Loaded with robust pungent flavor of garlic, this Garlic Chicken - Lehsuni Murgh is one of the easiest Indian chicken curries to prepare. It doesn’t call for a long list of spices but instead a lot of fresh garlic. Lehsun is garlic and murgh is chicken.
If you enjoy the pungent garlic flavor, then this garlic chicken curry will make you very happy. I had first learnt to make this lehsuni murgh masala way back in 2013 from my bestie Prerna.
My entire kitchen was smelling so good that I couldn’t even wait till dinner. Sneaked in a couple bites straight from the hot wok. Almost burnt my tongue. But didn’t care.
The ingredients for this Garlic Chicken Curry or Lehsuni Murgh are very minimal and unlike most Indian Chicken Curries you might have come across
What you need for the dish
- Chicken (you can choose boneless or with bones). The cooking time will differ accordingly.
- About 15 big cloves of fresh garlic
- fresh ginger
- red onion
- fresh cilantro leaves
- yogurt
- green chili (optional)
- turmeric
- salt
The garlic chicken curry is a one pot hearty meal. Chicken tastes best when marinated for a minimum of four hours. I often leave it overnight. It also fastens the cooking process.
Cooking time for Garlic Chicken:
If you are using boneless chicken cubes, it will take 15 minutes to cook the chicken. If you use chicken with bones in, then it will take about 25 minutes to 30 minutes.
TWO KEY POINTS to remember when preparing this Chicken curry:
- Make sure to add the garlic cloves in cold oil. As the oil heats up, the garlic starts to infuse the flavor and it gets it browns beautifully instead of getting burnt.
- Make sure to brown the onion before you add the marinated chicken to the pot. The brown onion adds a sweetness that balances the overloaded garlic flavor perfectly.
I personally prefer to keep the garlic chicken curry dry instead of swimming in a gravy. Which is why I also like to serve it with paratha. But if you choose to enjoy it with rice, then definitely add more water to increase the volume of the gravy in the curry.
The Garlic chicken taste good with few refreshing heat from green chili however it’s optional if you think that might be too hot for you. Just garlic and black pepper with some cumin is enough to make it warm and comforting.
Garlic Chicken
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb chicken (I used with skinless chicken pieces with bones in)
- 15 cloves of garlic
- 1 inch fresh ginger
- ½ cup thick plain yogurt
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon sugar
- 1 medium size red onion
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- ½ teaspoon coriander powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 2 tablespoon oil
- 1 green chili
- ½ teaspoon garam masala powder
- ¼ cup finely chopped cilantro leaves
Instructions
- You will use 10 garlic cloves to marinate the chicken. The other 5 will be used while cooking the curry. Grate or pound 10 garlic cloves along with ginger. Slice thinly, the remaining 5 garlic cloves
- If you are using chicken drumsticks, make sure to score the meat portion a couple of times.
- In a bowl add the chicken pieces along with yogurt, pounded garlic, ½ teaspoon turmeric and 1 teaspoon salt. Give it a mix nicely to coat all the chicken pieces. Keep it aside for minimum 4 hrs or overnight for maximum flavor blend.
- When you are ready to prepare the chicken curry, place a
heavy bottom nonstick pan on the stove at medium heat. Pour the oil along with the sliced garlic, chopped green chili and chopped ginger. As the oil heats up, the garlic will start to sizzle and slowly turn golden brown. Take out some garlic chips to add later in garnish. - To the wok add the sliced onion. Sprinkle the rest of the salt, sugar and turmeric along with the spices (cumin powder, coriander powder and chili powder). Stir and cook the onion for 3 minutes, or until it’s golden brown.
- Then add the marinated chicken and stir it to incorporate everything. If you are using boneless chicken cubes, it will take 15minutes to cook the chicken. If you use chicken with bones in, then it will take about 20 minutes.
- After 10 minutes of cooking the chicken, it will start to release water. Now depending on how much gravy you want, add water and let it continue cooking.
- Once the chicken is cooked, taste for salt and add any if needed.
- Finally sprinkle finely chopped cilantro leaves, garam masala powder and give it a mix.
Notes
Nutrition
ATasteOfMadness
Whoa.. this chicken is making me hungry!! I love garlic, this looks perfect for me!
dixya
im the same way when it comes to garlic..i will definitely be thinking of this when i make chicken next time 🙂
Reem | Simply Reem
OK so I come back to this post to read the recipe as I get ready to plunge into garlicy goodness and realize I have not left comment.... Can you believe it! I mean I read the post same day.. I drooled thinking about this everyday and I missed to leave a comment..
Anyways I am just loving this! Amen to the Garlic Goodness!
Liren
Most definitely. I can't live without garlic, and because of me, my husband seems to think that Filipinos are the world's largest consumers of garlic. While I'm not sure of that assumption, I am certain that this is my kind of dish.
Kitchen Belleicious
oh wow! this is like having the 50 cloves of garlic chicken but without all the time and energy added to it. I mean it is full of amazing flavor !
nipponnin
I love garlic! The aroma is fantastic. I just used a lots in my pork recipe. Your garlic pic is stunning! And others are equally beautiful!
Kulsum
If you don't like garlic, you can't be friends with me, is what I usually tell people 🙂 I was working on a post about ginger chicken while browsing and saw your new post on garlic chicken! So good to see you back.
Joyti
Yes, definitely a garlic lover here! I use it in my cooking more often than not.
The chicken dish sounds lovely and flavorful but still simple, and yes, Prerna's dishes are sooo good! Thanks for sharing your lovely photographs with us 🙂
Caroline
Hi. My name is Caroline. I love searching food blogs. I have a few favorites. My 5 kids (yes, 5) love what I find. I love two blogs, yours and another called "Cooking With Mr. C." (on Facebook which also takes you to the blog) Between the two of you, I'm kept very busy. Keep up the wonderful work. It's so appreciated.
Caroline
Sihi
Hi Kankana,
Definitely a 'yes' on garlic. Lovely clicks.
Best,
Sihi
easyfoodsmith
I can't imagine a single day without garlic!! It is an omnipresent element in most of the meals that I make.
Your garlic chicken has captured my imagination.
rebecca
looks great and love how fast it cooks
Food to Fitness
You have a beautiful blog. Thanks for the recipe. It looks delicious.
nandoo
Same here. Was not used to garlic during childhood but now it is unavoidable. Love this post. Garlic chicken looks tempting.
Rosa
Exactly, there is no right or wrong when cooking... I use garlic a lot and I find that it doesn't cover the natural taste of food. All the contrary. But then again, being a garlic fan, I'm slightly biased!
This dish looks and sounds fabulous!
Cheers,
Rosa
nags
love this post, and yes, i am definitely a garlic fan!
Tika Hapsari Nilmada
Beautiful photos, Kana 🙂
Garlic gives sensational taste to the food. Would love to give it a try !
Medha
It looks like garlic fans' get-togather here!I am huge garlic fan- specially with Chicken and love your gorgeous pictures. I have to make this curry tonight for dinner:)