Chicken Kali Mirch translates to “chicken with black pepper”<\/strong> in Hindi. Unlike other Indian chicken curries that are red and tomato-based, this one uses a white gravy made with onions, yogurt, cream (optional), and a generous amount of black pepper<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n This restaurant-style Indian chicken curry recipe is perfect for your next dinner. Whether you’re planning a special weekend meal or just craving something spicy and comforting, Chicken Kali Mirch is a restaurant-style dish you can make easily at home.<\/p>\n Chicken<\/strong> – You can choose with bones or boneless as per your liking. I used boneless chicken thigh.<\/p>\n Red onion <\/strong>– I used red onion, but you can use white or yellow onion too.<\/p>\n Cashew<\/strong> – Cashew adds a lovely creaminess to the dish. If you are allergic to nuts, then definitely skip and use melon seeds instead.<\/p>\n Black peppers<\/strong> – Black pepper is the key spice for the dish. I use a lot of it while marinating chicken and a bit more while cooking.<\/p>\n Garlic and Ginger<\/strong> – Like any chicken curry, you will need garlic and ginger too along with green chili as per your taste bud and how much heat you would prefer.<\/p>\n Yogurt <\/strong>– Yogurt adds the creamy texture to the gravy. I didn’t marinade the chicken with yogurt, instead added it later. But you can choose to add yogurt to the marinade too.<\/p>\n Other spices<\/strong> – You will need few whole spices – bay leaves, green cardamoms, cumin seeds and fennel seeds. You will also need ground cumin powder and ground fennel powder.<\/p>\n Ghee and Oil<\/strong> – I like to use both ghee and oil while preparing this dish. Ghee will add a nutty aroma to this dish.<\/p>\n Start by marinating the chicken pieces with grated garlic, ginger and lots of grated black pepper along with salt and lemon juice. You can either marinate it a few hours before you’re planning to prepare the curry. But for best flavor, I always prefer to let the chicken marinate overnight.<\/p>\n Soak the cashew for 20 minutes. This will help to soften the cashew and make the gravy creamy.<\/p>\n In a pan, add oil and ghee. Once heated, add the whole spices and stir it around.<\/p>\n Next, add the sliced onion along with salt and soaked cashew. Stir it around to soften the onion. Next, add the fennel powder and cumin powder. Cook for 4 minutes.<\/p>\n Once done, let it cool for a while and then take everything to a blender or chopper except the bay leaves. Blend into a thick paste.<\/p>\n To the same pan, add a little bit more ghee along with cinnamon sticks and let it sizzle for a while.<\/p>\n Scatter the marinated chicken pieces and stir it around to cook for 5 to 10 minutes.<\/p>\n Add the onion and cashew paste and mix it around.<\/p>\n Cook for 1 minute and the pour hot water and bring it to boil. Then lower the heat and let it simmer for 10 to 12 minutes.<\/p>\n In a small bowl or jar, add yogurt and whisk it with a little bit of flour. The flour will avoid the yogurt from curdling.<\/p>\n Add the whisked yogurt to the pan and stir it around.<\/p>\n Check for salt and add more if needed. Add a few slit green chilies and some more freshly grated black pepper. Stir it around and Chicken Kali Mirch is ready to be served.<\/p>\n Chicken Kali Mirch pairs wonderfully with Indian breads like naan<\/a>, roti, or paratha. It\u2019s also great with steamed basmati rice or jeera rice<\/a>. A side of cooling cucumber raita\/ beetroot raita<\/a> balances the spiciness perfectly.<\/p>\n It has a moderate heat that comes mainly from black pepper rather than red chili powder. The spice is warming and aromatic rather than overwhelmingly hot.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n If you want a dairy-free option, you can use coconut milk or cashew cream to get a similar creamy texture.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Naan, roti, steamed rice, or jeera rice are classic sides. Cucumber raita or a simple salad also complement the dish well.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Yes! Brown the spices and onions on the stove first, then add everything to the slow cooker or Instant Pot. Cook until the chicken is tender.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Chicken Over Rice (Halal cart-style)<\/a><\/p>\n Chicken Tikka Masala<\/a><\/p>\n Creamy Malai Chicken – Murgh Malaiwala<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Chicken](\"https:\/\/www.playfulcooking.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/kali-mirch-chicken-03.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nWhy You\u2019ll Love This Chicken Kali Mirch<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Ingredients you need for Chicken Kali Mirch<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Steps to prepare <\/strong><\/h2>\n
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<\/figure>\nServing Suggestions<\/strong><\/h2>\n
FAQS<\/strong><\/h2>\n
More chicken recipes to try:<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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