Karahi

also called kadai · kadhai · karai · chicken karahi · kadai chicken · karahi gosht

Three ways to read this recipe

The table

Karahi: ingredients down the left, what to do with them across. Tap any cell to cross it off.
2 lb(900 g; cut small, on the bone)bone-in chickensear 6 min over high heatfry 8 min, until the skins lift and the fat comes cleartoss in and take it to the table
3 Tbs(42 g)ghee
1 1/2 tspkosher salt
1 cup(240 g; the base recipe)onion-tomato masala
3 medium(quartered)tomatoes
1 Tbscoriander seedstoast 2 min, until they cracklecrush coarsely, not to a powder
3(broken, seeds shaken out)dried red chiles
2 Tbs(cut in matchsticks)fresh ginger
2(slit)green chiles
1 Tbs(14 g)butter
1/4 cup(roughly torn)cilantro
Quartered tomatoes and ginger in sticks: everything here is meant to still be recognisable when it arrives
Tap anything to cross it off.

What to lay out

Everything the recipe asks for, sitting under the step that eats it. Tick each one as you measure it.13 things to get out.

Pans and tools

1sear 6 min over high heat

2toast 2 min, until they crackle

4fry 8 min, until the skins lift and the fat comes clear

goes in with what step 1 made

5toss in and take it to the table

goes in with what steps 3 and 4 made

Cooking it

Tap a step when it is done; the next one lights up.

The clock

Start to finish
at least 14 min2 of 5 steps give no time
Needs you
about 16 min2 steps run at once
  1. toast 2 min, until they crackle

    2 minneeds youfrom the start

  2. sear 6 min over high heat

    6 minneeds youfrom the start

  3. crush coarsely, not to a powder

    not timed2 min in

  4. fry 8 min, until the skins lift and the fat comes clear

    8 minneeds you6 min in

  5. toss in and take it to the table

    not timed14 min in

You'll need karahi · mortar

Goes with

See how it is written
>> title: Karahi
>> category: Stews & Braises
>> tags: chicken, indian, tomato, ginger, curry
>> counters: Curry House
>> aka: kadai, kadhai, karai, chicken karahi, kadai chicken, karahi gosht
>> pairs-with: onion-tomato-masala, naan, kachumber
>> servings: 4
>> time: 45 min

>> step: toast 2 min, until they crackle
Toast @coriander seeds{1%Tbs} and @dried red chiles{3}(broken, seeds shaken out) in a dry #karahi{} ~toast{2%min}, until they crackle and smell of the pan rather than the jar.

>> step: crush coarsely, not to a powder
Crush @&(~1)toasted spice{} coarsely in a #mortar{}, so the pieces are still visible in the finished dish.

>> step: sear 6 min over high heat
Sear @bone-in chicken{2%lb}(900 g; cut small, on the bone) in @ghee{3%Tbs}(42 g) with @kosher salt{1 1/2%tsp} in the karahi over high heat ~sear{6%min}.

>> step: fry 8 min, until the skins lift and the fat comes clear
Fry @onion-tomato masala{1%cup}(240 g; the base recipe) and @tomatoes{3%medium}(quartered) into @&(~1)seared chicken{} ~fry{8%min}, pressing the tomatoes as they go, until the skins lift away and the fat runs clear at the edge.

>> step: toss in and take it to the table
Toss @fresh ginger{2%Tbs}(cut in matchsticks), @green chiles{2}(slit), @butter{1%Tbs}(14 g) and @cilantro{1/4%cup}(roughly torn) into @&(~1)karahi{} with @&(~3)crushed kadai masala{}, and carry the pan to the table — the pan is the serving dish and the dish is named after it.

Quartered tomatoes and ginger in sticks: everything here is meant to still be recognisable when it arrives.