Chicken Jalfrezi is a spicy Chicken Curry recipe filled with crunchy veggies. Serve it with fried rice or naan bread and watch everyone enjoy its divine taste.
Have you tried my other slow cookers chicken recipes like Crockpot Chicken Thighs in Creamy Garlic Parmesan Sauce (just 4-ingredients) or Southwestern Chicken Bake or Cajun Butter Crockpot Chicken Thighs and Rice or Honey Bourbon Chicken in Crockpot or Crockpot Chicken Thighs in Lemon Garlic Sauce or Crockpot Coconut Lime Chicken or Crockpot Chicken Thigh Recipe with Asian Glaze
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Chicken Jalfrezi
Chicken Jalfrezi is one of my favorite Indian Chicken Recipes. I first learned this recipe from one of my friends. We were at her place for an event and she had prepared Chicken Jalfrezi with fried rice for dinner. It was a wholesome & hearty curry recipe.
You might also love some other Indian Chicken recipes such as
Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala,
Chicken Madras, or
Creamy Coconut Chicken Curry which are one of the most popular Chicken recipes.
Jalfrezi gets its name because of the veggies used it in. Typically Bell Peppers are used in copious amounts in this recipe. Also, Bell Peppers are stir-fried, which means they are cooked in high flame and are slightly raw from inside. It's this rawness that gives the crunchy bite to the Bell Peppers.
I love to make Chicken Jalfrezi for dinner. I generally meal prep it during Sunday night so that I can use it later in the week.
Chicken Jalfrezi is a mildly spicy Chicken Curry recipe. The bite of the veggies adds to the sweetness of the curry.
In terms of spices that are used in Chicken Jalfrezi, there is nothing special about it. Just the usual Indian spices - Turmeric, Cumin, Coriander, Smoked Paprika, and Garam Masala are added to the curry.
If you are using Curry Powder or Curry Paste, you can skip the Cumin and Coriander. The curry powder is basically a combination of Cumin and Coriander so, there is no point in adding those two again.
I have tried using all of these together and the result is too spicy curry. I mean it won't be hot but you'll feel the spices in your gravy. Your curry won't be smooth and that's something you surely don't want.
Let's Talk Garam Masala
Garam Masala is a popular Indian 5 spice mix. Garam Masala is made with Cumin, Coriander, Cinnamon, Cardamom, and Cloves. If you can get your hands on these 5 whole spices you can make your own garam masala at home. I generally find these at the international aisle. However, if you do not get them, you can surely find a pack of Garam Masala in the spice aisle.
Chicken Jalfrezi in the slow cooker
Slow Cooker Chicken Jalfrezi is one of my favorites.
- You start with heating some oil in a skillet and add the seasoned chicken pieces into it.
- Brown your Chicken Pieces evenly. Sear each side for about 3 minutes. Once cooked, remove from the skillet and keep aside.
- Add minced garlic, chopped ginger, and chopped tomatoes to the same skillet.
- Add Turmeric, Ground Cumin, Coriander, and Smoked Paprika. Toss well to combine. Cook for 5 minutes.
- Dump this spice mixture in the slow cooker along with the chicken. Toss to combine.
- Slow cook on high for 3 - hours on Low or 6-hours.
- Add the Bell Peppers and Garam Masala only 30 minutes before you are about to serve.
- You do not need to cook those. They will get cooked from the heat of the curry. Also, this will ensure that your Bell Peppers are crunchy and not all soggy.
- Chicken Jalfrezi is all about the crunch of the Peppers.
Stovetop Chicken Jalfrezi
This is the most traditional way to cook Chicken Jalfrezi.
You start by heating oil and add chopped garlic and ginger to it, followed by the Onions, Tomatoes, and spices.
After the tomatoes get cooked add the chopped bell peppers and cook for 2 minutes before you add your Chicken pieces to your curry. Season with some garam masala and chopped cilantro and serve hot with fried rice. See, it's really easy.
Tomatoes are really important in curry. It helps balance out the sourness of the partially raw veggies and also blends in with the spices. So, the ratio of Onion to Tomatoes in Chicken Jalfrezi should always be 1:3.
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Chicken Jalfrezi
INGREDIENTS
To marinate the Chicken
- 1 pound Chicken breast diced to 1" cubes (can use Chicken Thighs as well)
- ½ teaspoon Tumeric Powder
- 1 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Salt adjust as per taste
- 1 teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
For Chicken Jalfrezi
- 4 cloves Garlic minced
- ½ inch Ginger finely Chopped
- ½ Cup Red Onions 2 medium sized
- 1 Cup Tomatoes Chopped (or canned diced tomatoes)
- 2 Cup Bell Peppers (any colors) chopped (about 3 medium sized)
- ½ Cup Potatoes optional (diced)
- 2 tablespoon Olive Oil
Spices
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- 1 tablespoon Smoked Paprika
- 1 teaspoon Ground Cumin
- 1 tablespoon Coriander Powder or Curry powder
- 1 tablespoon Garam Masala
- 1 tablespoon Salt
- 1½ teaspoon Brown Sugar
INSTRUCTIONS
- Coat Chicken with Tumeric, Cayenne, Salt & Pepper and keep aside
- In a pan, Heat oil add the Chicken Pieces and Potatoes, sear them until golden from both sides and keep aside. Cook each side of chicken for about 3 minutes. Once cooked, remove from the pan.
- Add some more oil and add the chopped garlic, ginger, onion & tomatoes. Also add in the Turmeric, Cumin and Coriander Powder. Stir well until tomatoes get cooked. cook for 5-7 minutes over medium high heat.
- Add salt and sugar. Also, add in the chopped Bell Peppers and seared Chicken Pieces. Stir well and cover cook for 20 minutes over medium high heat.
- Add the Garam Masala and stir well. Season with ginger juliennes and serve hot with fried rice or naan bread.
Notes
Chicken Jalfrezi in the slow cooker
Slow Cooker Chicken Jalfrezi is one of my favorites.- You start with heating some oil and add the seasoned chicken pieces and potatoes into it.
- Brown your Chicken Pieces evenly (about 3 min per side). Once cooked, remove from the skillet and keep aside.
- Add minced garlic, chopped ginger, and chopped tomatoes in the same skillet.
- Add Turmeric, Ground Cumin, Coriander, and Smoked Paprika. Toss well to combine. Cook for 5 minutes.
- Dump this spice mixture and chicken in the slow cooker.
- Slow cook for 6- hours on Low or 4-hours on High.
- Add the Bell Peppers and Garam Masala only a few minutes before you are about to serve.
- You do not need to cook those. They will get cooked from the heat of the curry. Also, this will ensure that your Bell Peppers are crunchy and not all soggy.
- Chicken Jalfrezi is all about the crunch of the Peppers.
Rachael says
This is the actual way to make Chicken Jalfrezi! The best recipe out there
Anjali says
Yeah! Thanks for your kind words.
Steve says
This Chicken Jalfrezi Recipe is the best of all. I have tried chicken jalfrezi plenty of times and trust me I've tasted it a lot. But this recipe was absolutely perfect. Explained with such simplicity I am in love with this recipe.
Anjali says
Thanks Steve!
Vanessa says
Wow!! So comforting! I love Chicken Jalfrezi
Anjali says
me too!
Christina says
I really want to make this recipe in the crockpot. It looks like you cube your chicken but I have some bone in chicken thighs I would really prefer to just season, sear and throw in whole. Do you know how long I should cook it in the crockpot if I use whole chicken thighs?
Anjali says
Yeah, you can surely cook your bone-in chicken thighs in the crockpot. Here's how:
You start with heating some oil and add the seasoned chicken pieces into it.
Brown your Chicken Pieces evenly.
Add minced garlic, chopped ginger, and chopped tomatoes.
Add Tumeric, Cumin, Coriander, and Smoked Paprika. Toss well to combine.
Pour 2-3 cups of water or Low Sodium Chicken Broth.
Slow cook for 6- hours on Low or 4-hours on High.
Add the Bell Peppers and Garam Masala only a few minutes before you are about to serve.