Chicken Madras - Khin's Kitchen Easy Chicken Curry Recipes (2024)

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Easy Chicken Madras Recipe - with tender chicken pieces in homemade flavourful Madras curry sauce. Serve with your favourite naan, flatbread, or basmati rice, and make it a perfect curry night!

What's your favourite curry? Chicken Madras is our favourite easy go-to curry! It's one of the popular curry dishes across the UK, you can find it in most Indian restaurants and takeaways. If you are a fan of spicy chicken curry, you may want to try our popular curry dishes such as Chicken Rogan Josh, Garlic Chilli Chicken Curry, Naga Chicken Curry or if you are looking for milder curry, Chinese chinese curry might be perfect one.

Chicken Madras - Khin's Kitchen Easy Chicken Curry Recipes (1)

Story behind this dish ?

Chicken Madras is basically a spicy red chicken curry. The main difference with regular chicken curry is the spice mixture and flavour in the Madras curry sauce are hotter than regular curry.

Is it an authentic Indian curry? I would say no. This is a British-Indian style curry recipe and the taste and flavour are more likely to British taste. Most British-Indian style curries are mild, rich, and creamy.

Chicken Madras - Khin's Kitchen Easy Chicken Curry Recipes (2)

Indian Curry Sauce Base

Restaurant Indian curries add their pre-cooked sauce base in their curries. Curry sauce base usually consists of onion, garlic, ginger, tomato, masala, chilli powder, turmeric, oil, and ghee. Vegetables and spices used may vary according to the restaurants or family recipes.

All the onions, vegetables, and spices are cooked until soft, tender, and reduced to half. Then blend it into a smooth paste, and later add in the curry for creamy smooth curry texture.

But can you make restaurant-style chicken curry without pre-cooked base sauce? Yes, definitely you can, with our simple recipe tips. This curry sauce is not completely smooth, but it's so rich, tasty, and flavourful. You can cook everything in one pan and no need to use a food processor. Less clean up and less time-consuming. Perfect curry to cook for busy days. I can guarantee that's worth your time and effort!

Chicken Madras - Khin's Kitchen Easy Chicken Curry Recipes (3)

Here is how to make it with Simple Steps:

You need only 3 simple steps to make this dish.

  1. Marinate the chicken pieces with turmeric, paprika, hot curry powder, salt, and a splash of oil.
  2. Saute' the shallots, garlic, ginger, spices, and tomato puree. Then cook the chicken with low heat until soft and tender.
  3. Make a taste test and add salt and chopped coriander. Ready to serve!

Ingredients explained:

Chicken: I usually use boneless chicken thigh or breast for this recipe. If you wish you make with bone-on chicken pieces, lamb, or beef, cook few more minutes until the meat is tender.

Madras Powder: What is Madras Curry Powder? It's a powder mixture of turmeric, chilli, coriander, mustard, fenugreek, cumin, fennel, and black pepper. Spices are roasted with low heat until fragrant then grind it into powder when it's cool.

You can buy hot or mild Madras curry powder in most supermarkets and Indian/Pakistani grocery stores.

Madras powder substitutes: Use regular curry powder and add extra cayenne pepper powder or hot chilli powder according to your preference.

Tips to make Madras Curry Sauce without blending:

1. Use shallot onions as they are less in moisture and melt in the curry easily. It's important to stir well with medium heat until they are caramelized and slightly brown before you add the chicken.

2. I love to add tomato puree instead of chopped tomato or tomato passata for quick dinner recipes. It brings vibrant red colour to the dish and also saves time from blending it in the food processor to achieve a smooth paste.

3. Use warm water while you are cooking, as cold water can stop the cooking process and take more time to tender chicken and sauce ingredients.

Chicken Madras - Khin's Kitchen Easy Chicken Curry Recipes (4)

What to serve with Madras Chicken?

Simply serve up with cooked basmati rice, plain naan, garlic naan, chapati, roti, or flatbread. Garnish with chopped coriander and you can add lime wedges, onion, and cucumber slices on the side.

Cooking for a crowd? You can simply double or triple the amount of this recipe. Perfectly fine to make one day ahead and serve the next day. Store it in an air-tight container in the fridge and reheat until piping hot just before serving.

Here is more of our restaurant-style curry recipes that you might like:

  • Chicken Tikka Masala
  • Easy Butter Chicken Recipe
  • Chicken Hyderabadi
  • Lamb korma
  • Chicken Jalfrezi
  • Chicken and Chickpea Curry
  • Chana Bhaji
  • Lamb Tikka Masala

📖 Recipe

Chicken Madras - Khin's Kitchen Easy Chicken Curry Recipes (5)

Chicken Madras

Easy Chicken Madras Recipe with tender chicken pieces cooked in homemade Madras curry sauce.

4.89 from 18 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: British Indian, Indian

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 294kcal

Author: Khin

Ingredients

  • 3 cloves Garlic ( finely grated or chopped )
  • 1 tbsp Ginger ( finely grated or ginger paste )
  • 3 Shallot ( or onions, finely chopped )
  • 2-3 tbsp Tomato puree ( or tomato concentrate )
  • 2 tbsp Oil ( vegetable oil or neutral flavour oil )
  • 2 tbsp Ghee ( ghee or unsalted butter )
  • 1 tsp Salt ( or add salt according to taste )
  • 1 tsp Dried fenugreek leaves ( Kasuri methi )
  • Coriander ( to serve and garnish )
  • cup Water ( suggest to add warm water, add more water if needed )

Chicken & Marinade

  • 1 lb Chicken breast ( 450 g, boneless chicken thigh or breast )
  • ½ tsp Turmeric
  • ½ tsp Paprika
  • ½ tsp Curry powder ( Madras curry powder or garam masala )
  • ½ tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Cooking oil

Spices

  • 1 tsp Madras curry powder ( or hot curry powder )
  • 1 tsp Paprika powder ( or Kashmiri chilli powder )
  • 1 tsp Cumin seeds ( jeera seeds )
  • 1 Cinnamon stick ( optional )
  • ½ tsp Turmeric

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Cut the chicken breast into medium bite size pieces. Mix the chicken pieces well with turmeric, paprika, curry powder, salt and oil. Let it sit aside and marinade for 10-15 minutes.

  • Gather all the spices, finely chop and grate the shallots, garlic, ginger and coriander.

  • In a large pan, heat the oil and ghee over medium-high heat. Saute' the cumin seeds and cinnamon stick for few seconds.

  • Add the chopped shallots and stir until translucent then follow with the garlic and ginger paste.

  • Stir continuously, until shallots are light brown. Then place the chicken pieces, turmeric, paprika and curry powder, and stir for 1 minute.

  • Follow with the tomato puree and pour the warm water in. Stir well until all the ingredients are combine evenly.

  • Crush the dried fenugreek in hand and sprinkle over the chicken. Close the lid and cook with low heat for 8-10 minutes until the meat is tender.

  • Add salt to taste. ( Make a taste test and adjust salt according to your taste. If the gravy is too thick, add a bit more water to your preference consistency. ) Turn off the heat and transfer to serving plate.

  • Garnish with chopped coriander and serve with basmati rice or naan.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 294kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 92mg | Sodium: 1011mg | Potassium: 558mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 106IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1mg

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Chicken Madras - Khin's Kitchen Easy Chicken Curry Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How to make curry taste like restaurant? ›

Simple suggestions for restaurant good quality curries:
  1. Fry your onions till they are golden brown.
  2. Fry your spices but don't burn them. ...
  3. Use good quality spices. ...
  4. Seasoning. ...
  5. Use fatty yoghurt (greek style works) in curries to make them richer. ...
  6. Patience. ...
  7. Use a neutral vegetable oil. ...
  8. Experiment.
Jun 24, 2018

Is Madras curry the same as hot curry? ›

Curry powder is a mixture of turmeric and other spices that can be blended in mild, medium or hot strengths. The main difference between these blends is that Madras Curry Powder is spicier in taste compared to standard Curry Powder. Both types of curry powder have many of the same ingredients.

What does madras mean in curry? ›

The dish. Chicken Madras is an Indian curry consisting of pieces of chicken in a spicy, tomato sauce. The word Madras refers to the use of a particular kind of curry powder – a precise mixture of herbs and spices from southern India, from the city of Chennai (formerly Madras).

Is madras a healthy curry? ›

Each ingredient that make up Madras Curry has its own magical healing powers. Coriander is rich in immune boosting antioxidants and may help lower blood sugar. It may benefit heart and brain health and it can even help fight infections.

What are the secret ingredients to a good curry? ›

However, here are some general suggestions to make your curry taste better:
  • Aromatics: Start with a flavorful base of aromatics such as onions, garlic, and ginger. Sautéing these ingredients well can add depth to the overall flavor of your curry.
  • Spices: The right combination of spices is crucial for a delicious curry.
Dec 30, 2018

How do restaurants make curry so creamy? ›

The actual sweetness and creaminess of such curries meanwhile, usually comes from fried onions and either cashews and/or dairy products. Instead of (or in addition to) onion, ground coconut may be used. White poppy seeds and/or watermelon seeds are also used in some creamy sauces.

Can I use Madras curry powder instead of paste? ›

In short: Definitely not. Although curry powders and pastes can share some universal spices, the flavor components of each are distinct from the other. In fact, typically these two mixtures are used to prepare different kinds of cuisine altogether.

Which is hotter madras or vindaloo? ›

Originally Answered: What is the difference between Madras and Vinduloo? Madras is from Southern India and is a region as well as a dish. Tomato with Coriander, Cumin and Fenugreek these dishes are hot and spicy just like the region. Vindaloo is often the hottest item on the menu at any Indian restaurant.

What is the flavor of Madras curry? ›

The key features of a madras are that it hot and fiery with a piquant flavour. It has a wonderful vibrant deep reddy brown colour which is achieved from chilli powder (or paprika for a milder flavour), the tart tanginess from fresh tamarind, and it's very slight aniseed fragrance from using of fennel seeds is key.

What curry is similar to Madras? ›

If you like madras-style curries, here is an option to experiment with, a Rajasthani-style curry called laal maas, which translates as 'red mutton'. Traditionally made with game meat, the intense heat was added to mask the strong gamey taste.

Is garam masala the same as Madras curry? ›

The main difference between Madras curry powder and Garam masala is turmeric. Turmeric is a primary ingredient in curry powder and is not typically included in a garam masala mix.

What is another name for Madras curry? ›

Madras curry
Alternative namesMadras sauce, Madras curry
Place of originIndia
Region or stateTamil Nadu
Serving temperatureHot
Main ingredientsChili powder
2 more rows

What is the healthiest curry in the world? ›

Healthy curry recipes
  • Chicken jalfrezi. A star rating of 4.5 out of 5. ...
  • Healthy fish korma. A star rating of 3.5 out of 5. ...
  • Chicken korma. A star rating of 4.6 out of 5. ...
  • Jerk sweet potato & black bean curry. A star rating of 4.5 out of 5. ...
  • Chinese chicken curry. ...
  • Thai squash & pineapple curry. ...
  • Chicken madras. ...
  • Kidney bean curry.

What is the best curry for weight loss? ›

Any Indian curries that are tomato-based, like tandoori, madras, jalfrezi, rogan and bhuna, are the lowest in calories. They average around 200-300 calories. If you want an even healthier option, consider a sauce-free dish like fish tikka (which is only 180 calories).

How to make Indian curry taste like restaurant? ›

12 Tips You Need To Make Restaurant-Quality Indian Curries At Home
  1. Choose the right fat to add flavor to your Indian curries. ...
  2. Invest in the right cookware for Indian food. ...
  3. Stock up on some essential ground spices and whole spices. ...
  4. Use plenty of fresh aromatics. ...
  5. Take your time to cook out the ingredients.
Jul 2, 2023

How to make curry that tastes like a takeaway? ›

The Indian Curry Base Hack

Onions, garlic and ginger feature heavily in any good Indian curry base, whether it is slow-cooked for hours or cooked in a matter of minutes in the takeaway kitchen. Spices are plenty, with flavours from a blend of coriander, cumin, and turmeric amongst others.

What makes restaurant Thai curry so good? ›

To make a Thai curry dish, you can always expect that there are great amount of fresh herbs and spices added to it. And the combination of these ingredients gives the dish a bold and strong flavour that cannot be replicated by other types of curries.

What ingredient makes curry taste like curry? ›

Curry is often described as a dish that is earthy, spicy, warming, or even sometimes sweet. It is a well-balanced, richly spiced dish with notes of deep savory flavors from turmeric, coriander, cumin, bay leaf, cinnamon, and cloves, just to name a few.

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