Dahi Chicken, a popular chicken recipe made with minimum ingredients, yogurt and spices. Dahi chicken Recipe also known as curd chicken, dahi wala chicken is a creamy chicken curry flavoured with jeera, dried fenugreek leaves, ginger & garlic. This yogurt chicken can be paired with roti, jeera rice or naan.
Dahi Chicken
You can never believe, a chicken curry that is made with minimum ingredients can taste this good. You have to try this Dahi wala chicken made with yogurt, onions and spices. Spicy, tangy and very flavourful Dahi chicken which goes well with roti, rice or pulao. This dish has similar taste like my Kashmiri Chicken Yakhni.
Table of Contents
About Dahi Chicken (Curd Chicken)
Dahi Chicken or Dahi wale chicken is a creamy chicken curry which is popular in North India, Pakistan and other parts of the world. The chicken is simmered in thick yogurt which forms a silky oily sauce to dunk in naan or chapati in.
Dahi chicken is a simple chicken curry, which has yogurt. This recipe doesn't have tomatoes instead yogurt is added for the tangy and creamy taste. The whole curry gets its unique aroma from Dry kasuri methi leaves.
This chicken dish is made in a unique simple method. Sear chicken in a pan with salt, turmeric for few minutes, remove to a separate bowl. Saute onions, ginger and garlic in the same pan, add seared chicken back in and pour over whisked yogurt and simmer till cooked to create a creamy sauce.
Dahi Chicken can be served with pulao, garlic naan, steamed rice, phulka or kulcha.
Similar Recipes,
Andhra Chicken Curry
Chicken Salna
Easy Chicken Curry
Traditional Chicken Curry
Dahi Chicken Ingredients
Chicken - I like to use a whole chicken cut into pieces. I find the flavour is much better when you use whole chicken instead of boneless chicken. But if you prefer you can opt for boneless chicken thigh instead of chicken breast which can turn rubbery.
Dahi (Curd | Yogurt) - Thick, Greek style yogurt is preferred in this recipe. Make sure you whisk curd really well for smooth texture.
Onions - Slice onion thinly and cook them till golden brown which imparts sweet flavour in the chicken.
Ginger Garlic Paste - fresh ginger and garlic adds the aroma.
Spices - dahi chicken is a simple dish with minimum ingredients. Use cumin seeds and cinnamon for flavouring. You can add couple of bay leaves if you want too. Turmeric, garam masala, cumin & chilli powder are the only spice powders you want in this dish.
Kasuri Methi (Dried fenugreek leaves) - add a good amount of dried fenugreek leaves which lifts the whole curry to a new level.
How to Make Dahi Chicken (Stepwise Pictures)
Whisk Dahi (yogurt)
1)You need thick dahi, homemade thick yogurt or curd in this recipe. Take curd in a bowl and use a spoon of whisk to mix till it is creamy and smooth. This step is important. Also make sure your yogurt is at room temperature.
Sear Chicken
2)Heat oil in a kadai, wok or any pan of choice. You can use ghee instead of oil.
3)Add in chicken along with crushed ginger garlic, salt and turmeric powder. As you can see I am using whole chicken cut into pieces. Bone-in chicken turns out more flavourful and juicy than boneless chicken.
4)Cook the chicken on high heat for 6 to 8 minutes till it gets light golden in colour. Remove the chicken to a bowl.
Make Dahi Chicken Base
5)In the same pan, add extra oil or ghee if needed. Add in cumin seeds and cinnamon stick. Let them sizzle in hot oil for few seconds.
6)Add in sliced onions.
7)Cook till onions get golden brown in colour. It will take few minutes.
8)Add in green chillies, ginger and garlic. Saute this for 2 minutes or so till aromatic.
9)Now reduce the heat and add in your spice powders. I am using turmeric, cumin powder, chilli powder and garam masala powder. Once spices are added, quickly toss in with the oil for 5 seconds or so so the spices doesn't burn.
10)Add in the seared chicken into the spices.
11)Mix the chicken with the onion, ginger, garlic and spice powder.
Adding Dahi in Dahi Chicken
12)Now turn off the flame, pour in the well whisked yogurt into the chicken. If you add yogurt when the heat is on, it may curdle and split. So it is better to take it off the heat when adding yogurt.
13)Once yogurt is added, mix the chicken really well. Now turn the heat back on.
14)Reduce the flame to the lowest possible. Cover the kadai with a lid. Cook on low heat for 25 to 30 minutes till chicken is completely cooked.
15)Now the chicken is cooked and a thin layer of oil floating on top which indicates that the curry is done.
16)The final flavouring in dahi chicken is coriander leaves and dried fenugreek leaves.
17)Mix well and enjoy.
18)Serve dahi chicken with roti, naan and jeera rice.
Expert Tips
- It is important to turn off the heat before adding yogurt else it may curdle or split because of the heat.
- Searing the chicken well in oil makes it taste delicious.
- Take your time to cook onions till golden brown which imparts flavour.
- Once curd is added, cook on very low heat till chicken is cooked completely.
- Kasuri methi and coriander leaves added in the end is important for the flavour.
More Simple Curry Recipes
📖 Recipe Card
Dahi Chicken | Dahi Chicken Recipe | Curd Chicken
Ingredients
For Dahi Chicken Sauce
- 2 tbsp Oil or Ghee
- 1 tsp Cumin Seeds
- 1 stick Cinnamon
- 2 large Onions sliced thinly
- 3 slit Green Chillies
- 2 tbsp Ginger Garlic Paste
- 1 cup Yogurt (curd or dahi)
- 2 tsp Cumin Powder
- 1 tsp Chilli Powder
- 2 tsp Garam masala powder
- 1 tbsp Kasuri Methi Leaves
- 4 tbsp Coriander leaves chopped finely
For Chicken
- 500 grams Chicken (bone-in)
- 1 tsp Turmeric Powder
- 1 tbsp Ginger Garlic Paste
- Salt to taste
- 2 tbsp Oil
Instructions
- Take curd | yogurt in a bowl, use a whisk to mix till smooth and creamy. Set aside till use.
- Heat 2 tblsp oil in a pan, add chicken, along with salt, ginger garlic paste and turmeric powder. Saute this on high heat till chicken is seared on all sides. It will take around 7 to 8 minutes. Remove to a bowl. Set aside.
- In the same pan, add 2 more tblsp of oil, add cumin and cinnamon. Add onions, and saute till golden brown. Add green chillies and ginger garlic paste and saute till raw smell leaves. Now add in all spice powder and salt. Mix well.
- Add chicken back in and toss well with the masala. Take it off the heat, pour in whisked curd and mix well. Now turn on the heat. Cover and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes till chicken is cooked.
- Add kasuri methi leaves, coriander leaves and mix well. Serve.
Notes
- It is important to turn off the heat before adding yogurt else it may curdle or split because of the heat.
- Searing the chicken well in oil makes it taste delicious.
- Take your time to cook onions till golden brown which imparts flavour.
- Once curd is added, cook on very low heat till chicken is cooked completely.
- Kasuri methi and coriander leaves added in the end is important for the flavour.
Nutrition
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Indy
I am so excited to find your website, everything just looks amazing! I will be trying this recipe tomorrow night!, I'll let you know how I get on 🙂
Indy
Turned out beautifully! MAde the spinach raita to go with it, so good!
Mahrosh Ahmed
Cook this curd chicken curry today and it tasted amazing
MP
I made this for dinner this evening and it was easily the best chicken curry I had done. I love your recipes and thank you for sharing them with us.
Jennie Dsouza
Very yummy chicken curry and easy to make too.thank you
sravanthi
Your recipes never disappointed me. This recipe was one of the best among other awesome recipes you share. I love the pictorial recipes, as I can never go wrong with how it turns up. Thanks a lot for sharing the recipes.
Devi
Tried this recipe for the first time. It was awesome as my family enjoyed the dish. It was easy and going to do it again. Thank you.
Amrutha
Ur recipe is awesome .I
tried ur recipe yesterday and it was yummy.Tq so much
Sangeeta Nirmal
Tried this recipe and my husband loved it.. I loved the simplicity in it. Thank you so much.
Reema
I was never able to cook chicken properly earlier once I saw ur recipe I cooked nd it tasted awesome delicious now I cook only in this way thnk u...its easy nd super tasty...
Kaisar
Hi
Today just came across your page and decided to make Dahi Chicken. It was a simple recipe and it turned out really well. I only added little tomato puree & kaju pest to increase the volume.
Thanks for the great recipe.
Next would be your Afghan Chicken.
😊
Gaurang Yellamurthy
No tomotatoes? Very interesting decision.
Parna Sanyal
I have a question. Why you used cumon powder again ? It should be coriander powder. Right ?
Aarthi
It is cumin powder
Margaret Mason
Delicious recipe. I love methi so added a teaspoon extra. It was fab. I've saved this to my favourites and will definitely make it again.