We have a saying in India that a person who hasn’t seen Lahore has yet to be born. Lahore is a city in what is now Pakistan. The hub of land trade between India and the Middle East, it used to be call “the Paris of the East” because it was such an important center of high culture in India. The street foods and meat preparations of Lahore are still legendary. This chicken curry recipe is a staple for Lahoris. The inclusion of potatoes makes it hearty and a wide assortment of spices delivers complexity.–Suvir Saran & Stephanie Lyness
WHAT CAN I USE INSTEAD OF CHICKEN IN CURRY?
Take a look at this ingredient list. It may, at first glance, seem a little lengthy, but everything in there looks pretty familiar, eh? You may just have what you need for this warming, wintry curry in your pantry. Love when that happens! Want to take it vegetarian? Substitute 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into florets, or a 14-ounce can of chickpeas, for the chicken.
Lahori Chicken Curry with Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1 (4-pound) chicken, cut into 8 to 10 pieces and skinned
- 3 medium red boiling potatoes, peeled and quartered
- 3/4 teaspoon turmeric
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Salt
- 1 1/2 medium onions, roughly diced
- 5 garlic cloves
- 2- inch piece ginger, peeled and cut in half crosswise
- 3 tablespoons mild vegetable oil
- 1- inch piece cinnamon stick
- 12 green cardamom pods
- 9 whole cloves
- 10 black peppercorns
- 3 whole dried red chiles
- 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 fresh hot green chile, cut in half
- 2 large tomatoes, chopped
- 2 tablespoons store-bought or homemade tomato paste
- 1/4 cup plain yogurt, whisked until smooth
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro leaves
- Juice of 1 lemon
Instructions
- Combine the chicken, potatoes, 1/2 teaspoon of the turmeric, 1/4 teaspoon of the cayenne pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt in a large bowl and stir to coat the chicken and potatoes with the spices. Let stand while you make the sauce.
- Finely mince the onion, garlic, and ginger in a food processor and set aside.
- Combine 2 tablespoons of the oil, the cinnamon stick, cardamom, cloves, black peppercorns, red chiles, coriander, and cumin in a large casserole or pot over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring, until fragrant and the cinnamon unfurls, 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add the minced onion mixture, the green chile, and 1 teaspoon of salt and cook, stirring, until the vegetables begin to brown around the edges, 10 to 15 minutes. You may need to turn the heat down to medium if they begin to brown too quickly.
- Remove and discard the cinnamon stick and green chile and stir in the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of turmeric and 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne. Add the tomatoes and tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes. Let cool slightly, then pour into a food processor or blender and purée until smooth. Set aside.
- Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of the oil in the same casserole or pot over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and potatoes and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the yogurt, 1 tablespoon at a time, and stir well after each addition. Cook, stirring, to evaporate some of the moisture, about 2 minutes.
- Add the puréed tomato mixture and bring to a boil. Stir in the water. Return to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, until the chicken is cooked through, about 30 minutes, stirring every 5 to 8 minutes and scraping the bottom of the pan to keep the sauce from sticking. Uncover and cook until the sauce is reduced and thickened somewhat, 5 minutes more. Stir in the cilantro and lemon juice. Season with salt to taste. Serve hot.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe Testers’ Reviews
This is one of the best curries I’ve ever had, and certainly the best I’ve ever made. I used chicken thighs rather than prepare a whole chicken (I was a little short on time) and they came out so tender, and full of flavour. My guests all commented on the meat—but the highlight for me was the creamy, spicy, fragrant curry sauce. Curry powder begone!
I made this recipe last night, but decided to sub cauliflower for the chicken. WOW! The flavors, the taste, the sauce—everything was simply fantastic. I served it with red quinoa. Everyone in the family absolutely loved it, and it makes enough for close to 6 people, especially if you serve it with some type of grain such as rice or quinoa, though I can only imagine how amazing it must be with some naan or some plain steamed spinach.
The timing was 100% accurate. The recipe is time-consuming to get going, but once everything is cooked and blended, just sit back and enjoy the aromas filling your house as you set the table. Today we finished the leftovers and, much as with any “stew,” the taste was even better and richer. This is one I will make again, as per the recipe (for the carnivores in our household) as well as the cauliflower interpretation (for those of us who are occasionally vegetarian-minded).
Score one more for the good guys! This curry was a fiery little number that lit up the tastebuds from the first bite and will linger for hours afterwards. I did not mind it being hands-on either, as I welcome challenges to cooking and ways to expand my skillset. If anything, it was the right stepping stone to up my game.
The hot curries usually are too concentrated on the chilli. This one differed where ginger was a reasonably prominent flavour. I also believe the yoghurt base slightly mitigated that heat. It is one of these recipes that the construction requires meticulous attention, but in the end, it all comes together.
I will likely try this one again.
I’m so pleased to hear that you enjoyed this and that it provided a bit of a challenge for you, Mikey! Looking forward to hearing about what you try next.