Delicious and Easy Kolhapuri Chicken Curry Recipe

Kolhapuri chicken curry is one of those undiscovered gems one must try when the occasion arises. This recipe follows a very simple method to prepare deliciously rich homemade Kolhapuri masala, which is used to cook and marinate the juicy chicken chunks. Serve with fragrant steamed rice or chapattis, and don't forget to drizzle a few lemon drops on top!

Jump to:

• Let’s talk nutrition!
• Questions time!
• Marinate the chicken
• Prepare Kolhapuri Chicken Curry
• Recipe

The second time I visited India with Jay was about ten years ago now and we honestly thought a road trip - across India - in one of the smallest cars I have EVER seen - would be extremely romantic.

We decided to start small, after all, how long can Mumbai-Goa [and back] take?

We carefully planned our trip, with the descent on the coast and the return inland, through Belgaum, Kolhapur, Satara, and Pune. 

On the way down we stopped in a Dhaba to have lunch with eggs bhurji and toast, we stretched our legs in little villages and had chai with the locals, but, the way back to Mumbai was the fun part!

We had mangoes (and bought some back to my in-laws) in Belgaum, asked so many times ’Bhaisaab, Mumbai kider hai?’ and it was always straight ahead (no matter where we were!), and had a great lunch on the highway, close to Kolhapur (apparently I had to see Kolhapuri chappals!) and it was great. Yes, it was Kolhapuri chicken curry.

We enjoyed it so much, I tried many recipes at home, mixed them all together, and finally - after using many pages in my recipe book - found the one.

The Kolhapuri Masala is made of delicious grated coconut, whole spices, and Kashmiri chilies, while the curry is a mixture of juicy chicken, golden brown onions, ginger garlic paste, and fresh cilantro leaves.

Having now our own food blog, this spicy chicken curry had to take a page and I hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Let’s talk nutrition!

Coconut and chicken are widely spoken about and I have written about them in the section ‘Let’s talk nutrition’ in the following recipe posts:

1 - Chicken thighs in this Chicken Biryani recipe

2 - Coconut in this Vegan Potato Curry (Aloo Mappas) recipe

What I would like to explore further in this article is the chili, the humble, spicy chili, and its nutritional benefit.

Chili peppers are known for their hot taste and are often associated with Indian, Mexican, and Southeast Asian food (as well as Southern Italy as they are supposed to bring luck!); chilies are part of the nightshade family and are closely related to tomatoes and peppers.

Chili peppers are rich in nutrients and minerals, however, as we consume very little quantities because of their powerful taste, we do not get to enjoy the benefits; nevertheless, these are rich in Vitamins A, B-6, and K-1 as well as potassium and copper.

The main known ingredient in these is capsaicin, which is responsible for their pungent strong flavor as well as most of their health effects; capsaicin binds with pain receptors in our body, which are the nerve endings that sense pain, making us feel a burning sensation, without actually causing any burning injuries.

However, high consumption of chili peppers may remove sensitivity from the pain receptors, reducing overtime one’s ability to sense the burning flavor of chilies.

Multiple studies (of small numbers of people) have linked chili peppers to weight loss, as capsaicin may reduce appetite and increase fat burning, however it is important to note that such benefits may be felt only when accompanied with a healthy lifestyle and that only adding chili to one’s diet won’t necessarily mean weight loss.

It is important to note that consumption of chilies may cause diarrhea or stomach pain in some individuals.

Questions time!

What is chicken Kolhapuri?

Kolhapuri curries are known for their spicy, rich flavor and this curry is nothing less.

Kolhapuri masala is rich in a variety of spices, such as green and black cardamom, cloves, and sesame seeds, as well as grated coconut and, famously, dry red chilies.

How to make Kolhapuri Chicken Masala?

Kolhapuri chicken masala has many ingredients, yet it is very easy to prepare!

Starting with a large pan, one should start by roasting some grated coconut; after a couple of minutes, while always mixing the coconut to stop it from burning or over-roasting, a cinnamon stick, cumin seeds, green and black cardamom, and star aniseed are added.

After mixing a bit longer, sesame seeds, peppercorns, and poppy seeds are added and after a further minute or so, cloves, mace and bay leaves.

Once all of the above are toasted, they should be put on the side and the dry red chilies can then be roasted in the same pan. 

Once the dry red chilies are ready, they can be added to the other spices and they can then all be ground together in an upside-down blender or grinder.

Once you have a smooth powder, you have your own homemade masala for Kolhapuri chicken curry!

~~ Love making your own homemade masala? Try this fantastic, authentic eggplant curry!

Start with the coconut

How to make chicken Kolhapuri?

How to make a chicken curry that is flavorful, easy, and weight-loss friendy?

This Indian chicken curry recipe is as easy as it comes once you have your homemade masala ready! 

Marinate your chicken pieces in some lemon and ginger garlic paste for about half an hour, before adding some Kolhapuri chicken masala (if you follow this recipe, use about one-third to half the masala) and setting aside to fully marinate.

Start preparing the curry base by lightly browning some finely chopped onions in a bit of vegetable oil (any flavorless vegetable oil – I use sunflower); once the onions are golden-brown, add the ginger garlic paste and fry.

Once the smell of rawness of garlic has gone, add some turmeric and cook the spice.

Once the turmeric starts separating from the oil, add the marinated chicken pieces and brown all around; once the chicken is well seared, add the rest of the homemade masala you prepared and cook.

Once these spices start separating as well, add some grated nutmeg .

The next step is to add some fresh coriander, salt, and water, mix well and allow the chili coconut chicken curry to simmer for about 15 minutes on a low flame, or until the chicken is cooked thoroughly.

Once the chicken is cooked, serve it with some lemon juice and fresh coriander on top! 

Marinate the chicken

Prepare Kolhapuri Chicken Curry

How to make veg Kolhapuri?

To make this recipe vegetarian you can follow the same recipe as per the chicken, but substitute vegetables in it.

These won’t need to be marinated and they can be put in the curry at the same point as the chicken would be added.

It is very common to prepare this vegetarian (and vegan, therefore) curry with mixed vegetables, such as peas, carrots, more onions, green beans, and potatoes, however also tomatoes, bell peppers, cabbage, and cauliflower add great flavor and texture to this recipe.

 ~~ Looking for a delicious vegan curry recipe? These Punjabi Chole are game!

What to serve this Kolhapuri chicken curry with?

One thing I know is that Maharashtrians like their chapattis and I do love this with chapattis!

Other great options are pulao rice, whole wheat parathas, or thin naan bread.

For a lower calorie (and carbohydrate) option, serve with some cauliflower rice or simple, boiled cauliflower served with a tiny bit of salt and oil; this is a very flavorful and filling option while lowering the calories eaten during the meal.

Try this great, great recipe and you will go back to it over and over again! 

This Kolhapuri Chicken Curry Recipe is easy, weight-loss-friendly, tasty and it gets even better the day after when the spices have time to even further penetrate the chicken!

It is a great Indian curry to have on hand if you like to do meal prep during the weekend, yet so tasty you can serve it to guests and they won’t believe that you didn’t get it from the restaurant.

Enjoy this… I feel like I am back in Kolhapur when eating it, I’m sure you will too!

~~ Want a Quick and Easy Chicken Recipe? Try this 30-Minute Easy Chicken Curry!

Recipe