Chicken masala is a dish consisting of roasted, marinated chicken chunks in spiced curry sauce. The curry is usually creamy and orange-colored.

Ingredients of Masala Chicken

750 gm chicken
2 cups chopped onion
Salt as required
2 inches cinnamon stick
2 green cardamom
1 teaspoon ginger paste
2 teaspoons coriander powder
1 cup water
2 teaspoons cumin powder
1 tablespoon garam masala powder
1 tablespoon ghee
4 tablespoons mustard oil
1/2 cup minced tomato
3 teaspoons coriander leaves
2 bay leaves
1 black cardamom
2 teaspoons garlic paste
1 teaspoon powdered turmeric
2 teaspoons red chilli powder
2 green chillies
2 teaspoons kasoori methi powder

Following the steps to make chicken masala

Step 1: Wash and clean the chicken

To make Masala Chicken, first thoroughly wash the chicken under running water. Now put it in some warm salted water and allow it to rest for 10 minutes and throw the water away and wash again. This helps to remove the smell of the chicken.

Step 2: Sauté whole spices

Add oil and ghee to the pan and heat over a medium flame. When the oil is hot enough, add the bay leaves and both the cardamom and cinnamon. Sauté for a minute and then add finely chopped onion to it. Cook till onions turn pink. Then add the ginger-garlic paste. Fry for a minute and then add chicken pieces to it. Cook chicken for 2-3 minutes until it turns white.

Step 3: Add spices in frying chicken

Quickly, add red chili powder, coriander powder, turmeric, cumin powder, and salt to taste. Stir to mix all the ingredients well with the chicken. Cook for a minute and then add finely chopped tomatoes and green chilies (slit and halved). Now reduce the flame and cook covered for 6-7 minutes, and then uncovered till the chicken is browned.

Step 4: Cook for 2-4 minutes with a closed lid and serve hot

Add one cup of water, cover the pan with a lid, and cook for 2-4 minutes until the chicken is tender and soft. Remove the lid and garnish with garam masala powder, coriander leaves, kasoori methi powder, and cook on a high flame till the oil separates. Your Masala Chicken or Chicken Masala is ready. Enjoy with butter naan, rice, or roti.

Tips
For a juicier Masala Chicken, marinate the chicken for a good 30 minutes to one hour in 1 tsp turmeric powder, 2 tbsp mustard oil, salt, and 2 tsp curd and garlic paste.
Fresh tomatoes always work better than tomato puree.
Make sure you slow-cook the chicken, as this will enhance the flavor and color of your dish.
If the chicken is fried in the masala until it releases oil, it will have a darker color. If you prefer a deeper color, you can also add Kashmiri red chili powder.