Authentic Afghani Chicken Recipe – Creamy, Smoky, and Delicious
Ingredients
- Chicken - 1 lbs
- Cilantro - half bunch
- Fresh Mint Leaves - 2-3 stems
- Green Chilies - 5-6 qty
- Onion - 1 medium
- SWAD Cashews - 7-8 qty
- Ginger - 1 inch piece
- Garlic - 5-6 cloves
- Yogurt - 1 cup
- Fresh Cream - 1 cup
- Black Pepper - 1 tsp
- Kasuri Methi - 1 tbsp
- Lemon Juice - 2 tsp
- Garam Masala - 1 tsp
- Chat Masala - 1 tsp
- Salt - to taste
- Butter - 2 Tbsp
- Oil - 2 tbsp + Smoke Coal
Afghani Chicken is a rich and flavorful dish that perfectly blends the creamy texture of yogurt and fresh cream with the aromatic spices of Indian and Afghani cuisine. The chicken is first marinated with a blend of cilantro, mint, green chilies, ginger, garlic, and SWAD cashews, creating a vibrant and herby base. Combined with yogurt, cream, and spices like garam masala, kasuri methi, and chaat masala, the marinade infuses the chicken with layers of flavor. A unique touch of smoky aroma is added using coal, giving the dish its signature taste that is both comforting and indulgent.
Watch our recipe video for step by step instructions on how to make Afghani Chicken. We’ve included demonstrations and pro tips to help you out in the kitchen! For our Afghani Chicken calories and nutrition information, see the recipe card below.
Instructions
1) To prepare, cut slits into 1lb of chicken and set aside to prepare the marinade.
2) In a blender, grind 1/2 bunch of cilantro, 2-3 stems of fresh mint leaves, 5-6 green chilies, 1 medium onion, 7-8 SWAD cashews, a 1 inch piece of ginger, and 5-6 cloves of garlic. Blend to a smooth paste, and set aside.
3) In a large bowl, add 1 cup yogurt, 1 cup fresh cream, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tbsp kasuri methi, 2 tsp lemon juice, 1 tsp garam masala, 1 tsp chaat masala, and salt to taste. Mix thoroughly.
4) Add the green blended chutney and mix well to combine and form the marinade.
5) Pour half of the marinade mixture over the chicken and set aside to marinate for 30 minutes.
6) Prepare the marinated chicken for smoking by placing a piece of tinfoil in the middle of the chicken.
7) Light a piece of coal on the stove, and place on the tinfoil. Finally, drizzle a few drops of oil on the coal to create smoke, and cover with an airtight lid.
8) While smoking, add 2 tbsp of butter to a griddle or a frying pan over medium / high heat.
9) Add the marinated and smoked chicken pieces and cook for about 7-8 minutes on each side.
10) In a large pan over medium heat, add 2 tbsp oil and the remaining half of the marinade from earlier. Cook until the oil begins to separate.
11) Add all of the cooked chicken pieces and continue cooking everything together for about 10 minutes to finish.
12) Serve with plain white rice or a naan. Enjoy!
Afghani Chicken is a rich and flavorful dish that perfectly blends the creamy texture of yogurt and fresh cream with the aromatic spices of Indian and Afghani cuisine. The chicken is first marinated with a blend of cilantro, mint, green chilies, ginger, garlic, and SWAD cashews, creating a vibrant and herby base. Combined with yogurt, cream, and spices like garam masala, kasuri methi, and chaat masala, the marinade infuses the chicken with layers of flavor. A unique touch of smoky aroma is added using coal, giving the dish its signature taste that is both comforting and indulgent.
Watch our recipe video for step by step instructions on how to make Afghani Chicken. We’ve included demonstrations and pro tips to help you out in the kitchen! For our Afghani Chicken calories and nutrition information, see the recipe card below.
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