culinary delights of Peshawari Chicken Karahi, a vibrant fusion of flavours that'll awaken your senses. Unleash your inner chef and embark on an adventure of textures and spices.

5 from 17 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 50 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine Pakistani

Servings 6

Calories 400 kcal

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

• ▢ 100 ml Oil
• ▢ 1 tbsp Ginger Paste
• ▢ 1 tbsp Garlic Paste
• ▢ 1 tsp Salt
• ▢ 500 g Chicken
• ▢ 500 g Tomatoes
• ▢ 3 Green Chillies
• ▢ 1 tsp Black Pepper
• ▢ 1 inch Ginger

Instructions

• In a large pan heat up the oil on medium heat until hot
• Add the ginger and garlic paste then sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant
• Add the chicken and cook for 10 minutes until the chicken has changed colour
• As the chicken is cooking chop the tomatoes then add into the pan along with the salt and black pepper then cook for a further 15 minutes
• Slice the green chillies lengthwise and julienne the ginger then add to the pan and cook for another 2 minutes
• Serve immediately and enjoy with buttered naan or a plain chapatti!

Video

Notes

Nutritional facts:

The provision of nutritional information is done merely as a courtesy and should not be taken as a guarantee.

Nutrition

Calories: 400kcal

Keyword Chicken, Chicken Karahi, Cooking, Curry, Food, Karahi, Recipe

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