🧾 Introduction of Murgh Cholay
Murgh Cholay (Chicken Chickpea Curry) is a hearty, spicy, and deeply satisfying dish from the streets of Lahore to home kitchens across Pakistan. In a thick, fragrant tomato-onion gravy, this meal combines soft, delicious chickpeas with succulent chicken.
⚡ Quick Recipe Overview
| Prep Time | Cook Time | Total Time | Servings |
| 15 mins | 40 mins | 55 mins | 4–5 |
🛒 Ingredients of Murgh Cholay
🔸 For the Chicken & Chickpeas
- 500g chicken (bone-in preferred)
- One can of drained chickpeas or 1.5 cups of cooked chickpeas
- 1/4 cup oil
- 2 medium onions, thinly sliced
- 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
- 2 green chilies, slit
- 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
- 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp red chili powder
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- 1/2 tsp cumin powder
- 1/2 tsp garam masala
- Salt to taste
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp kasuri methi (optional; dried fenugreek)
- Fresh coriander for garnish
- Water, as needed
👨🍳 How to Make Murgh Cholay—Step-by-Step
Step 1: Sauté Onions & Spices
- Heat the oil in a big skillet or saucepan.
- Sliced onions should be sautéed till golden brown.
- Add ginger-garlic paste and sauté for 1 minute until aromatic.
Step 2: Build the Masala
- Add tomatoes, turmeric, red chili, coriander, cumin, and salt.
- Cook down until the oil separates and tomatoes break down completely (8–10 mins).
- Add 2–3 tbsp of water as needed to avoid burning.
Step 3: Add Chicken
- Add chicken pieces and sauté on medium heat for 7–10 minutes until lightly browned
and coated in masala.
Step 4: Add Chickpeas & Simmer
- Add chickpeas and mix well.
- Pour in 1 to 1.5 cups of water (more if you want gravy).
- Cover and simmer on low for 20–25 minutes, until chicken is fully cooked and gravy thickens.
Step 5: Final Touch
- Add black pepper, garam masala, slit green chilies, and crushed kasuri methi (if using).
- To enhance the flavor, cook uncovered for an additional five minutes.
- Garnish with chopped fresh coriander.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions
- It is best served hot with steaming basmati rice, naan, kulcha, or paratha.
- Add a side of lemon wedges, raw onions, and mint raita
🔄 Variations
- Use mutton or beef instead of chicken (adjust cooking time)
- Add a little cream or yogurt to make the curry richer.
- For more depth, add a few whole spices (bay leaf, cardamom) when frying onions
🔍 Nutrition (Approx. per serving)
* Calories: 350 * Protein: 27g * Fat: 16g * Carbs: 25g
