Pepper Chicken is a hot & spicy dry curry made by cooking chicken with freshly grinded spices along with small and tempering whole spices. Pepper Chicken is a good choice of curry for flatbread like roti, naan, chapati & rice meal and could be relished as a starter as well. Pepper Chicken recipe is explained in this post with step by step pictures and video.
Pepper Chicken is one of the easiest chicken recipes I’ve learnt through my cooking days. It is one of the nonveg recipes that I learnt first and since then this has become our family favourite too.
About Pepper Chicken
Pepper Chicken can be made dry or gravy but this version is our staple. Most restaurants serve Pepper Chicken dry unless mentioned as Pepper Chicken Masala. I saw this Pepper Chicken Recipe in a small booklet given to me by amma. First when I tried itself we all loved it and since then it has become a regular demand to cook this Pepper Chicken. I adapted the recipe to our liking and here is one of the best Pepper Chicken Recipe for you all.
Pepper Chicken is one of the most popular orders in South Indian hotels. But each region has a own way of making it. I am very choosy dining at nonveg hotels and I love Pepper Chicken served at Valarmathi Mess in Coimbatore.
For making Chettinad Pepper Chicken Masala you can add 1/2 teaspoon homemade chettinad masala spice mix. If adding chettinad masala power then half the ingredients mentioned in roast, grind and add it.
Pepper Chicken is hot, spicy, aromatic dry curry perfect to serve with rice or chapathi. Do try this and enjoy!
Pepper Chicken Ingredients
- Chicken – Choose tender fresh broiler chicken which would be great for this. The size of each chicken piece can be your choice and preference.
- Tempering – A basic tempering with oil, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, cumin seeds, curry leaves and green chillies is made.
- Spices to roast – Whole black pepper, fennel seeds and coriander seeds are first roasted and grinded to make fresh pepper chicken masala powder.
- Spice Powders – Turmeric powder, red chilli powder and garam masala powder is ued.
- Others – Small onion and ginger garlic paste are used for this.
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📖 Recipe Card
Pepper Chicken
Ingredients
- 300 gms chicken
- 1/2 cup small onion sliced
- 1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste
- 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1/4 teaspoon red chilli powder
- 1/4 teaspoon garam masala powder
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grinded pepper powder optional
- salt to taste
To roast and grind
- 1 teaspoon whole black pepper
- 1 teaspoon fennel seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds
To temper
- one 1 inch cinnamon
- 2 nos cloves
- 2 nos cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
- few curry leaves
Instructions
- To a fry pan add 1 teaspoon fennel seeds, 1 teaspoon whole pepper and 1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds.
- Dry roast until golden and aromatic.
- Transfer to a plate cool down completely.
- Grind it to a powder slightly coarse is also ok. Set aside.
- Heat 2 tablespoon oil in a kadai. Add one 1 inch cinnamon, 2 cloves, 2 cardamom, 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds. Let it splutter.
- Add few curry leaves let it splutter.
- Give a quick saute.
- Add 1/2 cup heaped small onion sliced along with required salt.
- Saute until onions turn transparent then add 1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste.
- Saute for a minute.
- Add 300 gms cleaned chicken pieces along with 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder.
- Saute well for atleast 5 mins until the texture and color of chicken changes.
- Add 3/4 cup water and give a quick mix.
- Let it start to boil.
- Cook covered for 20-25 mins or until chicken tends tender.
- Open and check if chicken is cooked soft.
- Give a quick saute. Do not overcook.
- Add fresh prepared powder along with 1/4 teaspoon red chilli powder and 1/4 teaspoon garam masala powder.
- Saute for 2 mins.
- Finally add 1/4 teaspoon freshly grinded pepper powder along with few fresh curry leaves.
- Give a quick mix and switch off.
- Pepper Chicken is ready!
Video
Notes
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- This Pepper Chicken is a dry curry and suits well with rice or even rotis.
- For Pepper Chicken Masala : Add 2 chopped tomatoes to make it with more gravy.
-
- Adding freshly ground pepper powder gives a nice flavour but check the spice level before adding it.
-
- Adjust spice level according to your preference.
-
- You can roast and grind the powder in bulk and store for a month in room temperature but freshly grinding gives great flavour.
- Do not overcook chicken as it might turn rubbery and hard.
Pepper Chicken Recipe Step by Step
1.To a fry pan add 1 teaspoon fennel seeds, 1 teaspoon whole pepper and 1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds.
2.Dry roast until golden and aromatic.
3.Transfer to a plate cool down completely.
4.Grind it to a powder slightly coarse is also ok. Set aside.
5.Heat 2 tablespoon oil in a kadai. Add one 1 inch cinnamon, 2 cloves, 2 cardamom, 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds. Let it splutter.
6.Add few curry leaves let it splutter.
7.Give a quick saute.
8.Add 1/2 cup heaped small onion sliced along with required salt.
9.Saute until onions turn transparent then add 1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste.
10.Saute for a minute.
11.Add 300 gms cleaned chicken pieces along with 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder.
12.Saute well for atleast 5 mins until the texture and color of chicken changes.
13.Add 3/4 cup water and give a quick mix.
14.Let it start to boil.
15.Cook covered for 20-25 mins or until chicken tends tender.
16.Open and check if chicken is cooked soft.
17.Give a quick saute. Do not overcook.
18.Add fresh prepared powder along with 1/4 teaspoon red chilli powder and 1/4 teaspoon garam masala powder.
19.Saute for 2 mins.
20.Finally add 1/4 teaspoon freshly grinded pepper powder along with few fresh curry leaves.
21.Give a quick mix and switch off.
22.Pepper Chicken is ready!
Serve hot with rice or roti.
Expert Tips
- This Pepper Chicken is a dry curry and suits well with rice or even rotis.
- Adding freshly ground pepper powder gives a nice flavour but check the spice level before adding it.
- For Pepper Chicken Masala : Add 2 chopped tomatoes to make it with more gravy.
- Adjust spice level according to your preference.
- You can roast and grind the powder in bulk and store for a month in room temperature but freshly grinding gives great flavour.
- Do not overcook chicken as it might turn rubbery and hard.
Storing & Serving Suggestion
Serve it with rice, roti, phulka, jeera rice, pulao or even idli, dosa. This is a spicy and hot chicken curry that goes well with almost any flatbread or rice.
This Chicken Curry keeps well in room temperature for a day and in fridge for 2 days. If storing in fridge reheat by adding little water and then serve it.
FAQS
1.What is Pepper Chicken made of?
Pepper Chicken is made using whole spices for tempering along with freshly roasted, grinded spice mix. First chicken is cooked along with tempering then tossed in the prepared spice mix and cooked until dry to make Pepper Chicken.
2.Is Pepper Chicken good for cold and cough?
Pepper os a great remedy for cold and cough so Pepper Chicken is a great reliever for sorethroast, cold and cough.
3.Whick type of chicken is best for Pepper Chicken?
Broiler chicken tastes best for Pepper Chicken. However you can use country chicken also but pressure cook atleast for 4-5 whistles then proceed with the recipe.
ANU
wow this is awesome chicken…wow mouth watering!
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DivyaGCP
Love pepper chicken.. I make it similar too.
Divya's Culinary Journey
Showcase- FUN IN THE SUN
Reshmi Mahesh
Pepper chicken looks irresistible…yummy..
Sangeetha Nambi
OMG ! Mouth watering Pepper chicken…
http://recipe-excavator.blogspot.com
Vimitha Anand
Love this with a simple rasam… Nice one
Priya
Salivating here..Droolworthy dry pepper chicken.
Happy Cook / Finla
I love chicken like this and yours look so good.
Hamaree Rasoi
I really feel lazy to take step by step pictures…And you have explained it so well here..Very tasty looking dry chicken preparation…
Shabbu
yummy pepper chicken…
Shabbu's Tasty Kitchen
Roshan
super and thoroughly lipsmacking…
Sangeetha
very delicious preparation..love pepper chicken with hot rasam rice…looks so tempting!
Spicy Treats
Spandana
This sure looks like a keeper. Delicious pictures 🙂
Sonali Pradhan
ohhh dear !!!the pepper chicken looks so so delicious n mouthwatering !!!!loved ur wonderful clicks n beautiful presentation !!!!!
Suja Manoj
Wow delicious chicken,drooling
kalyani
thankoo for the recepie…am gonna try dis..but where to add cinamon n cloves
Sharmilee! :)
@Kalyani : Aadd hte to temper along with onions…
Junaid Khan
this recipe is great
some12share
It's a nice and simple recipe.. Just one suggestion. 4-5 whistles is a little too much for chicken, especially if it tender. 2-3 should do it, or the chicken will be mushy and overcooked.
Sharmilee! :)
@Some : We get broiler chicken so 4-5 whistles is needed. As you can see in the pic its firm, so it depends on the chicken…
blogboost
Will the Chicken be cooked if we cook like this.I thought First pressure cook the Chicken with water and salt in it and then follow the process you did to cook.
Please clarify my doubt?
Sharmilee! :)
Please read through the steps I have pressure cooked the chicken along with the spice powders
chittara r
nice and simple recipe..thanks for sharing
thiru murugan
I tried in my home very nice dish.. it's my first non veg dish.. thanks a lot
Saranya Gunasekaran
I have tried this and it came out really well.. I visit ur blog ALL THE TIME for even a simple recipe 🙂 Each an every dish is explained so clearly.. I usually refer ur blog whenever I chat with my friends.. Really thanks for all the hard work u have put in for the viewers like me.. Keep going..
Lisa
This came out really well. Thanks sooooo much !
Saranya ChandraMohan
Hi I have tried this came out superbbbbb thaks
Fatema Aziz
Hey… Thanks.. I cooked it last night n it turned out very well… My hubby n FIL couldn't stop talking abt it… 🙂
Fatema Aziz
Hey.. I tried it last night n it turned out just Superb!!! My hubby n FIL couldn't stop talking about it.. 😉
shilpa
loved it………..success. n yum it is,,,,,,,,,
thanks a bunchiness!
shilpa
it id fantastic…..every step was clear……thanks a ton mam
u are a really good cook /////
O i coudn stop licking my fingers
exact restaurant material….even better infact
thanks
Sim Bhattacharya
Followed your recipe and made this dish and it was yumm :).. thank you so much for posting such wonderful dishes with so much clarity and clear steps
Chankey Pathak
Looks awesome. I'll try it tonight, thanks 🙂
Child care
Hi Sharmi, just tried this receipe..It came out very well. Awesome taste….Its taste is divine.. Thanks a lot pa….
Keep up the good work.:-)
Maya
Hey Sharmi… I tried this recipe today….. Taste & Color is so delightful just loved it 🙂 Loads of hugs & Thanks !!! Maya
Maya
Hey Sharmi.. i just tried this recipe today it came out so well color & taste is delightful & finger licking 🙂 Loads of hugs & thanks !!!
Fiona johnson
This was a treat to my taste buds
Dharannya Kannan
Hi..
I tried this dish..
It really came out well..
Thanks a lot
Malathi ganesh
Akka.. I have the very similar iron kadai.. I love it to cook in that. Ha ha…I got in town hall
A~N~U~S~H~A
i tried this receipe,, it came out well,, ty for the receipe..
Deep Thoughts
does this not require marinating?
SHARMILEE J
No marination needed…
Pushpavalli
thank u so much fr the recipe 🙂 pepper chicken came out really yummy .
The Mystic
Tried it today and we all loved it. thanks for the recipe
Shalini Parthasarathy
Tried it.. Came out really well.. My hubby started asking for this dish all the time ?? thanks a lot for the simplest recipe ??
Shalini Parthasarathy
Tried this recipe.. Came out well.. My hubby started asking for this dish all time ?? thanks for the simplest yet a delicious recipe??
grasshopper
Very nice nd mouth watering
Food Gola
This is the best chicken because my bestie like this very much me too
Arizu2405
Have been cooking lot of recipes from your list. I have been observing that you have rewritten few of the recipes.Is it possible to provide a link for the old recipe? For few of them, I liked the older version much better than the new recipe. Thank you!
Sharmilee J
Hi,
Thank you so much!
Sure have shared the old recipe here for reference :
Pepper Chicken – Ingredients
Chicken – 200 gms
Tomato – 1
Ginger garlic paste – 1 tsp
Pepper powder – a pinch (optional)
Coriander leaves – 1 tsp chopped finely
To Temper:
Cinnamon – 1/4 inch piece
Cloves – 1
Small Onion – 8
To grind:
Pepper – 1 tsp
Fennel seeds – 1/2 tsp
Red Chilli -1
Pepper Chicken(Dry)
Method:
1.Dry roast the ingredients under the list ‘to roast and grind’ till slightly browned and grind it to coarse(You can even use hand motar pestle to do that). Keep aside. In a pressure cooker heat oil – add onion, ginger garlic paste.Fry till slightly browned.
Pepper Chicken(Dry)
2.Then add tomato and fry till its mushy and raw smell leaves. Add the chicken pieces and fry well. Once it changes color add the coarse powder witha a tsp of water.
Pepper Chicken(Dry)
3.Saute well for 2-3mins. Then add water till immersing level say 1/4 cup and pressure cook for 4 to 5 whistles.
Pepper Chicken(Dry)
4.Transfer it to a kadai and keep sauting till it becomes dry and thick. You can add a little pepper powder at this stage which is optional.Add chopped coriander leaves and switch it off.
5.This is a medium spicy curry and I served it with rice and chicken kuzhambu. I love it with rotis too.