Indian cooking
Indian cooking / Dishes / Hyderabadi Dum Ka Murgh
Hyderabadi Dum Ka Murgh (Slow-cooked Chicken Curry with Saffron, Turmeric, Chilli and Mint)

Hyderabadi Dum Ka Murgh

Slow-cooked Chicken Curry with Saffron, Turmeric, Chilli and Mint
Non-vegetarianOrigin South

A Hyderabadi-style chicken curry in which chicken is marinated in yoghurt and spices, then slow-cooked in a toasted onion, coconut and nut paste with saffron and fresh herbs. It is rich, gently spiced and aromatic, with mint, coriander and green chilli lifting the finish.

Marinade spices

9 gMixed into the yoghurt for the chicken marinade (step 1)
02
3 g1 teaspoon
spice
03
0.6 g¼ teaspoon
spice
Stir into the yoghurt before coating the chicken.

Spice-paste masala

13 gToasted and blended into the spice paste (steps 5 and 7)
01
6 g2 teaspoons
nut/seed
02
5 g1 tablespoon
spice
04
0.4 g5 cloves
spice
05
0.7 g4 pods
spice
Toast the poppy seeds with the garlic and ginger, then blend the whole spices with the cooled mixture and water.

Saffron water

0.3 gStirred in after the chicken has cooked (step 12)
01
Saffron thread · Kesarsoaked in 2 tablespoons warm water
~0.3 gpinch
spice
Soak the threads in the warm water and add both threads and liquid.

Everything else

01
30 g2 tablespoons
dairy
02
Bone-in skinless chicken · Murghjointed and cut into medium pieces
750 g
poultry
03
27 g2 tablespoons
oil/fat
04
248 g250 ml
liquid
05
2.4 g1 tablespoon
herb
06
2 g2 tablespoons
herb
07
4.5 g3 chillies
vegetable
08
to taste
salt
09
150 g
vegetable
10
Coconut · Nariyalfreshly grated
18 g3 tablespoons
fruit
11
9 g1 tablespoon
nut/seed
12
Garlic · Lehsunroughly chopped
30 g10 cloves
aromatic
13
Fresh ginger · Adrakroughly chopped
20 g5 cm
aromatic
14
99 g100 ml
liquid

Method

  1. Mix 30 g greek yoghurt with the marinade spices (5.2 g kashmiri chilli powder, 3 g ground turmeric and 0.6 g black pepper).
  2. Add 750 g skinless bone-in chicken pieces and turn until evenly coated.
  3. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours, or overnight.
  4. Dry-fry 150 g white onion, 18 g coconut and 7.5 g cashew in a non-stick pan over medium heat for 10–12 minutes, stirring often, until light brown.
  5. Add 30 g garlic, 20 g fresh ginger and 5.6 g white poppy seeds from the spice-paste masala; toast for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
  6. Take the pan off the heat and let the mixture cool.
  7. Blend the cooled mixture with the remaining spice-paste masala (5.1 g coriander seeds, 2 g cinnamon, 0.4 g clove and 0.7 g green cardamom pod seeds) and 99.4 g water until smooth.
  8. Melt 27 g ghee or vegetable oil in a heavy-based saucepan over medium heat.
  9. Add the spice paste and fry for 2 minutes, stirring.
  10. Add the marinated chicken with its marinade and stir well; fry for 7–8 minutes to seal the chicken.
  11. Pour in 248 g water, season with salt to taste, cover and cook over low heat for 25–30 minutes until the chicken is cooked through, stirring once halfway.
  12. Add the saffron water (0.3 g saffron threads soaked in 2 tbsp warm water) and simmer for 5 minutes.
  13. Stir in 2.4 g mint leaf, 2 g coriander leaf and 6 g green bird’s eye chilli, slit lengthways.

Don't have something?

Greek yoghurt
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 turmeric
  • Ground ginger

    Use 50% of the weight. Mimics turmeric's warm, earthy, rhizome background, but provides none of the golden-yellow colour.

  • Saffron

    Steep a tiny pinch (0.1 g per 2 g turmeric) in 2 tbsp warm water; use to match the rich golden hue. Contributes an aristocratic, honeyed floral flavour rather than earthy bitterness.

Black pepper
  • Black peppercorn

    Use the same weight and crush or grind as the recipe needs; whole peppercorn is the same spice.

  • Ground black pepper

    Use the same weight; add nearer the end if the recipe calls for whole pepper, as ground loses aroma faster.

  • Ground white pepper

    Use about 75–80% of the weight; it is milder and earthier, with less bite.

Bone-in skinless chicken
Ghee or vegetable oil
  • Peanut oil

    Use equal weight; handles high tempering heat well and keeps flavours neutral.

  • Butter

    Use equal weight; cook over gentle heat to prevent browning the milk solids too quickly.

Water
  • Stock

    Use the same weight in savoury dishes; it adds body, so adjust salt.

  • Milk

    Use the same weight only in doughs or creamy dishes; it makes the result richer.

  • Coconut water

    Use the same weight in curries or rice; it adds sweetness and a faint coconut taste.

Saffron thread
  • Saffron powder

    Use the same weight; it disperses faster, so no steeping is needed. Add directly to warm milk or oil.

  • Ground turmeric

    Use a tiny pinch for colour only, about 1 g for 0.2 g saffron. It will not give saffron flavour.

  • Screwpine water or rosewater

    Use 1 tsp for a floral scent only. It does not replace saffron's colour or taste.

Mint leaf
  • Mint leaves

    Use the same weight; identical herb, just the plural listing.

  • Dried mint

    Use 25% of the fresh weight, about 1 g dried for 4 g fresh; crush between fingers. Flavour is stronger and slightly hay-like.

  • Coriander leaf

    Use the same weight; it gives a fresh green note but not true mint flavour.

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.

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.

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.

Coconut
  • Fresh coconut

    Use equal weight freshly grated or diced. Delivers the identical sweet, milky taste and juicy texture.

  • Desiccated coconut

    Use 60% of the weight and soak in hot water or milk for 15 minutes before using. The finished dish will be slightly sweeter and less fibrous.

  • Dried coconut

    Finely grate and use 50% of the weight, soaked in hot water for 20 minutes. Yields a firmer chew and a denser, oilier coconut aroma.

Cashew nut
  • Almond

    Use 100% of the weight. Soak in boiling water and slip off skins before frying or grinding; gives a lighter, slightly less sweet richness to curries.

  • Poppy seed

    Use 60% of the weight for gravies. Soak in warm water and grind into a fine paste to thicken royal kormas without adding heavy oiliness.

  • Shelled peanut

    Use 100% of the weight. Roast, skin, and grind; creates a thicker, earthier texture typical of Maharashtrian and western Indian curries.

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.

White poppy seeds
  • Poppy seed

    Use the same weight; grey seeds make a darker paste but taste close.

  • White sesame seed

    Use the same weight, lightly toasted; the paste is nuttier and less thickening.

  • Cashew nut paste

    For 10 g poppy seeds use about 15 g cashew nut paste; it thickens more, so reduce other thickeners.

Coriander seeds
  • Ground coriander

    Use 75% of the weight; stir in along with wet masala or tomato purée rather than frying in hot oil, as the fine powder burns instantly.

  • Cumin seed

    Use 50% of the weight for tempering in hot oil. Lacks the floral, sweet citrus flavour of coriander, introducing warm, pungent earthiness instead.

  • Fennel seed

    Use 50% of the weight in tempering; provides pleasant aromatic sweetness, though noticeably aniseedy rather than citrusy.

Cassia bark
  • Ceylon cinnamon

    True cinnamon: thinner, papery quills, milder and sweeter. Use about 1.5 times the weight, and taste.

  • Ground cinnamon (cassia)

    Use about a third of the weight (0.5 g ground for a 2.5 cm piece), stirred in with the ground spices rather than fried whole, since the powder burns quickly.

  • Cassia buds

    Use 60-70% of the weight; stronger and more peppery, so taste before adding more.

Clove
  • Ground cloves

    Use 1 g ground for 4 g whole (or 1 small pinch per 2 to 3 whole cloves). Add with spice powders; disperses intense warmth quickly, so use with restraint.

  • Allspice berries

    Use 100% of the weight whole in tempering. Imparts a warm, clove-like aromatic profile combined with hints of nutmeg and cinnamon.

  • Black cardamom pod

    Use 1 pod for 3 to 4 cloves in whole tempering. Shares a camphor-like warmth and medicinal depth, though it introduces a distinct smoky undertone.

Green cardamom pod
  • Green cardamom seed

    Use 35 to 40% of the total pod weight; lightly bruise the seeds before frying in oil to release their essential oils.

  • Ground green cardamom

    Use 20 to 25% of the pod weight (about 1 generous pinch per pod); stir in toward the end of cooking so the delicate floral notes do not dissipate.

  • White cardamom pod

    Use 1:1 by pod count or weight; crack gently before using, though it is slightly less intensely floral.

Similar dishes

Andhra Kodi Vepudu
Cardamom, Ginger & Black Pepper Chicken
It tastes drier, more peppery and savoury than this dish, which is richer and more aromatic with saffron, mint and coriander.
  • Same: Andhra Kodi Vepudu shares chicken, onion, garlic, ginger, cashew, cardamom, clove, Kashmiri chilli powder and turmeric with this dish.
  • Different: It is a dry fry of boneless thigh with tomato, curry leaves and vegetable oil, while this dish is a yoghurt-marinated, slow-cooked curry with coconut, poppy seeds, saffron, mint and bone-in chicken.
Kolkata Doi Murgi
Creamy Chicken Curry with Cardamom, Black Pepper, Yoghurt and Mustard Oil
Kolkata Doi Murgi tastes creamier and tangier from more yoghurt, with mustard oil and whole-spice warmth from cardamom, black pepper and garam masala, whereas this dish is richer and nuttier from coconut, cashew and poppy seeds with saffron and mint lifting the finish.
  • Same: Kolkata Doi Murgi shares with this dish a yoghurt-based chicken curry using turmeric, Kashmiri chilli powder, onion, garlic, ginger and coriander leaf.
  • Different: It uses mustard oil, bay leaf, green cardamom, cinnamon, dried Kashmiri chilli, black pepper and garam masala, while this dish uses ghee or vegetable oil and adds coconut, cashew, poppy seeds, saffron, mint and green bird’s eye chilli in a slow dum-style cook.
Murgh Musallam
Whole Roast Chicken Stuffed with Mince, Cashews, Raisins, Green Chillies & Boiled Eggs
Murgh Musallam is tangier from yoghurt and lemon and has a savoury stuffed filling, while this dish is richer and more aromatic from coconut, nuts and slow dum cooking with mint and green chilli lifting the finish.
  • Same: Murgh Musallam shares chicken, a yoghurt marinade, saffron, ghee, onion, cashew, poppy seeds, green cardamom, clove, garlic, ginger, green chilli, mint and coriander with this dish.
  • Different: Murgh Musallam uses a whole chicken stuffed with minced chicken, cashews, raisins and boiled eggs and is roasted, while this dish uses bone-in chicken pieces slow-cooked in a toasted onion, coconut and nut paste; Murgh Musallam adds lemon juice, rose water and garam masala and lacks coconut and coriander seeds.
Tamil Kodi Kura
Poppy Seed & Coconut Chicken Curry
Tamil Kodi Kura tastes nutty and creamy with gentle warmth, while this dish is richer and aromatic with saffron, mint and green chilli at the finish.
  • Same: Tamil Kodi Kura shares bone-in chicken, onion, garlic, ginger, Kashmiri chilli, turmeric, cinnamon, clove, green cardamom, poppy seeds, cashew, coconut and coriander with this dish.
  • Different: Tamil Kodi Kura adds tomato purée and bay leaf and uses vegetable oil instead of ghee, with no yoghurt marinade, saffron or mint.