Description
Spicy-sweet Jamie Oliver chicken pathia brings Indian culinary magic to home kitchens. Rich tomato-based sauce with balanced heat creates a delicious curry that draws you into a flavor adventure of tender chicken and complex spices.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 3 chicken breasts, chopped into bite-size chunks (about 525 grams or 18.5 ounces)
Spices and Seasonings:
- 2 tablespoons medium curry powder (use hot for more heat)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon hot chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon ground fenugreek
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon tamarind paste
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons sugar
Base and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 large onion, peeled and roughly chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, peeled
- 2 teaspoons minced ginger
- 3 tablespoons ghee or vegetable oil
- 400 milliliters passata
- 2 tablespoons tomato puree
- 2 red chilies, roughly chopped
- 60 milliliters chicken stock
Instructions
- Create a smooth, aromatic base by pulverizing onion, garlic, and ginger into a fine, uniform paste using a compact food processor.
- Ignite a large pan with ghee or oil over intense heat, introducing the prepared onion paste and sautéing for 3-4 minutes until the edges caramelize with a golden-brown hue.
- Introduce chicken pieces to the pan, rotating and sealing them for 2-3 minutes to lock in moisture and develop a rich exterior.
- Reduce heat to medium-low, then layer complex spices including cinnamon, curry powder, chili powder, paprika, fenugreek, and tangy tamarind paste, allowing them to bloom and release their intricate flavors for approximately 1 minute.
- Pour in vibrant complementary liquids: fresh lemon juice, a touch of sugar, sea salt, passata, tomato puree, chopped chilies, and robust chicken stock, bringing the mixture to a vigorous boil before transitioning to a gentle, controlled simmer for 10 minutes.
- Plate the aromatic chicken pathia, garnishing with freshly chopped coriander leaves, a zesty lemon wedge, and accompanying steamed rice for a complete, flavor-packed culinary experience.
Notes
- Home cooks can customize chili heat levels while maintaining the dish’s authentic Parsi flavor profile.
- Steamed rice perfectly complements the curry’s intense spice blend, absorbing the rich sauce and balancing complex flavors.
- Preparing onion paste beforehand dramatically reduces cooking time, making this restaurant-quality curry accessible for busy home chefs.
- Ghee transforms the chicken’s taste, introducing a luxurious nutty richness that honors traditional cooking techniques.
- Tamarind paste delivers a signature tangy complexity, distinguishing this curry from standard recipe variations.
- Fresh ginger, garlic, and coriander create an aromatic experience that elevates the entire culinary journey.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 487 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 557 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 94 mg