If you’re looking for an authentic chicken Jalfrezi recipe that’s easy to make but full of flavor, you’ve come to the right place. All you need is a pot, 30 minutes and everyday ingredients to make this group happier. Cooking complete recipe right below.
Table of Contents
What is Chicken Jalfrezi Recipe?
Chicken Jalfrezi is a tomato curry made with boneless chicken nuggets, peppers and onions.
Unlike most traditional curries, jalfrezi is usually fried rather than steamed or stewed. This gives it a thick semi-dry texture rather than a thick soup like classic chicken curry.
Origin of Chicken Jalfrezi
Chicken jalfrezi has a short history. When the British were in the East Indies, they (or their cooks) would sometimes throw leftover meat into curries. This invention led to the name “jal-frezi”, which translates to “hot/spicy” (jhal) and “fried/fried” (fraizi).
Where will you see it today
Due to its Anglo-Indian history, chicken jalfrezi is more popular in the UK than in the US. I’ve only seen it in a handful of restaurants in Houston. Even in Pakistan, it’s not as popular as curries like Chicken Karahi or Manchurian Chicken.
In recent decades, Jalfrezi has taken on a slightly Indochina style. Many versions, including mine, use a small amount of ketchup, soy sauce, or chili sauce.
>>> More reference: Creamy Mushroom Pasta
Chicken JALFREZI VS Chicken Skewers
For a long time, I’ve been confused about the difference between Chicken Jalfrezi and Chicken Skewers (i.e. in the case of boneless tomatoes and peppers). Although no one asked me this question, I thought I should explain it to my former self:
The flavor profile of Jalfrezi is more South Asian than Shashlik, which is entirely Indochina. Unlike kebabs, jalfrezi is made from real tomatoes. Jalfrezi also has a drier, spiced sauce, while kebabs have more sauce and no South Asian spices.
Ingredients
For the sauce
- ½ large onion, roughly chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 green chilli, chopped
- vegetable oil for frying
- 400g canned plum tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon coriander powder
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
For the meat & veg
- 2-3 chicken breasts, diced
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- ½ large onion, sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 2 red peppers, chopped (optional)
- 2 teaspoons garam masala
- A handful of freshly chopped cilantro leaves
- Cooked basmati rice or toast

Method
Step 1
Take 2-3 diced chicken breasts, add 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon coriander and 1 teaspoon turmeric, then marinate in the refrigerator while you prepare the sauce.
Step 2
For the sauce, in a large pan with a little vegetable oil, saute ½ large chopped large onion, 2 cloves chopped garlic, and 1 chopped green chili for about 5 minutes, until browned.
Step 3
Add 300 ml of water to the onion mixture and cook for about 20 minutes.
Step 4
Meanwhile, place a 400-gram can of plum tomatoes in a food processor and puree vigorously (to maintain a smooth consistency).
Step 5
Heat another large frying pan and lightly saute 1 tablespoon coriander, 1 tablespoon cumin, and 1 teaspoon turmeric in a little oil for about a minute. Add tomatoes to this pot and cook for about 10 minutes.
Step 6
Next, pulse the onion mixture in a food processor and add it to the seasoned tomato sauce. Season well, stir, and simmer for 20 minutes. You can make a large batch of this sauce and freeze it for later use.
Step 7
Fry the marinated chicken in vegetable oil, stirring constantly. After a few minutes, lower the heat and add the remaining ½ sliced onion, 1 chopped red bell pepper, and 2 chopped red peppers. Stir until the onion and peppers are softened.
Step 8
Add the previously prepared sauce to the cooked chicken and simmer for about 10-20 minutes. If it’s too thick, add a little water.
Step 9
Before serving, add 2 tsp garam masala and a handful of chopped cilantro. Serve with basmati rice or naan.
With the above Chicken Jalfrezi Recipe from globaltimes-sl.org, hope you can read and follow it successfully. Any questions please leave a comment so we can answer as soon as possible.