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5.0 from 54 votes

Murgh Masala (Chicken Masala)

A classic mild Indian curry, Murgh Masala is a fragrant combination of chicken, tomato, yogurt, and a plethora of aromatics and spices.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 15 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 321 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

  • 2 ¼ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, tenders, or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons ground coriander
  • 1 1½ teaspoons garam masala
  • ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
  • ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 2 onions, finely chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves. roughly chopped
  • 2-inch piece ginger, roughly chopped
  • 2 very ripe tomatoes, chopped (substitute 2 to 2 ½ cups canned crushed tomatoes if tomatoes aren't very ripe)
  • 3 tablespoons oil or ghee
  • 5 whole cloves
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • ⅔ cup thick plain yogurt (strained regular yogurt or Greek-style both work)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Mix the cumin, coriander, garam masala, cardamom, and turmeric together and rub it into the chicken.
  2. Put half the onion with the garlic, ginger, and chopped tomato in a food processor or blender and puree into a smooth paste.
  3. Heat the oil in a medium Dutch oven over medium-high heat, add the remaining onion, the cloves and cinnamon and fry until the onion is softened and translucent. Add the tomato and onion paste and stir for 5 minutes. Season with salt, to taste. Stir in the yogurt until smooth and then add the spiced chicken.
  4. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 40 to 50 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has come together. Stir the ingredients occasionally to prevent the chicken from sticking. If the sauce is too thin, simmer for several minutes uncovered toward the end of the cooking time. Season with salt to taste and serve with basmati rice or naan.

Notes

  • Adapted from The Food of India

Nutrition Information

Calories 321kcal (16%) Carbohydrates 16g (5%) Protein 38g (76%) Fat 12g (18%) Saturated Fat 2g (10%) Cholesterol 113mg (38%) Sodium 92mg (4%) Potassium 316mg (9%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 5g (10%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 321

% Daily Value*

Calories 321kcal 16%
Carbohydrates 16g 5%
Protein 38g 76%
Fat 12g 18%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 113mg 38%
Sodium 92mg 4%
Potassium 316mg 7%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 5g 10%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.