Afghan Chicken Qorma
A comforting Afghan-inspired chicken stew, slow-cooked with a rich base of caramelized onions, garlic, ginger, and aromatic spices. The chicken becomes incredibly tender, enveloped in a deeply savory and slightly tangy sauce, perfect for a hearty meal.
Ingredients
- •1.5 lb Chicken thighs, bone-in, skin-on (or boneless, skinless, cut into 2-inch pieces)
- •2 piece Yellow onions (large, thinly sliced)
- •4 piece Garlic cloves (minced)
- •1 tbsp Fresh ginger (grated)
- •1 tsp Ground turmeric
- •1 tsp Ground cumin
- •1 tsp Ground coriander
- •0.5 tsp Black pepper
- •0.5 tsp Cayenne pepper (or to taste)
- •1 tsp Salt (or to taste)
- •0.5 cup Plain full-fat yogurt
- •0.5 cup Diced tomatoes (canned, undrained)
- •0.75 cup Water or chicken broth
- •3 tbsp Vegetable oil
- •0.25 cup Fresh cilantro (chopped, for garnish)
Instructions
- 1.
Pat chicken dry with paper towels and season generously with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Set aside.
Time: 5 min - 2.
Heat vegetable oil in a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the sliced onions and cook, stirring frequently, until deeply golden brown and caramelized. This will take about 10-15 minutes. This step is crucial for the qorma's flavor and color.
Time: 15 min - 3.
Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic and grated ginger to the pot and cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
Time: 2 min - 4.
Stir in turmeric, cumin, coriander, remaining ½ teaspoon salt, remaining ¼ teaspoon black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, to toast the spices.
Time: 1 min - 5.
Add the seasoned chicken pieces to the pot. Increase heat to medium-high and sear the chicken on all sides until lightly browned, about 5-7 minutes. This helps lock in flavor.
Time: 7 min - 6.
Stir in the diced tomatoes (with their juice), yogurt, and water or chicken broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and cook for 25-30 minutes, or until the chicken is very tender and cooked through.
Time: 30 min - 7.
Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Garnish generously with fresh chopped cilantro before serving.
Time: 2 min
Tips
- 💡Don't rush the caramelization of the onions – this step is key to developing the deep, rich flavor of the qorma.
- 💡For an even richer sauce, you can add a tablespoon of tomato paste along with the diced tomatoes.
- 💡Serve Afghan Chicken Qorma with fluffy basmati rice, naan bread, or a simple side salad to complete the meal.
Recipe from TheCookbook.ai
Created by Najibullah Shinwari