Chicken Handi or Murg Handi is that new found preparation that I cannot stop talking about. I have experimented with this preparation several times, catering to several distinct groups of friends and families on each of these occasions, and have managed to evoke rave reviews from them.
The USP of the dish for me is the earthen pot that is used in this preparation. The idea of cooking in an earthen pot has always seemed so fascinating and thrilling to me. I had experimented couple of times in past, cooking in a Handi (earthenware) trying different preparations but the outcome was a mixed one. On one occasion the Handi with the Biryani inside had developed a wide crack on its bottom and I was left with a pot full of half cooked Biryani which was difficult to reclaim. The disastrous experience had me avoid the idea of using Handi in my kitchen for some time and it compelled me into blacklisting the potter who had duped me into buying a substandard pot.
However, after a brief hiatus, I began thinking of using an earthen ware one more time, albeit with a different preparation. It was with this thought, I began to experiment with recipe of Chicken Handi. After few tweaks in the recipe that I had jotted down in my food-diary that I began to maintain almost a decade ago, I had finalized this recipe of Chicken Handi.
The first marination comprises of turmeric, salt and lemon juice. Chicken is left in this marination for half an hour.
The second and the more elaborate marination requires us to add a spice mix (masala powder) of whole spices which are dry roasted and grounded into a fine powder. The other ingredients required in the marination are red chili powder, coriander powder and Curd. Chicken is kept in this marination for an hour.
Handi or the earthen pot must be seasoned correctly before you could use it for your regular cooking. The more often a clay pot is used for cooking, faster it would become ‘fully seasoned’. I am going to share a blog and put up a video on our channel depicting steps to be taken for seasoning a clay pot quite soon. One important caveat that must be mentioned, that I have learnt over the years, is that food must not be cooked on high heat in a clay pot. It is most typically suitable for cooking on low to low-medium heat.
Sliced Onions and tomato puree weighing one fourth of the total weight of Chicken is used in the recipe. The marinated chicken is then added to the clay pot and cooked with the lid on. A significant point to be mentioned here is that this recipe does not requires addition of water for the gravy. Chicken gets cooked in its own juices besides the moisture incorporated by curd and tomato puree. The dish typically must have a thicker consistency, but you can alter the consistency to suit your palate.
Chicken cooked on a slow heat in an earthen pot, simmering in its own juices until it is done- is what a foodie’s dreams are made of. Chicken Handi can be relished with Laccha Paratha, Naan, Phulka or steamed rice.
Like the Mitti Ki Handi (Earthern Cooking Pot) that we have used in this recipe? Buy it from here
Enjoy this delicious Chicken preparation and share your feedback with us in the comment section below
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Rating
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Serves: 5-6
- 1 Kg Chicken (cut into medium sized pieces)
- 2 Large sized Onion (sliced lengthwise)-approx 250 grams
- 2 Large sized Tomatoes (puréed)-approx 250 grams
- 200 grams Curd
- Cooking Oil
- Salt
- 3 Bay Leaf
- 2 tsp. Cumin Seeds
- 4 Green Cardamom
- 1 tsp. Black Peppercorns
- 3 Black Cardamom
- ½ tsp. Cloves
- 1-1/2 inch Cinnamon Stick
- 1 tbsp. Kashmiri Red Chili Powder (less spicy)
- ½ tsp. Turmeric Powder
- 1 Lemon Juice
- ½ tsp. roasted dried Fenugreek Leaves Powder
- 2 tbsp. Coriander Powder
- 2-3 tbsp. Ginger Garlic Paste
- ¼th Cup fresh Coriander Leaves
- Let's perform Chicken's first Marination: Add 1 tsp. Salt, ½ tsp. Turmeric Powder, Lemon Juice and mix well. We will keep Chicken in this marination for 30 minutes.
- We will dry roast Whole Spices. In a pan, add Bay Leaf, Cinnamon stick, Peppercorns, Black Cardamom, Green Cardamom, Cumin Seeds and Cloves. Dry Roast lightly. As the spices release aroma, switch off the heat and grind it into fine powder.
- Lets prepare for second marination: Add roasted and grounded spice Mix, Red Chili Powder, Coriander Powder and curd. Mix well. Cover with a Cling Film and keep the chicken in this marination for an hour in refrigerator.
- Take marinated chicken out from refrigerator. We will make this preparation in an earthen pot. Heat 4-5 tbsp. Oil and add sliced Onions. Fry until Onions become brown in color.
- When Onions become brown, add ginger-garlic paste and fry for a minute. Add Chopped Coriander Leaves and marinated chicken. Roast Chicken on high heat.
- After 5 mins of roasting, add tomato puree and salt to taste and mix well. Cover and cook the Chicken on reduced heat.
- After 10 mins, stir the chicken. We have not added any water in this preparation. Chicken gets cooked in its own juices, and the moisture from curd and tomato puree. Cover and cook for remaining time.
- Chicken gets cooked in total 25 minutes. You can adjust the consistency of the final preparation. If you require thick consistency, then cook uncovered for 3-4 minutes. Add roasted dried fenugreek leaves powder and mix.
- Switch off the heat and now we will prepare for a Tadka
- Heat 1 tbsp. Oil and add ½ tsp. Cumin Seeds. Pour tadka on Chicken. Add some chopped Coriander Leaves
- Chicken Handi is ready to be served. Flavor of Chicken cooked in an earthen pot on low heat in its own juices is delicious. Chicken Handi can be relished with Laccha Paratha, Naan, Phulka or Steamed Rice.
Click here to watch recipe video
Hi!! Chicken handi looks really tempting, but can we cook without earthen pot? Will it still get the good flavor.
Hey Sangita , thanks for stopping by ! Yes you absolutely can make this chicken curry in other utensils , it will taste awesome. Rather I would say your efforts will make that chicken handi tastes delicious irrespective of utensils used , what say my dear reader? 🙂 Just give it a try and let me know your experience!
Hi Smita, Firstly compliments for an absolutely wonderful website and the detailed explanation of all your recipes. Stumbled upon Kalimirchi, trying to find out recipe for Coffee Walnut icecream. Tried the Handi chicken with minor modifications. Used the conventional non stick pot instead of the earthen pot. Yet the results were fabulous. My wife and daughter liked it very much. Looking forward to trying out many more recipes….Thanks once again…and keep posting newer recipes….
Thank you so much Dharam for your wonderful feedback. It feels so good when readers like you give us their feedback after trying the recipe! Thanks once again and happy reading, enjoy cooking!
Hello Smita,
I Wish to Thank you for all your time and effort for showing us amazing and easy recipes.
I am going to try this cooking for my friends nearly 20 of them .. I know it will be fun 🙂
My question is can I use the ready made garam masala powder instead ? Also can I use the fenugreek leaves (probably I can crush it to make into powder) if I don’t have the powder?
Many Thanks and Well done .
Hey Vishal so nice to know that you are treating your friends with this zesty chicken curry ! ANd let me assure you that your plan would rock in this monsoon season ! 🙂
Well , you can use garam masala powder. For fresh fenugreek leaves , you might need to de – hydrate them in sunlight or in oven. And then crush it to make the powder . It would be perfectly fine ! Thank you so much again and do share your experience with us .. We would love to hear that 🙂
Looked yummy …. gave it a try ….boy what an aroma … caramelized onions and chicken … lovely taste …
Unearthed Kalimirchi, attempting to discover the formula for Coffee Walnut frozen yogurt. Attempted the Handi chicken with minor alterations. Utilized the regular nonstick pot rather than the earthen pot. However, the outcomes were marvelous.
Thats a wonderful feedback …. thanks a lot , happy cooking !
hey wanted to know if the image posted is free to be used or modified
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I will try at my home. Really it was read so interesting. Thanks for sharing nice information.
Thanks Kritika for stopping by .. and do let me know your feedback 🙂