Ready in

45 mins

Cuisine

Indian · Maharashtrian

Prep Time

15 min

Cook Time

30 min

Serving

2-3 People

Difficulty

Medium

Calories / Serving

~500 kcal

Spicy Level

Mild
Recipe by Your Food Lab on YouTube
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All Ingredients

For Green Paste (Watan)

All Ingredients

For Chicken Marinade

All Ingredients

For Chicken Tawa Fry

All Ingredients

For Serving

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow each step to make the recipe successfully.

  1. Prepare the Green Paste (Watan)

    In a mixer grinder jar, add 20 cloves of garlic, 2 inches of ginger, 4-5 green chilies, a small handful of fresh coriander, and a little water. Grind to a fine paste. This is your 'hirva watan' or green paste.

  2. Prepare and Marinate the Chicken

    Take 500 grams of chicken breast. Slice the chicken diagonally to ensure it cooks tenderly. Transfer the sliced chicken to a bowl. Add salt to taste, a pinch of turmeric powder, and 1 tablespoon of the prepared green paste. Mix everything well to the chicken thoroughly. Set aside while you prepare the base.

  3. Sauté Onions and Green Paste

    Heat a tawa (flat griddle) on high flame. Once hot, add 2 tablespoons of oil and let it heat up. Add 2 medium-sized chopped onions and stir-fry them on medium-high flame until they turn light golden brown, stirring continuously to prevent burning. Once light golden brown, add the remaining green paste and 8-10 whole garlic cloves. Stir and cook until the onions are fully golden brown and the green paste is well cooked. If the mixture becomes too dry, add a splash of hot water.

  4. Add Powdered Spices and Tomatoes

    Lower the flame. Add 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder, and 1.5 tablespoons of Agri Masala. Add a splash of hot water immediately to prevent the spices from burning. Stir well and cook for until the oil starts to separate. Now, add 1 chopped tomato and salt to taste. Mix everything thoroughly and cook for until the tomatoes are completely soft and mashed. You can use a potato masher to help break down the tomatoes. If the masala dries out, add hot water as needed.

  5. Cook the Chicken

    Once the tomatoes are cooked and the oil has separated, add 2 teaspoons of Kokum Agal (or lemon juice/tamarind pulp). Place the chicken pieces evenly over the masala on the tawa. Cook on high flame for until one side of the chicken is cooked. Flip the chicken pieces and cook the other side until fully cooked. Continue flipping and stirring to ensure the chicken is well coated with the masala and cooked through. If the masala starts to stick or burn, add a splash of hot water.

  6. Finish and Serve

    Once the chicken is fully cooked and coated with the dry masala, add 1 tablespoon of ghee (optional, but enhances flavor) and a generous handful of fresh chopped coriander. Mix gently. Your Chicken Tawa Fry is ready. For serving, take pav and insert skewers (or use tongs). Hold the pav over a gas flame, rotating it continuously until the outside is crispy and warm, and the inside remains soft. Plate the Chicken Tawa Fry with the pav, a squeeze of fresh lime, and some sliced onions and green chilies.

Before You Cook

Helpful details before you start
Ingredient SubstitutionsMissing something? View suitable alternatives.
View 4 swaps
  • No Garlic (fresh)?

    • 1/4 tsp garlic powder (per clove)
    • 1/2 tsp garlic granules (per clove)
  • No Cilantro?

    • Flat-leaf parsley (1:1, milder)
    • Fresh mint (in chutneys, salads)
  • No Onion?

    • 1 tbsp onion powder (per medium onion)
    • 3 tbsp dried minced onion
    • Shallots or leeks (1:1)
  • No Ghee?

    • Unsalted butter (1:1)
    • Neutral oil (1:1, lacks the toasted note)

Variations

Simple ways to adapt this recipe.

  • Use Malvani MasalaIngredient swap

    Kolhapuri Kanda Lasun Masala, or any Maharashtrian Garam Masala instead of Agri Masala.

  • For a basic spice blendCustomise

    Use 1 tbsp coriander powder, 1 tsp garam masala, 1 tsp spicy red chili powder, and 1-1.5 tbsp Kashmiri red chili powder.

  • Substitute Kokum Agal with lemonIngredient swap

    Substitute Kokum Agal with lemon juice or tamarind pulp.

  • Serve with bhakri or chapati instead of pavIngredient swap

Helpful Tips

Small details that can improve the final result.

  • TipCut Chicken Diagonally for Tenderness
  • TipAdd Hot Water to the

    Add hot water to the tawa if the masala dries out during cooking.

  • TipUse a Potato Masher to

    Use a potato masher to mash tomatoes if they don't soften quickly.

  • Flavour tipToast Pav Over Gas Flame

    Toast pav over gas flame for a crispy exterior and soft interior.

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