Degchi
Chicken Nihari
Serves 5 · Total 100 min · Prep 20 min · Cook 80 min
A faster, lighter take on the Karachi classic: chicken on the bone simmered in a nihari spice gravy thickened with flour and finished with a ghee and chilli tarka. It is ready in under two hours, so it works on a weeknight with naan.
Quick answer: 100 min in total · serves 5 · main ingredients: Chicken, Wheat flour, Clarified butter, Onion · amounts in metric and US
Ingredients
- 1000 g 2.2 lb Chicken, bone-in, cut into 8 pieces
- 4 tbsp 4 tbsp Wheat flour
- 100 g 0.45 cup Clarified butter
- 2 pc 2 pc Onion
- 3 tbsp 3 tbsp Ginger
- 1 tbsp 1 tbsp Garlic
- 3 tbsp 3 tbsp Nihari masala blend
- 2 tsp 2 tsp Red chilli powder
- 0.5 tsp 0.5 tsp Turmeric
- to taste to taste Salt
- 4 pc 4 pc Green chilli (Optional)
- 0.5 cup 0.5 cup Coriander (Optional)
- 1 pc 1 pc Lemon (Optional)
Steps
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- Fry the sliced onions in half the ghee until golden. Add ginger, garlic, chicken, turmeric and salt and fry for 8 minutes.⏱ Frying chicken · 8 min
- Stir in the nihari masala, then pour in 1 litre (4 cups) of hot water and bring to a boil.
- Cover and simmer on low heat for 40 minutes until the chicken is tender and cooked through (74 °C / 165 °F at the thickest piece).⏱ Simmering · 40 min
- Whisk the flour into a cup of cold water until smooth, stir it into the pot and cook 15 minutes, stirring, until the gravy is thick.⏱ Thickening · 15 min
- Heat the remaining ghee with chilli powder and pour it over the top. Rest for 5 minutes.⏱ Resting · 5 min
- Serve with naan, ginger strips, coriander, green chillies and lemon.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does Chicken Nihari take?
100 minutes in total: about 20 minutes of prep and 80 minutes of cooking.
Is Chicken Nihari hard to make?
Degchi rates it medium. The method has 6 steps, and 4 of them have a timer you can start on this page.
How many people does Chicken Nihari serve?
This recipe serves 5. Use the toggle above the ingredient list to see the amounts in metric or US measures. For more or fewer portions, scale every amount in the same proportion, or use the servings control in the Degchi app.
Is Chicken Nihari halal, vegetarian or eggless?
It is marked halal in our recipe data. It is not vegetarian. It has no egg. It has no beef. Check the labels on any packaged ingredients for your own needs.
What will I probably need to buy for Chicken Nihari?
Everyday staples that Degchi counts as pantry basics: red chilli powder, turmeric, salt. Spice-box items: nihari masala blend. Fresh items you will probably need to buy: chicken, clarified butter, onion, ginger, garlic. Lentils, grains and other dry goods: wheat flour.
Any tips for making Chicken Nihari?
Chicken thighs stay juicier than breast in a long gravy; avoid boneless breast here. Cool leftovers within about 1 hour, refrigerate, and reheat until steaming hot; eat within 1 day.
Notes and questions
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