Chicken Nihari Recipe (2024)

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Posted by Mariam Sodawater on (Updated )

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4.93 from 14 votes

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A warming bowl of spicy Chicken Nihari can be really satisfying with hot naan and lemon wedges and ginger and herbs. This is a simple, quick, and convenient version of traditional nihari that can be made in 35 minutes!

Chicken Nihari Recipe (1)
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  • Origin
  • Taste
  • Ingredients
  • How to make it?
  • Recipe FAQs
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

Chicken Nihari is a spicy flour-based chicken stew made with fried onion, yogurt, ginger, garlic, and wheat flour. The aroma of chicken nihari is derived from a unique blend of Indian spices comprised of fennel seeds, cumin, coriander, cardamom, red chili, and other common spices. It is garnished with a load of julienned ginger, sliced chilies, and cilantro. Lemon wedges are always served along.

Origin

Authentic and traditional Beef Nihari is cooked overnight with beef shanks. With the growing popularity of organic chicken as a healthier substitute for red meat, the chicken nihari version came into being.

Obviously, the beef version tastes better but this chicken nihari is so easy and quick to make, I bet it will become a family favorite. Nihari like other Mughal dishes like korma, biryani, and haleem is widely eaten in Dehli, India, and Karachi, Pakistan. Both regions enjoy this chicken version as an alternative to beef.

Chicken Nihari Recipe (2)

Taste

  • It is difficult to describe the taste of chicken nihari. It is moderately spicy and aromatic with background fennel flavors. This gravy is thick and has a little nutty touch from roasted flour slurry.
  • The splash of lemon and julienne ginger makes it one of the kind experience having Nihari. Beef nihari is an unbeatable experience. But I promise this chicken nihari does justice to the taste.
  • Nihari tastes better the next day so any leftovers are delicious and can be frozen too. Nihari tends to thicken as it sits longer. So add a few tablespoons of water when reheating. The thick flour-based curry is promoted to burn easily if reheated on high heat.

Ingredients

So I've also shared the ingredients of the spice mix in the photo below. As all the ingredients are visible in the photo. I will not list them again.

Chicken Nihari Recipe (3)
  • Chicken: Make sure to use bone-in chicken as a lot of flavors come from fats in the bones.
  • Spice Mix: Nihari is all about spices and aroma! So nihari masala or spice mix seasoning is essential for this curry. You can get ready-made nihari masala from amazon. These spices mixes are very spicy so use less than the suggested measures.
  • Or if you have these whole spices in hand (the most important spices are visible on the spice plate, make your own spices mix in a coffee grinder. Find my detailed recipe Nihari masala here.
  • Wheat Flour: Wheat flour is traditionally used for Nihari but you can use plain flour as well. For a gluten-free or keto nihari, you can use gluten-free flour or almond flour respectively.
  • Corn starch or cornflour is usually not used. Because cornflour doesn't provide the nutty flavor that you get by roasting wheat flour or cooking wheat flour for very long.
  • Yogurt: This ingredient gives a little tanginess to nihari.
  • Onion: Brown onions help give some thickness to gravy and taste to Nihari.
  • Ginger: This is the most important ingredient of garnish. We like it with loads of ginger and sliced chilies.

How to make it?

If you have nihari masala in hand, making chicken nihari is a breeze.

Chicken Nihari Recipe (4)
  1. Heat oil in a vessel and add chopped onion. Fry on medium-low heat for 7-10 minutes until onions are lightly golden. (Adjust heat if needed.)
  2. Now add Nihari spice mix, green chili, ginger, and garlic paste. (Use only 2.5-3 tablespoons of the prepared spice mix.)
  3. Give the spice a stir and let it sizzle for a few seconds then add chicken.
  4. Cook on high flame for 3-5 minutes until the color of the chicken changes, then add 1 cup of water. Cover and cook the chicken for 10 minutes on medium until tender.
Chicken Nihari Recipe (5)
  1. While chicken cooks, roast wheat flour in a pan until fragrant. Transfer flour to a bowl. (For a gluten-free or keto nihari, you can use gluten-free flour or almond flour respectively.) Mix 1 cup of water in roasted wheat flour and make a smooth paste. Set aside.
  2. When the chicken is half-cooked, add the wheat paste (flour slurry). Mix well.
  3. Also, add whipped yogurt add about 1 cup of water to thin out the gravy to desired consistency. (The gravy will thicken as it cooks.) Continue to simmer for 5-7 minutes on low heat until a little layer of oil rises on the top.
  4. Transfer Nihari to a serving bowl and garnish with fresh coriander, ginger, and chilies. Heat little butter or ghee in a vessel and add red chili. Pour heated butter over nihari. Serve with Tandoori Naan or toasted bread.

Recipe FAQs

Which flour is used in Nihari?

Whole wheat flour is used to thicken nihari gravy, but some people also use plain flour. If you want to make gluten-free nihari you can use any gluten-free almond flour to thicken nihari till the desired consistency is reached. For a Keto Nihari also you can use almond flour to thicken the gravy.

What to serve with Nihari?

Nihari is served with tadoori naan, kulcha or karak double roti. Ginger, lemon, and herbs are must accompaniments.

Chicken Nihari Recipe (6)

Hungry for Chicken Curries? Check these!

  • Indian Butter Chicken
  • Chicken Karahi Recipe
  • Paneer Reshmi Chicken Handi Recipe
  • Nihari Recipe

If you try this Chicken Nihari, I'd LOVE to hear your feedback in the comments. Your 5-ratings motivate me to do my best. Stay connected for more recipes and videos onFacebook,Instagram,Pinterest, andYoutube.

📖 Recipe

Chicken Nihari Recipe (11)

Chicken Nihari Recipe

Give your family a spicy curry treat. Serve with lots of lemon juice and ginger.

4.93 from 14 votes

Print Pin Rate

Prep: 7 minutes minutes

Cook: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 32 minutes minutes

Servings : 4 Servings

Calories: 446kcal

Ingredients

  • cup oil
  • ½ cup chopped onion, About 1 medium
  • tablespoon Nihari Masala, or more to taste. Here's my recipe or get ready-made spice mix)
  • 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste
  • ½ tablespoon green chilli paste
  • 500 grams skinless chicken, cut into pieces
  • 2 cups water , divided
  • ¼ cup wheat flour
  • ½ cup plain yogurt, whipped
  • 2 tablespoon ghee , or butter
  • ½ teaspoon chilli powder, or less

Garnish

  • 1 inch ginger, cut in julienne
  • Fresh coriander, finely chopped
  • 4 lemon wedges

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a pot and add chopped onion. Stir and cover the lid. Cook for 5-7 minutes on medium heat until lightly golden.

  • Now, add Nihari spice mix, ginger garlic paste, and green chili paste. Give it a stir and then add chicken. Fry for 5 minutes until the color of the chicken changes.

  • Then add 1 cup water. Mix well to remove any masala sticking on the bottom and sides of the pot. Cover and cook for 10 minutes.

  • In another pan, roast wheat flour for 1-2 minutes on medium heat until fragrant. Transfer flour to a bowl. Add 1 cup water to wheat flour and mix well. Make a smooth paste with batter-like consistency.

  • Add wheat paste and yogurt to the chicken pot and mix well.

  • Mix in 1 cup water and cover the pot again. Let it simmer for another 5 minutes on very low heat until a layer of oil is visible on the top.

To serve

  • Heat butter or ghee on a pan and add chili powder.

  • Simultaneously fill Nihari in a serving bowl, garnish with ginger and coriander leaves. Pour heated butter the garnish and serve with lemon wedges.

Notes

  1. Try to make Nihari 4-6 hours ahead and let it sit for several hours for enhanced flavors.
  2. You can substitute my Nihari masala with store-bought Nihari Masala to save time. Add more masala if needed.
    If you make Nihari frequently, I suggest double or triple the recipe and making a big jar of spice mix, and store in the fridge or freezer. This stays good for up to a year.
  3. Nihari tends to thicken as it sits longer. So add a few tablespoons of water when reheating. The thick flour-based curry is promoted to burn easily if reheated on high heat.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 446kcal ,Carbohydrates: 12g ,Protein: 29g ,Fat: 31g ,Saturated Fat: 8g ,Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g ,Monounsaturated Fat: 15g ,Trans Fat: 1g ,Cholesterol: 111mg ,Sodium: 129mg ,Potassium: 382mg ,Fiber: 1g ,Sugar: 2g ,Vitamin A: 173IU ,Vitamin C: 13mg ,Calcium: 63mg ,Iron: 2mg

Author : Mariam Sodawater

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave A comment and Rate this recipe

  1. Babu Thomas says

    Hi Mariam,
    I just followed your recipe for chicken Nihari and it's so tasty. Thanks

    Reply

    • Mariam Sodawater says

      Hi, I'm so glad you like it and took the time to review it. I appreciate it a lot.

      Reply

  2. Emma says

    REALLY tasty and authentic. Will be adding to my list of favourite currys

    Reply

    • Mariam Sodawater says

      Thanks a lot for the lovely feedback Emma. I'm really g;ad you liked it.

      Reply

  3. Puja says

    May Allah SWT bless you it such an easy recipe made it today for dinner it's an absolute hit

    Reply

    • Mariam Sodawater says

      Thank you so much for your kind words. YOu really made my day.

      Reply

  4. saira says

    very tasty, will try it my home thanks

    Reply

    • Recipe 52 says

      Please do try and send us feedback. Thanks a lot for leaving a comment.

      Reply

Chicken Nihari Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the composition of nihari? ›

It consists of slow-cooked meat, mainly a shank cut of beef, lamb and mutton, or goat meat, as well as chicken and bone marrow. It is flavoured with long pepper (pippali), a relative of black pepper. In Pakistan and Bangladesh, nihari is often served and consumed with naan.

What is a substitute for flour in nihari? ›

After several experiments, I figured out how to make the best gluten-free version of nihari. You simply dry roast brown rice flour or sorghum flour for 3-4 minutes on low-medium heat and use it as a substitute for atta flour.

Is nihari Pakistani or Indian? ›

Nihari is an Indian subcontinent stew made with slow-cooked meat, primarily shank meat of cattle or lamb and mutton, goat meat and chicken, and bone marrow. It comes from the Arabic word nahâr, which means “dawn.” Nawabs in the Mughal Empire first consumed it as a breakfast meal.

What is special about nihari? ›

Nihari, a beloved dish steeped in tradition, is expertly prepared to serve large gatherings. It is lovingly simmered throughout the night in a shab degh, a sizeable pot that symbolizes nocturnal cooking. Over the course of 6-8 hours, the meat tenderly disintegrates as it gently cooks over a low flame.

Which meat is used in nihari? ›

Nihari (Urdu: نہاری‎) is a stew from India, mostly consumed by the Muslim of North India of the North India region. consisting of slow-cooked meat, mainly shank meat of beef or lamb and mutton, goat meat and chicken, along with bone marrow.

What is the origin of chicken Nihari? ›

The word “Nihar” originated from the Arabic word, “Nahar” which means “morning”. It was originally eaten by Nawabs in the Mughal Empire as a breakfast item after their morning prayers. Nihari was developed in Old Delhi, India, during the reign of the Mughal Empire.

What is Nihari sauce made of? ›

Just like garam masala, Nihari masala is a mix of whole aromatic spices. The whole spices like cardamom, fennel, cloves, nutmeg, dry ginger etc are roasted and then ground to a powder. The masala mix is best when prepared fresh but you can make it larger quantities and store in an airtight container.

What to eat with Nihari? ›

Serve hot with naans.

What bread to eat with nihari? ›

Even though Nihari looks like a curry, it is mostly served with bread like naan or kulcha and not with rice. The reason must be the consistency of the curry, which goes well with bread.

What can I add instead of flour? ›

11 best flour substitutions
  • Chickpea flour. Often confused with besan (see below), chickpea flour is made from ground white chickpeas. ...
  • Almond flour. Almond flour is an excellent alternative to have in your kitchen cupboard. ...
  • Gluten-free flour mixture. ...
  • Coconut flour. ...
  • Gram flour (besan) ...
  • Rice flour. ...
  • Buckwheat flour. ...
  • Oat flour.
Jan 31, 2023

What is a substitute for Atta? ›

If you can't find Atta you can do one of two things: use white whole wheat flour or combine equal amounts of whole wheat flour and all-purpose flour. But please bear in mind, if you use a combination of whole wheat and all-purpose flour, the texture of your roti will be slightly different.

What is Pakistan's national dish? ›

1. Nihari. Known as the "national dish of Pakistan", the word 'nihari' is derived from the Arabic word “nahaar” (morning), implying that this dish was meant to be eaten as the first meal of the day. Learn more.

What is the difference between Haleem and nihari? ›

While one is a porridge-like thick gravy with everything blended together, the other comprises of whole spices and succulent mutton chunks. Haleem is mostly enjoyed with a simple Moti Roti, but for Nihari you'd like something a bit more extravagant like a Varqi Parantha made with desi ghee.

Which country invented nihari? ›

“There is a long line of dispute as to the origin of Nihari. Some claim it originated in Old Delhi during the late 18th century during the last days of the Mughal empire, while others say it was born in the royal kitchens of Awadh,” said Tariq. “Nihari tastes best when had with khameeri roti, naan or phulka.

Is Nihari good for health? ›

Health benefits of nihari masala:

Cinnamon is a heart-healthy spice found in Nihari Masala powder. Together, cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom help the digestive system. The abundance of antioxidants in the masala helps to reduce free radicals.

Is Nihari served with rice or roti? ›

Nihari is traditionally served with naan or roti, although it can also be enjoyed with steamed rice for a comforting meal.

What does Nihari mean? ›

Noun. nihari (uncountable) A South Asian stew of slow-cooked beef or lamb with bone marrow.

Is Nihari a Pakistani food? ›

"this is a traditional brunch item from Pakistan -- served with Naan bread. this recipe is simple to put together but needs to cook several hours.

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