Homestyle Chicken Balti
This authentic chicken balti brings the vibrant flavors of Pakistani cuisine straight to your kitchen. Tender chicken pieces are cooked with aromatic spices, fresh tomatoes, and bell peppers in a traditional balti bowl, creating a perfectly balanced dish that's both comforting and exotic.
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Servings: 4
Calories: 285kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil or ghee
- 1 large onion roughly chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1- inch fresh ginger grated
- 2 boneless chicken breasts cubed
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp Kashmiri chili powder or mild chili
- 1 large tomato chopped
- 1/2 bell pepper chopped
- 2 tbsp tomato puree
- 1 tbsp fenugreek leaves optional
- Handful fresh cilantro chopped
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Heat oil or ghee in a balti bowl or wok over medium-high heat.
- Add chopped onion and fry until golden brown, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and grated ginger, cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add cubed chicken pieces and cook until they start to brown on all sides.
- Add cumin, coriander, turmeric, and chili powder. Stir well to coat the chicken.
- Add chopped tomato, bell pepper, and tomato puree. Mix thoroughly.
- Cook for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chicken is tender and cooked through.
- Season with salt to taste.
- Finish with fenugreek leaves and fresh cilantro before serving.
Notes
Use a traditional balti bowl or heavy-bottomed wok for authentic results and better heat distribution.
Kashmiri chili powder provides the best color and mild heat, but paprika can be substituted.
Cut chicken into uniform 1-inch cubes for even cooking.
Fresh fenugreek leaves (methi) add authentic flavor but can be omitted if unavailable.
Add spinach or other vegetables like mushrooms for extra nutrition and flavor.
Ghee provides richer flavor than vegetable oil but either works well.
Serve immediately while hot with warm naan bread or basmati rice.
Nutrition
Calories: 285kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 320mg | Potassium: 485mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g