
Tariwalla Murgh
A homely chicken curry with a thin onion-tomato gravy, potatoes and whole warm spices. It tastes savoury, lightly tangy and gently hot.
Whole spices for the oil
3.2 gAdded to the hot oil (step 5)Ground spices for the sauce
10 gStirred into the thickened tomato base (step 8)Everything else
Method
- Blend 180 g white onion to a fine purée; scrape into a bowl.
- Blend 18 g garlic and 5 g ginger with a splash of water to a paste; scrape into a second bowl.
- Blend 120 g tomato and 15.6 g tomato purée to a loose purée; scrape into a third bowl.
- Warm 40.5 g vegetable oil in a wide, heavy pan over medium heat.
- Drop in the whole spices for the oil. Once they crackle, add the onion purée and cook for 9–10 minutes, stirring often.
- Stir in the garlic-ginger paste and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the tomato purée mixture and cook for 2 minutes, until it thickens.
- Stir in the ground spices for the sauce (the masala) and cook for 3 minutes, stirring.
- Add 850 g chicken and turn to coat; fry for 7–8 minutes to brown all over.
- Season with salt, pour in 268 g water, bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Add 230 g potato, cover and cook for 15–17 minutes more, until the potato is tender and the chicken is done.
- Scatter over chopped coriander to taste and squeeze in 15.3 g lemon juice.
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White onion

Brown onionUse the same weight; it is the closest everyday match, with a slightly deeper sweetness when fried.
Red onionUse the same weight; it is sharper and will tint the dish pink, so cook a little longer for sweetness.
ShallotUse the same weight; it is milder and sweeter, so reduce frying time slightly to avoid burning.

Garlic

Garlic pasteUse equal weight. Fry gently in oil or ghee with the ginger; incorporates smoothly into curries without visible minced bits.
Garlic powderUse 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.
ShallotUse 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 pasteUse equal weight. Sauté in hot fat until the raw allium smell disappears; slightly wetter, but provides identical warmth and pungency.
Ground gingerUse 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.

Tomato

Tomato puréeUse 40% to 50% of the fresh tomato weight mixed with a splash of water. Imparts a deeper red colour, thicker sauce, and slightly sweeter cooked flavour.
Plain yogurtUse 60% of the weight, whisked smooth and added on low heat. Provides rich body and sourness, though the gravy becomes paler and creamier.

Tomato purée

TomatoUse 200% to 250% of the weight. Finely grate or blend fresh tomatoes, then cook them down until the moisture evaporates and the oil separates.

Vegetable oil

Peanut oilUse 1:1 by weight. Handles high-heat frying identically and introduces a very subtle, pleasant nuttiness.
GheeUse 1:1 by weight. Yields a much richer, authentic aroma and a glossy, heavier mouthfeel.
Mustard oilUse 1:1 by weight. Heat until smoking, then cool slightly before cooking to temper its intensely pungent, sharp mustard kick.

Green cardamom pod

Green cardamom seedUse 35 to 40% of the total pod weight; lightly bruise the seeds before frying in oil to release their essential oils.
Ground green cardamomUse 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 podUse 1:1 by pod count or weight; crack gently before using, though it is slightly less intensely floral.

Cassia bark

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

Bay leaf

Cinnamon stickUse a 2 cm piece (about 1 g) for every 1 to 2 bay leaves. Fry in whole-spice temperings; provides the cassia-like warmth typical of Indian tejpatta.
Ground cinnamon (cassia)Use 0.5 g per leaf. Stir into the sauce during simmering; gives the same warm woodiness but darkens the colour slightly.

Ground turmeric

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

Kashmiri chilli powder

Dried kashmiri chilliGrind deseeded dried pods to an equal weight of powder; gives identical vivid red colour and gentle warmth.
Red chilli powderUse 25% of the weight mixed with sweet paprika for colour; straight red chilli powder is substantially hotter and will make the dish fiery.
Chilli powderUse one-third of the weight; the sauce will be less intensely red and notably sharper in heat.

Ground cumin

Cumin seedDry-roast briefly and grind finely; use equal weight (1:1). Imparts an even punchier, nuttier, toasty aroma than pre-ground cumin.
Ground corianderUse equal weight (1:1). Adds mild, lemony sweetness rather than cumin's smoky, earthy bite; curries will taste lighter and less savoury.
Black cumin seedsGrind finely; use 60% to 75% of the weight. Produces a darker, more complex, smoky-herbal flavour suited to rich gravies.

Ground coriander

Coriander seedsDry-roast lightly in a pan and grind to a fine powder; use equal weight (1:1). Offers a noticeably fresher, brighter citrus note.
Ground cuminUse 50% to 75% of the weight. Lacks the floral, citrusy profile of coriander and turns the gravy heavier, earthier, and darker.
Garam masalaUse 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.

Chicken on the bone

Bone-in chickenUse the same weight. It is the same thing; adjust pieces so they cook evenly and simmer until the meat is tender at the bone.
Skinless chicken on the boneUse the same weight. It is leaner and less rich; brown it a little more carefully and add 5 minutes to the simmer if the pieces are large.
Bone-in chicken thigh and drumstickUse the same weight. Thigh and drumstick are juicier and cook slightly faster than breast on the bone; check after 20–25 minutes.

Water

StockUse the same weight in savoury dishes; it adds body, so adjust salt.
MilkUse the same weight only in doughs or creamy dishes; it makes the result richer.
Coconut waterUse the same weight in curries or rice; it adds sweetness and a faint coconut taste.

Potato

EggplantUse equal weight. Cut into large chunks; cooks down much faster (10-12 minutes) and softens into the sauce rather than staying starchy and firm.
PaneerUse 80% of the weight. Cube and add in the last 5-10 minutes of cooking; adds rich dairy protein instead of starchy bulk.
Dried chickpeaUse 45% dry weight. Soak overnight and boil until fully soft before stirring into the sauce to simmer for 10 minutes.

Coriander

Coriander leafUse equal weight, chopped fresh and stirred in off the heat or used as garnish. Matches the citrus-herbal profile identically.
MintUse 40% to 50% of the weight; chop finely and add at the very end. Adds fresh herbal brightness, but shifts the aroma toward cool menthol.

Lemon juice

Lime juiceUse equal volume or weight; delivers almost identical sharp acidity with a faintly more aromatic, bitter-edged profile.
Dried mango powderUse 25% of the weight (about 1 g amchoor for 4 g juice); provides clean fruity tartness without thinning the sauce.
White vinegarUse 75% of the volume; gives direct sourness without any citrus floral fragrance.
Similar dishes

- Same: Attirachi Perelan shares with this dish bone-in meat, an onion-tomato gravy, potato, vegetable oil, garlic, ginger, turmeric, Kashmiri chilli, ground coriander and a coriander garnish.
- Different: Attirachi Perelan uses lamb leg on the bone with a turmeric marinade, fennel, black peppercorn, bird's-eye chilli, curry leaf and a coconut milk finish, and it lacks this dish's cinnamon, bay leaf, cumin and lemon juice.

- Same: Andhra Kodi Vepudu shares chicken, vegetable oil, onion, tomato, garlic, ginger, green cardamom, turmeric, Kashmiri chilli powder and ground coriander with this dish.
- Different: Andhra Kodi Vepudu uses boneless skinless chicken thigh and is a dry fry with curry leaves, clove, black pepper and toasted cashews, while this dish uses bone-in chicken and potato in a thin onion-tomato gravy with water, bay leaf, cinnamon, cumin and lemon juice.

- Same: Bengali Kancha Lonka Murgi shares bone-in chicken, vegetable oil, white onion, garlic, ginger, tomato purée, ground turmeric, ground coriander, cinnamon, bay leaf, salt and lemon with this dish.
- Different: Bengali Kancha Lonka Murgi adds a Greek yoghurt marinade and a green bird's-eye chilli and coriander paste, and it lacks potato, ground cumin, green cardamom and added water; it uses lemon pieces rather than lemon juice.

- Same: Dum Aloo shares vegetable oil, green cardamom, cinnamon, turmeric, ground coriander, Kashmiri chilli and salt with this dish, and both include potato.
- Different: Dum Aloo uses yogurt, fennel, black cardamom and clove and slow-fries potatoes, while this dish uses chicken on the bone, onion, tomato, garlic, lemon juice and a thin water-based gravy.







































