Chicken Balti Recipe | Restaurant Style | Hint Of Helen (2024)

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Chicken Balti is one of the most popular curries in British Indian Restaurants. It’s a deliciously rich curry with a tomato-based sauce full of flavour from garlic, coriander and spices.

Chicken Balti Recipe | Restaurant Style | Hint Of Helen (1)

This chicken Balti curry recipe has taken me months to perfect. A traditional Balti uses a base sauce and two stages of frying the spices – which is a little too much effort for the normal home cook! I’ve instead made the steps as straight forward and fuss-free as possible – using ingredients which you can easily find in the supermarket.

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The result is amazing! It’s honestly as good as takeaway, with a fraction of the calories and price – win, win!

I love to serve this chicken balti with rice and garlic parathas or naan – just as I’d order if I was getting takeout. I don’t order takeout anymore by the way – cooking curry at home really is better once you perfect it!

Chicken Balti is a medium spiced curry – but you can add or remove chillis depending on your spice preference.

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You can make double the batch of this and freeze for a lazy dinner later in the month, or just eat it over a couple of evenings – which I tend to do! Whilst the ingredient list on this recipe is a little longer than my usual, it is much simpler than a traditional restaurant cooking method, but with better results. So it is worth the time!

If you enjoy cooking take-away dishes at home check out my take-away recipes.

How to Cook A Chicken Balti At Home

Scroll down for recipe card and ingredient list.

1. Dice the chicken into equal-sized pieces. I always chose cubes as this is the shape I most associate with a take-away curry, but you might prefer strips.

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2. Finely dice the onions, garlic cloves, ginger and chilli. I always do this in my food processor to save time, but you can use a chopping board and knife if you don’t have a food processor.

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3. Heat oil in a large, non-stick pan then add the chopped onions, ginger, garlic and chilli

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4. Cook on medium heat for 3 minutes

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5. Then add in the chicken pieces, and stir to coat in the onion mixture

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6. Cook for 7 minutes – until the onions are much browner – like the photo below

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7. Then add in the spices

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8. Stir to combine and add in the tomato puree

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9. Stir to coat everything in the tomato puree, then pour in the tinned tomatoes

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10. Again, stir everything, then add in water – bring to a low simmer

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11. Cook for a further 5-10 minutes, until the sauce has thickened and chicken is cooked through. Then, add in the chopped coriander, garam masala and salt

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12. Then, turn off the heat, stir to evenly distribute the coriander and then it’s ready to serve!

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Chicken Balti Recipe | Restaurant Style | Hint Of Helen (16)

A British Indian Restaurant Style Chicken Balti. Made at home without the need for base sauce. Tastes just like takeaway, and it's way heatheir!

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time30 minutes

Total Time40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp Veg Oil
  • 2 Onions
  • 1 Inch Ginger
  • 4 Garlic Cloves
  • 1 Green Chilli
  • 4 Chicken Breasts
  • 1 Tin Tomatoes
  • 1 Tsp Sugar
  • 1 Tbsp Tomato Puree
  • 1/2 Pint Water
  • 1 Tbsp Fresh Coriander
  • 1 Tsp Garam Masala
  • 1 Tsp Salt (to taste)

Spices

  • 1 Tbsp Ground Coriander
  • 1 Tbsp Cumin
  • 1 Tsp Turmeric
  • 1 Tsp chilli powder
  • 1 Tsp Paprika
  • 3 Cloves

Instructions

  1. Finely dice the onions, garlic, chilli and garlic (I use my food processor)
  2. Dice the chicken into equal-sized pieces
  3. Heat oil in a large, non-stick frying pan
  4. Add the finely diced onions, garlic, chilli and garlic
  5. Cook on high for 3 minutes - stirring often
  6. Then add in the chicken pieces, stir to coat and cook for 7 minutes
  7. Then add in the spices, except garam masala (so ground Coriander, Cumin, Turmeric, Chilli Powder, Paprika, Cloves) and fry for 30 seconds - 1 minute
  8. Add in the tomato puree, sugar and tinned tomatoes
  9. Stir to combine all the flavours, then add in the 1/2 pint of water
  10. Bring to a low simmer and cook for a further 5-10 minutes, until sauce is thick and chicken cooked through
  11. Turn the heat off, sprinkle in the chopped coriander leaves, garam masala and salt - stir to combine
  12. Then serve! I love to serve with naan breads, rice and an additional sprinkle of coriander on top.

Notes

If you like a spicier curry, add more chilli. If you like a milder curry, don't add chilli.

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Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1

Amount Per ServingCalories 458Total Fat 21gSaturated Fat 5gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 13gCarbohydrates 19gFiber 4gSugar 6gProtein 48g

Nutritional data provided here is only an estimate. If you're tracking these things for medical purposes please consult an outside, trusted source. Thanks!

See more: British Recipes, By Ingredient, Chicken Recipes, Easy Dinner Recipes, Featured Recipes, Indian, Indian Take Away, Recipes, Rice Recipes, Take-Away Recipes

Chicken Balti Recipe | Restaurant Style | Hint Of Helen (2024)

FAQs

What is Balti sauce made of? ›

A tomato based sauce with peppers, cumin and coriander.

What does Balti style mean? ›

Baltis are cooked stir-fry style with vegetable oil not ghee, over a high heat. Any meat off the bone can be used, with onions, garlic, turmeric, and the spice mix garam masala frequently used to prepare the sauce. The meats most often used in a balti are lamb and chicken, but pork and prawns are also commonplace.

Is Balti Indian or Pakistani? ›

Where did Balti come from in the first place? Good question. According to some sources, the style of cooking originated in the Baltistan region of Northern Pakistan. Others say the name actually comes from the Urdu word for bucket, referring to the wok-like pot in which Baltis are commonly served.

What level of spice is chicken Balti? ›

Whichever is true, it's now a ubiquitous curry house dish - a classic balti is spicy but not hot and has a lovely depth of flavour from the spices that can't be achieved by the use of a regular curry powder. It's served here with veg pakora, jeera (cumin) rice, green chilli raita, and a tangy tamarind chutney.

What is the difference between a Balti and a normal dish? ›

Balti curries are cooked quickly using vegetable oil rather than ghee, over high heat in the manner of a stir-fry, and any meat is used off the bone. This combination differs sharply from a traditional one-pot Indian curry which is simmered slowly all day.

What does Balti taste like? ›

It is a mild, tomato based curry made with a fresh blend of many aromatic spices, and it is a very 'wet' curry, with lots of tasty gravy. It is usually cooked with chicken or lamb, with the addition of fresh garlic, ginger, onion, chopped tomatoes, coriander leaves and 2-3 tsp of the Balti spice mixture.

Is Balti healthy? ›

Generally, Balti curry can be healthy if it includes lean proteins like chicken or fish, plenty of vegetables, and is cooked with minimal oil. However, some recipes may use high-fat meats or excessive amounts of oil and salt, which can make them less healthy.

Is a Balti hot or not? ›

The typical balti is spicy but not hot and has a lovely depth of flavour from the blend of spices that can't be achieved by the use of a regular curry powder. It's a deliciously simple dinner served as it is here with rice, an onion and cucumber salad and raita.

What is the English of Balti? ›

A bucket is a deep round metal or plastic container with a handle. ... a blue bucket., ...a bucket of water.

Does a Balti come with rice? ›

Due to the curry's popularity there has been some deliberation over why the dish is in fact named Balti and where the curry originates from. Traditionally the dish is served in its own wok, alongside rice and other accompaniments such as naan bread.

What is tikka masala Balti? ›

A balti curry is first cooked over a high flame with spiced fresh meat and vegetables; then cooked again with extra spices; before being served in the traditional round-bottomed balti dish. There are so many ways of preparing a Balti Tikka Masala and this version is perfectly wonderful and memorable.

Where was Balti chicken invented? ›

The Balti was invented in Birmingham during the 1970s, when the city's Pakistani residents created a fusion dish inspired by traditional Kashmiri recipes but cooked in a way that was more appealing to western tastes.

Is chicken Balti good for you? ›

Balti spices such as, cardamom and black pepper are all thought to ease digestion problems. Three common Balti ingredients – garlic, onion and chili peppers – have been found to help reduce high cholesterol levels.

What is the difference between chicken Bhuna and Balti? ›

Bhuna and Balti come under medium spiced preparations like dopiaza, rogan josh and Karahi, and Bhuna is a dry variant compared to Balti. On the other hand, Rogan Josh and Bhuna are similar in many ways as they are both prepared with many tomatoes, but Bhuna tends to be drier than Rogan Josh.

Are Balti dishes saucy? ›

Balti is a style of cooking, almost like a stir fry. It's said to be invented in the UK. Birmingham lays claim to being the birthplace of Balti.

Is a Balti curry healthy? ›

Whether Indian Balti Curry is considered healthy depends on its ingredients and preparation. Generally, Balti curry can be healthy if it includes lean proteins like chicken or fish, plenty of vegetables, and is cooked with minimal oil.

Why do people use Balti dishes? ›

Crafted with enamelled cast iron, the Balti Dish is an exceptional retainer of heat all-while spreading it evenly throughout the dish. This piece of cookware is compatible with all cooktops, including induction, and is built to last. Its wide loop handles make it easier to transfer from stovetop to table.

What is a Balti tikka masala? ›

A balti curry is first cooked over a high flame with spiced fresh meat and vegetables; then cooked again with extra spices; before being served in the traditional round-bottomed balti dish. There are so many ways of preparing a Balti Tikka Masala and this version is perfectly wonderful and memorable.

What's the difference between a Balti and a bhuna curry? ›

Bhuna and Balti come under medium spiced preparations like dopiaza, rogan josh and Karahi, and Bhuna is a dry variant compared to Balti. On the other hand, Rogan Josh and Bhuna are similar in many ways as they are both prepared with many tomatoes, but Bhuna tends to be drier than Rogan Josh.

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