Chicken bhuna
Chicken bhuna is a regular on our curry playlist. The word ‘bhuna’ means to fry and, in this recipe, it is key to fry the onions and tomatoes really well until the oil begins to leave the sides of the pan.
Each serving provides 357 kcal, 39.5g protein, 9g carbohydrates (of which 6.5g sugars), 17.5g fat (of which 3g saturates), 3.5g fibre and 1.2g salt.
Ingredients
For the marinade
- 6 garlic cloves, finely grated
- 2.5cm/1in piece fresh root ginger, peeled and finely grated
- 2 tsp mild chilli powder (or Kashmiri chilli powder)
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp ground coriander
- 2 tbsp Greek-style yoghurt
- 750g/1lb 10oz chicken thighs, boneless and skin removed, cut into bite-sized pieces
For the bhuna
- 100²µ/3½´Ç³ú tomatoes, roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp tomato purée
- 4 tbsp vegetable oil
- 3 dried mild red chillies (or dried Kashmiri chillies), left whole
- 300²µ/10½´Ç³ú onions, finely chopped (about 2 medium onions)
- 1 tsp fennel seeds, coarsely crushed
- ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tsp garam masala
- salt
- chopped fresh coriander, to garnish
Method
To make the marinade, blend the garlic, ginger and a splash of water to a smooth paste in a food processor or blender. (You can finely grate them if you don't have a food processor.)
Put the garlic-ginger paste in a large bowl with the remaining marinade ingredients and mix to combine. Add the chicken to the bowl and mix well. Cover and put in the fridge to marinate for 1 hour, or overnight preferably.
To make the bhuna, blend the tomatoes and tomato purée to a smooth paste in a food processor or blender, then set aside. (Again, you can grate the tomatoes on the coarse grater over a bowl to catch all the juices.)
Heat the oil in a non-stick kadhai or large lidded frying pan over a medium heat. Add the chillies, fry for a few seconds then add the onions. Stir well and fry gently for 25 minutes, until browned and softened. Keep stirring often to make sure they cook evenly.
Add the blended tomato paste, stir and fry for 5 minutes. Add the chicken with its marinade of spices and cook for 6 minutes, stirring so the chicken is well coated in the masala.
Season with salt, lower the heat and continue cooking with a lid on for 8 minutes until the chicken is cooked through, stirring halfway through.
Add the fennel, pepper and garam masala and stir. Garnish with coriander and cook for a couple of minutes. Serve immediately.
Recipe Tips
The secret to a really good chicken bhuna is to not add any water as all the flavour comes from the spices and onions.
You can use chicken on the bone, although for ease and quick cooking time I have opted for boneless chicken thighs, which are delicious coated in the thick masala. Serve with naan bread, tandoori roti or kachumbar salad.
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