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Indian cooking / Dishes / Anardana Murgh
Anardana Murgh (Pomegranate & Chilli Spiced Chicken)

Anardana Murgh

Pomegranate & Chilli Spiced Chicken
Non-vegetarianOrigin Punjab

A tangy chicken dish with a pomegranate and chilli marinade, cooked with onions and finished with garam masala. It tastes savoury, lightly sour and warm with gentle heat.

Pomegranate marinade spices

44 gMixed into the chicken marinade (step 1)
Stir with the garlic, ginger and oil to make a paste, then coat the chicken.

Garam masala

2.6 gStirred in after the chicken browns (step 3)
01
2.6 g1 teaspoon
spice blend
Keep ready to stir in once the chicken is browned.

Everything else

01
Chicken thigh · Murgboneless, skinless, cut into bite-sized pieces
950 g
poultry
02
27 g2 tablespoons
oil/fat
03
300 g
vegetable
04
99 g100 ml
liquid
05
to taste
salt
06
3 g2 chillies
vegetable
07
1 g1 tablespoon
herb
08
Garlic · Lehsunpounded to a paste
18 g6 cloves
aromatic
09
20 g5 cm
aromatic
10
14 g1 tablespoon
oil/fat

Method

  1. Mix the pomegranate marinade spices with 18 g garlic, 10 g ginger and 13.5 g vegetable oil to form a paste. Add 950 g chicken thigh pieces and turn to coat, then cover and refrigerate for 3–4 hours or overnight.
  2. Heat 27 g vegetable oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add 300 g thinly sliced white onion and fry for 11–12 minutes, until softened and pale golden.
  3. Add the marinated chicken and its marinade to the pan. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring, until the chicken changes colour and browns. Stir in the garam masala, then pour in 99.4 g water or chicken stock, season with salt and bring to the boil.
  4. Lower the heat, cover the pan and simmer gently for 9–10 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through; stir once halfway.
  5. Add 4 g green bird's-eye chilli and 1 g roughly chopped coriander leaf. Stir and serve warm.

Don't have something?

Chicken thigh
  • Boneless chicken thigh

    Use the same weight if boneless is needed; cooks 5–10 minutes faster than bone-in. Juicy and forgiving.

  • Chicken leg

    Use the same weight; bone-in and larger, so add 5–10 minutes. Similar richness.

  • Chicken breast

    Use the same weight; much leaner and drier, so reduce cooking time by 5–10 minutes and do not overcook.

Vegetable oil
  • Peanut oil

    Use 1:1 by weight. Handles high-heat frying identically and introduces a very subtle, pleasant nuttiness.

  • Ghee

    Use 1:1 by weight. Yields a much richer, authentic aroma and a glossy, heavier mouthfeel.

  • Mustard oil

    Use 1:1 by weight. Heat until smoking, then cool slightly before cooking to temper its intensely pungent, sharp mustard kick.

White onion
  • Brown onion

    Use the same weight; it is the closest everyday match, with a slightly deeper sweetness when fried.

  • Red onion

    Use the same weight; it is sharper and will tint the dish pink, so cook a little longer for sweetness.

  • Shallot

    Use the same weight; it is milder and sweeter, so reduce frying time slightly to avoid burning.

Garam masala
  • Ground cumin

    Use 50% of the weight mixed with equal parts ground coriander and a pinch of ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground green cardamom. Sprinkle near the end for a warming finish.

  • Lentil stew spice mix

    Use 75% of the weight. Simmer briefly in the gravy; imparts roasted warmth and complexity, though it adds a slight tang and earthy lentil undertone.

Water or chicken stock
  • Chicken stock

    Use the same weight. Richer, more body; reduce salt in the recipe.

  • Vegetable stock

    Use the same weight. Vegetarian; lighter flavour but works well.

  • Water

    Use the same weight. Plain; the dish will be less savoury, so adjust salt.

Green bird's eye chilli
  • Bird's eye green chilli

    Use the same weight; heat and flavour are very close.

  • Green chilli

    Use 1.5 to 2 times the weight; deseed for less heat. Larger chillies are more watery.

  • Fresh green chilli

    Use 1.5 to 2 times the weight; chop finely and adjust heat by tasting.

Coriander leaf
  • Coriander

    Use equal weight finely chopped; this is the exact same fresh herb.

  • Mint

    Use half the weight finely chopped; provides vibrant green freshness, though the flavour profile becomes noticeably cooler and sharper.

Ground pomegranate seed
Kashmiri chilli powder
  • Dried kashmiri chilli

    Grind deseeded dried pods to an equal weight of powder; gives identical vivid red colour and gentle warmth.

  • Red chilli powder

    Use 25% of the weight mixed with sweet paprika for colour; straight red chilli powder is substantially hotter and will make the dish fiery.

  • Chilli powder

    Use one-third of the weight; the sauce will be less intensely red and notably sharper in heat.

Ground coriander
  • Coriander seeds

    Dry-roast lightly in a pan and grind to a fine powder; use equal weight (1:1). Offers a noticeably fresher, brighter citrus note.

  • Ground cumin

    Use 50% to 75% of the weight. Lacks the floral, citrusy profile of coriander and turns the gravy heavier, earthier, and darker.

  • Garam masala

    Use 50% of the weight and stir in near the end of cooking. Adds warmth and depth since it contains ground coriander, but introduces stronger spices like clove and cinnamon.

Garlic
  • Garlic paste

    Use equal weight. Fry gently in oil or ghee with the ginger; incorporates smoothly into curries without visible minced bits.

  • Garlic powder

    Use 15% to 20% of the weight (about 1 g for every 5 to 6 g fresh cloves). Whisk into sauces; gives a savoury, toasted garlic flavour without raw pungency.

  • Shallot

    Use 1.5 times the weight, very finely minced. Sauté until golden; provides savoury allium sweetness, though it lacks garlic's pungent sulphur bite.

Fresh ginger
  • Ginger paste

    Use equal weight. Sauté in hot fat until the raw allium smell disappears; slightly wetter, but provides identical warmth and pungency.

  • Ground ginger

    Use 20% to 25% of the weight (1 g for every 4 to 5 g fresh). Stir into the gravy; adds peppery heat and warmth, though it misses the crisp, zesty kick of raw root.

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Murgh Malai Tikka
Creamy Chicken Skewers with Green Chilli & Coriander
Murgh Malai Tikka tastes richer and creamier with a dairy-and-vinegar tang and gentle green-chilli warmth, while this dish tastes savoury and lightly sour from pomegranate powder with warm chilli heat.
  • Same: Murgh Malai Tikka shares chicken thigh, garlic, ginger, green bird's-eye chilli, garam masala and coriander leaf with this dish.
  • Different: Murgh Malai Tikka adds Greek yoghurt, double cream, cheddar cheese, butter, malt vinegar and chaat masala and is grilled as skewers, while this dish uses vegetable oil, onions, pomegranate powder, Kashmiri chilli powder and ground coriander and is cooked with onions.
Tandoori Chicken Tikka
Tandoori Chicken Tikka tastes tangy from yoghurt and lime with warm spice and light char, while this dish tastes savoury and lightly sour from pomegranate with gentle heat.
  • Same: Tandoori Chicken Tikka shares chicken thigh, garlic, ginger, Kashmiri chilli powder, ground coriander, garam masala and salt with this dish.
  • Different: Tandoori Chicken Tikka uses a yoghurt marinade with chickpea flour, cinnamon, saffron, dried fenugreek, sugar, lime, chaat masala and butter, then grills the chicken; this dish uses pomegranate powder, onion, green bird's-eye chilli, vegetable oil and water or stock and cooks with onions.
Bengali Kancha Lonka Murgi
Green Chilli Chicken Curry with Turmeric & Garam Masala
It tastes hotter, more herbal and aromatic with a fresh lemon finish, while this dish is savoury, lightly sour and gently warm.
  • Same: Bengali Kancha Lonka Murgi shares chicken, onion, garlic, ginger, green bird's-eye chilli, ground coriander, garam masala and vegetable oil with this dish.
  • Different: It uses a yoghurt marinade, a coriander and green chilli paste, turmeric, tomato purée, bay leaf, cinnamon and bone-in chicken, while this dish uses pomegranate powder, Kashmiri chilli powder, water or stock and chicken thigh.
Tulsi ke Tikke
Marinated Chicken with Basil
Tulsi ke Tikke tastes bright and herbal with mild warmth and subtle tang, while this dish tastes savoury, lightly sour, and warm with gentle heat.
  • Same: Tulsi ke Tikke shares chicken thigh, garlic, ginger, green chilli, garam masala, oil, and salt with this dish.
  • Different: Tulsi ke Tikke uses basil, cashews, and chaat masala and is skewered, while this dish uses pomegranate powder, Kashmiri chilli powder, ground coriander, onion, and stock and is cooked with onions.