Mughlai Zafrani Chicken (2024)

Published: Jul 14, 2015 | Last Updated On: Feb 22, 2022 by Neha Mathur

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Make this rich and creamy Mughlai Zafrani Chicken for festivals and special occasions, which has cashews, saffron and fried onions as its key ingredients. Here is how to make it.

Try a few more of my North Indian chicken recipes, that will surely satiate your taste buds – Tomato Chicken Curry, Butter Chicken, Desi Chicken Curry, Dhaba Style Chicken Curry, Achari Chicken Curry and Kadai Chicken.

About This Recipe

Zafrani Chicken, traditionally known as Zafrani Murgh is a popular recipe from Mughlai cuisine. Chicken is cooked in a rich and creamy gravy prepared with ghee, saffron, cashews, fried onions and spices.

It is quite royal and can be prepared for festivals, dinner parties and special occasions. Serve it with Naan, Tandoori Roti, Lachha Paratha or a flavourful Dry Fruits Pulao for a satisfying meal.

Ingredients

Chicken – Use bone in chicken pieces for this royal recipe. The bone in pieces soaks up the flavours nicely and makes the curry taste even better.

Saffron – Adds a rich flavour along with beautiful orangish hue to the curry.

Fried Onions – Use of fried onions gives the curry a darkish brown colour and also makes it richer.

Cashews – Cashews are soaked for a few minutes before grinding along with fried onions. Use of cashews makes the curry richer and creamier.

Curd – Use fresh curd and make sure it’s not sour.

Whole spices – Addition of whole spices such as black cardamom, green cardamom, black peppercorns, cloves and cinnamon in hot oil infuses a beautiful flavour in the curry.

Serving Suggestions

Zafrani Chicken can be served along with Indian breads such as phulka, naan, tandoori roti, plain tawa paratha or lachha paratha. A delicious pulao like peas pulao, Kashmiri pulao or jeera rice would also be a great accompaniment with this rich chicken curry.

Storing Suggestions

Zafrani Chicken will last for 2-3 days in a clean and dry air tight container. Reheat in a pan or microwave before serving. Add in some hot water to adjust the consistency, if you fee the curry has thickened after refrigeration.

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Mughlai Zaafrani Murgh

This Murgh recipe is a rich Chicken curry cooked with cashew nut paste and spices and flavored with saffron.

4.72 from 7 votes

Ingredients

▢ 10-12 strands Saffron (Soaked in 2 tablespoon warm milk)
▢ 3 tablespoon Ghee
▢ 2 tablespoon Oil
▢ 2 Black Cardamom
▢ 2 Green Cardamom
▢ 4-5 Black peppercorns
▢ 2-3 Cloves
▢ 1 inch Cinnamon
▢ 1 kg Chicken (Curry Cut)
▢ 2 teaspoon Ginger Garlic Paste
▢ 1 cup Golden Fried Onion
▢ 10-15 Cashew Nuts (Soaked in warm water)
▢ 2 teaspoon Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder
▢ 2 teaspoon Coriander Powder
▢ ½ teaspoon Garam Masala Powder
▢ Salt to taste
▢ ¼ cup Curd (Whisked with 1 teaspoon Maida)
▢ 3-4 drops Kewra Essence
▢ ½ teaspoon Cardamom powder

Instructions

Heat ghee and oil in a pan.
When the oil is hot, add black cardamom, green cardamom, black peppercorns, cloves and cinnamon stick.
Fry for a few seconds.
Add chicken and fry on high heat for 3-4 minutes.
Blend golden fried onions and cashew nuts with little water to make a paste.
Add the paste in the pan along with ginger garlic paste, curd, Kashmiri red chilli powder, coriander powder, garam masala powder and salt.
Add ½ cup of water and cover the pan and cook till chicken is done.
Now add kewra essence, cardamom powder and saffron soaked in milk and cook for another minute.
Garnish with golden fried onions, almond flakes and saffron strands.
Serve hot with laccha Paratha or pulao.

Nutrition

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