3/4 Popular Chicken Dishes in India

One of the most loved non-veg dishes in India is chicken preparation. Due to religious reasons, pork or beef is not that preferred by Indians. Some of the most loved chicken dishes in India are chicken biryani, chicken handi, chicken reshmi butter masala, chicken masala, chicken curry, butter chicken, kadhai chicken, tandoori chicken etc.

Here is a rundown of some of the most popular Indian dishes that are worth a try

#1. Butter Chicken

The delectable butter chicken or popularly known as murgh makhani has originated from India’s Bread Basket or the state of Punjab. It is a cream-based chicken curry made with butter, cream and spiced up tomatoes. This succulent chicken dish requires several hours of marination with yogurt, lemon juice, garlic and ginger paste, garam masala, red chilli powder and salt.

The speciality of the dish is that it is made in a clay oven. However, the chicken can also be pan-fried, roasted or grilled. The chicken is cooked in an onion garlic and ginger-based curry, which is simmered till it is completely cooked and the water dries up and the curry thickens. To know exactly how to prepare it, check out some butter chicken recipes.

#2. Chicken Biryani

By far the most loved chicken dish in India is the one-pot chicken and rice dish called chicken biryani. This rice and chicken dish are not only popular among Muslims, but also among the Hindu population. There are many variations of the dish. It is also made with fish, prawn, lamb, goat, beef and chicken. In some regions of India, such as Kolkata, potatoes and eggs are added to the biryani.

It is possible to find a wide variety of biryani across India such as Lucknow, Hyderabad, Delhi, Kerala, Chettinad of Tamil Nadu. According to Lizzie Collingham historian, biryani originated in the Mughal rulers’ royal kitchens as early as 1526. Other theories claim biryani to have originated in South India. It is a variation of pilaf or pulao, that was brought to India by the Arab traders.

Some of the popular varieties of biryani are Delhi biryani, Degh ki biryani, Chettinad biryani, Bohri biryani, bhatkali biryani etc. You can prepare a simple chicken biryani at home. You can easily find a chicken biryani recipe online.

#3. Chicken Curry

Chicken curry is a common dish prepared in India with onion, tomatoes, ginger garlic paste, red chilli powder, cumin, coriander, turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon and various other spices. There are many variations of the chicken curry depending on the place of origin.

For instance, chicken curry in South India would be prepared with coconut milk, shredded pieces of coconut, curry leaves etc. At the same time, chicken curry from the North would be spicy and would include spices such as cumin, coriander, red chilli powder, ginger and garlic.

These are some of the popular chicken dishes that Indians love. There are a whole lot of variations in these dishes depending on the region of India, where it is prepared. The grilled and baked chicken dishes such as kebabs are enjoyed as appetizers and the chicken curries go best with either rice, pulao or chapati, paratha or naan (different types of Indian bread).