Kitchen Recipe Collection
Indian Methi Malai Murgh
A decadent, mild chicken curry flavored with earthy fresh fenugreek leaves and finished with rich cream.
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 40 min
- Total
- 60 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- medium
- Cuisine
- indian
Ingredients
Scaled for 4 servings
- boneless chicken chunks
- fresh fenugreek leaves (methi)
- heavy cream (malai)
- onions
- cashews
- yogurt
- ginger-garlic
- green chilies
- white pepper
- cardamom
- oil/ghee
Equipment
- Blender
- Frying pan
- Heavy-bottomed pot
Instructions
- 1
Prepare Methi (Fenugreek)
Wash fresh fenugreek leaves thoroughly. Chop them finely. Sprinkle a little salt over them and set aside for 10 minutes to reduce bitterness.
- 2
Prepare White Base
Boil roughly chopped onions, cashews, and green chilies for 10 minutes. Cool and blend into a very smooth white paste.
- 3
Marinate Chicken
Toss chicken pieces with ginger-garlic paste, a little whisked yogurt, and salt. Set aside.
- 4
Sauté Methi
Squeeze the water out of the chopped fenugreek leaves. Heat a little oil in a pan and lightly sauté the leaves for 3-4 minutes until they wilt. Set aside.
- 5
Temper Oil
In a heavy pot, heat ghee or oil. Add whole green cardamoms and a small cinnamon stick.
- 6
Cook the Base
Add the white onion-cashew paste. Sauté on low heat for 7-8 minutes without letting it turn brown.
- 7
Sear the Chicken
Add the marinated chicken. Turn the heat to medium and stir-fry until the chicken turns opaque.
- 8
Spice the Curry
Add white pepper powder (to maintain the pale color) and a pinch of garam masala.
- 9
Simmer
Cover and cook on low heat for 10 minutes until the chicken is tender.
- 10
Combine Methi
Add the sautéed fenugreek leaves to the pot. Stir well to integrate the earthy flavor.
- 11
Add Cream
Turn off the heat. Stir in a generous amount of heavy cream (Malai). Add a pinch of sugar to balance the subtle bitterness of the methi.
- 12
Serve
Garnish with a drizzle of cream. Serve hot with Garlic Naan or Roomali Roti.
Cooking Tips
- Salting and sautéing the fresh methi leaves is crucial; it removes the harsh bitterness while retaining the beautiful earthy aroma.
- Avoid tomatoes, turmeric, and red chili powder entirely to keep the gravy white/pale green and authentically mild.
Variations
- Methi Malai Matar: A famous vegetarian version replacing the chicken with sweet green peas.
Chef's Notes & Storage
- A luxurious, restaurant-favorite dish that perfectly balances the slight bitterness of fenugreek with the sweetness of cream.
Nutrition Estimate
480 calories · 32g protein · 12g carbs · 34g fat · 3g fiber per serving
