Chicken Curry With Cream (Shahi Murgh)

By
Petrina Verma Sarkar
Petrina Verma Sarkar
Food writer Petrina Verma Sarkar is a native of India with extensive knowledge of the country's regional cuisines.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 11/24/21
Chicken Curry With Cream (Shahi Murgh)

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 40 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
517 Calories
32g Fat
10g Carbs
46g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 517
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 32g 41%
Saturated Fat 9g 46%
Cholesterol 157mg 52%
Sodium 616mg 27%
Total Carbohydrate 10g 4%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 46g
Vitamin C 4mg 19%
Calcium 80mg 6%
Iron 3mg 19%
Potassium 608mg 13%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Mild and creamy Shahi Murgh never fails to please. Even though it sounds fancy, it actually isn't complicated to cook. Shahi Murgh is an Indian restaurant staple and on the list of most-ordered dishes. Serve Shahi Murgh with chapatis, parathas or just with plain boiled rice, depending of course on what your family fancies on the day. You can also add a Kachumbar salad to round off the meal.

Ingredients

  • 20 cashews, or almonds

  • 3 to 4 tablespoons vegetable oil

  • 5 cloves

  • 8 to 10 black peppercorns

  • 1 (2-inch) piece cinnamon

  • 1 star anise

  • 5 cardamom pods, split

  • 2 small or 1 large bay leaf

  • 1 large onion, chopped very fine

  • 1 tablespoon garlic paste

  • 1 tablespoon ginger paste

  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste

  • 1 teaspoon coriander powder

  • 1 teaspoon cumin powder

  • 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder

  • 1/4 teaspoon red chili powder, optional

  • 1 teaspoon garam masala

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken pieces, preferably thighs, cut into 2-inch cubes

  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Chicken Curry With Cream (Shahi Murgh)

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  2. Grind the almonds or cashews to a fine powder in a food processor. Set aside.

    almond powder in a food processor

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  3. Heat the vegetable/canola/sunflower cooking oil in a deep, heavy-bottomed pot, on medium heat.

    oil in a pot

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  4. When the oil is hot, add all the whole spices and sauté until they begin to turn darker in color and slightly fragrant. It means they are ready.

    spices in a pot with oil

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  5. Next, add the finely chopped onions and fry until they begin to turn a pale golden color. This should take between 5 to 10 minutes.

    onions and spices cooking in a pot

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  6. Now add the ginger and garlic paste and sauté for another 2 minutes.

    garlic and ginger paste added to the onion mixture in the pot

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  7. Add the tomato paste and all the powdered spices, including the garam masala. Also, add the ground nuts and the salt. Stir to mix everything well and fry the masala, frequently stirring, until the oil begins to separate from it. Frequent stirring will prevent burning and will also ensure an evenly browned masala. The oil separating from the masala is a sign that it is well cooked. This results in smooth, well-amalgamated flavors.

    tomato paste cooking with the onions in the pot

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  8. Add the chicken and stir to coat it fully with the masala. Sauté until the chicken is browned.

    chicken and masala mixture in the pot

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  9. Add 6 ounces of hot water to the pot, stir well and cover the pot. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until the chicken is cooked through and tender.

    water added to the mixture in the pot

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  10. When the chicken is done, add the thick cream and stir well. Continue to cook until most of the gravy has dried off. The result should be a dish with thick gravy.

    Chicken Curry With Cream (Shahi Murgh) cooking in a pot

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

  11. Turn off the heat and serve Shahi Murgh with chapatis, parathas, jeera rice or plain boiled rice.

    Chicken Curry With Cream (Shahi Murgh) served with rice

    The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Recipe Tags: