How to Make Chicken Jalfrezi at Home - Quick & Flavorful

 Chicken Jalfrezi is a delicious, semi-dry curry made with stir-fried chicken, bell pepper, onions, and a tangy tomato-based sauce. It's a popular dish in Pakistani and Indian cuisine, often enjoyed with naan or rice. 

Ingredients:

For the chicken marinade:

• 500g boneless chicken (cut into cubes )
• 2 tablespoon yogurt
• half tablespoon salt
• half tablespoon black pepper
• half tablespoon red chili powder
• half tablespoon turmeric powder
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

For the Jalfrezi Sauce:

• 3 tablespoon oil
• 1 medium onion (sliced)
• 2 tomatoes (pureed or finely chopped )
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste (optional, for rich color )
• 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
• half tablespoon cumin seeds
• 1 tablespoon coriander powder
• 1 tablespoon garam masala
• half tablespoon paprika 
• half tablespoon crushed red chili flakes
• salt to taste

For the stir-fry vegetables:

• 1 medium onion (cut into cubes )
• half green bell pepper (cubed)
• half red bell pepper (cubed)
• half yellow bell pepper (cubed)
• 2 green chilies (sliced, optional for spice )

For Garnishing:

• Fresh coriander leaves (chopped)
• Julienned ginger (optional)

Instruction:

Step 1: Marinate the Chicken

In a bowl, mix chicken with yogurt, salt, black pepper, red chili powder, turmeric, and lemon juice. Let it marinate for at least 30 minutes (or overnight for better flavor ).

Step 2: Cook the Chicken

Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a pan. Add the marinated chicken and cook on medium-high heat until it turns golden brown and is fully cooked (about 8-10 minutes ). Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside.

Step 3: Prepare the Jalfrezi Sauce

In the same pan, add 1 tablespoon of oil and cumin seed. Let them splutter. Add sliced onions and sauté until golden brown. Add ginger-garlic paste and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in tomato puree and tomato paste. Cook until the oil separates (5-7 minutes ). Add coriander powder, garam masala, paprika, red chili flakes, and salt. Mix well. Add the cooked chicken and mix it with the sauce. Simmer for 2 minutes.

Step 4: Stir-Fry Vegetables

In a separate pan, heat 1 tablespoon of oil and add cubed onions and bell peppers. Stir-fry for 2-3 minutes (they should stay slightly crunchy ). Add the stir-fried vegetables to the chicken mixture. Stir everything together. 

Step 5: Garnish & Serve

• Garnish with fresh coriander and julienned ginger.
• Serve hot with naan, roti, or basmati rice.