Chicken Curry in Nigerian Style

Chicken Curry in Nigerian Style | Nigerian Style Chicken Curry | How to make Nigerian Chicken Curry

Chicken Curry in Nigerian Style | Nigerian Style Chicken Curry | How to make Nigerian Chicken Curry with step by step instructions and video

Why do you think I prepared Nigerian Style Chicken? Well, I wanted some change of flavours. Tend to get bored over time of using the same spices.  In addition, I have made Chicken Curry in Nigerian Style a couple of times and my family has always liked it. So why not share this culinary expression and enjoyment with you too.

Some expressions and wispy memories of childhood – somewhere between  1975-1978s- I recall visits with my parents on weekend to a high-end hotel in Lagos to have their ever popular Chicken Curry.  We also enjoyed this Chicken Curry at the home of a very beloved uncle and aunty at V.I – Victoria Island – Lagos. Little did I realize at the time that this flavor would remain with me until now!

Furthermore, here I am now, replicating this dish exactly as I had it back then. You are undoubtedly wondering what makes this so extraordinary. Well, I am getting there.  Chicken Curry in Nigerian Style is distinguished by the spices and herbs used. The serving manner, in essence, is the star of the show.

What is Chicken Curry in Nigerian Style

Nigerian Style Chicken Curry is all about chicken cooked in fiery red color gravy made with tomatoes, local red chilies, chicken curry powder, ginger-garlic, dried herbs such as oregano and thyme and a bit of stock cube.

This chicken curry is a popular dish for parties or gatherings along with Nigerian Jollof Rice.

The chicken curry powder is a specific one, not like the curry powders that the people of the Indian subcontinent commonly use. However, it is just fine that due to unavailability of this curry powder everywhere, you may use your local options.

I am lucky enough to have some of this Nigerian curry powder. Hence, we fervently prepare this curry as long as its stocks last. 

Another Nigerian recipe Chicken in Palm oil is also a terrific one. A big hit! Let’s save that for some other time!

Ingredients

Chicken drumsticks– You may opt to use chicken drumsticks or whole chicken cut into pieces.

Onions– Sliced – Slightly sautéed for making the red fiery gravy. Use red or white variety onions.

Ginger garlic – Use finely chopped or make a paste.

Dried spices –Oregano, thyme, paprika powder, chicken curry powder, turmeric powder, bouillon stock cube, salt. The curry powder is a specific one. You may use local options for the curry powder.

Oil – Use any cooking oil of your choice

Lemon juice

Tomato puree and tomato paste– Prepare fresh tomato puree by grinding ripe red colored tomatoes. Use canned tomato paste that has a vibrant red color.

Red chilies– Generally Local Nigerian chilies Scotch Bonnet Pepper/habanero (ata roda) aka Hot Pépé and Tatashe pepper that somewhat look like bell pepper are used. Due to its unavailability everywhere, use red chilies or its paste that is a combination of spiciness and color.  I use the Hot Chilli Garlic paste or Schezwan Paste

Peanut powder/ Cashew nut powder – For thickening

Accompaniments for serving: Green bell peppers finely chopped, peanuts roasted-crushed, green chilies chopped, few lemon pieces, cucumber, coconut freshly grated, pineapple chopped, tomatoes and onions.

Video Recipe for Nigerian Style Chicken Curry

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How to make Nigerian Chicken Curry

Marination (optional step)

To the washed chicken add turmeric, curry powder, paprika powder, oregano powder, thyme, salt, lime juice and ginger garlic paste.

Further, to this add oil.

Then, combine everything very well.

For best results, let chicken marinate for a few hours.

Alternatively, if you do not wish to marinate, move on to the next step.

Cooking Chicken

Now add the marinated chicken to a pan along with some water.

Then, cook on medium flame till the chicken is half tender. Very less liquid would be left by now.

Finally, sauté the chicken until it changes in color. Keep aside.

Reserve any left over chicken stock for later use.

Making the Curry

Heat some oil in a pot.

Then add the sliced onions and sauté till translucent.

Add ginger garlic (paste or finely chopped) to the onions and sauté for a minute.

Also, add salt, curry powder, oregano, thyme. Use sparingly, since we have added in the marinade too.

Now add tomato puree.

Sauté until the rawness of the tomatoes goes.

Add tomato paste and chili paste.

Sauté again for some time until oil starts oozing from the sides.

Now add the chicken stock cube. Mix well.

Add Chicken to Curry

Also, add the sautéed chicken. Combine everything well.

Lastly add water and the peanuts or cashew nut powder.

Cover and let the chicken simmer on low flame until done.

How to serve

Serve chicken with rice. More precisely take shallow dinner plates. Serve individual portions of rice. Then serve this fiery red chicken curry over the rice.

Finally the epitome –  sprinkle chopped capsicum, peanuts, green chilies, cucumber, grated coconut, pineapple, tomatoes, onions over the chicken and rice. Finish off with a few drops of lemon juice.

Relax and enjoy this meal. With every morsel feel the interplay of textures and flavours in your mouth.

Do leave a feedback below in the COMMENTS SECTION or my FACEBOOK PAGE.

Some chicken recipes from other cuisines  on this blog are:

Chicken Tangdi Kebab, Chicken Lollipops, Chicken in Green Gravy, Chicken Sheekh Kababs, Tandoori Chicken Whole Legs

Recipe Card

Chicken Curry in Nigerian Style

Nigerian Style Chicken Curry is all about chicken cooked in fiery red colour gravy made with tomatoes, local red chilies, chicken curry powder, ginger-garlic, dried herbs such as oregano and thyme and a bit of stock cube.

5 from 6 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Marination 2 hours hrs

Course Main Course

Cuisine Nigerian

Servings 4 people

Ingredients

  

For Marinade

• 500 gm chicken drumsticks
• 1 tsp ginger garlic finely chopped or paste
• 1/4 tsp oregano
• 1/4 tsp thyme
• ½ tsp paprika powder
• 1 tsp curry powder
• 1 tbsp oil
• ½ tsp turmeric powder
• ½ tbsp. lemon juice
• 1 tsp salt

For Curry

• 1 cup tomato puree
• 1 pc onion sliced
• ½ tsp ginger garlic chopped or paste
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tbsp red chili paste
• 1 pc Bouillon stock cube
• 1 tbsp peanut powder or cashewnut powder
• Salt
• Curry powder
• Thyme powder
• Oregano powder
• 2 cups Water adjust
• 2 tbsp Oil

Accompaniments

• ¼ cup green bell peppers finely chopped
• ¼ cup peanuts roasted & crushed
• 1 green chilies chopped
• A few lemon pieces
• ¼ cup cucumber chopped
• ¼ cup fresh coconut grated
• ½ cup pineapple chopped from 1-2 pineapple slices1/4 cup cup tomatoes chopped
• ¼ cup onions chopped

Instructions

 

Marination (optional step)

• To the chicken add turmeric, curry powder, paprika powder, oregano powder, thyme, salt, lime juice and ginger garlic paste
• Finally, to this add oil. Combine everything very well. Let it marinate for a few hours.

Cooking chicken

• Add the marinated chicken to a pan along with some water.
• Cook on medium flame until the chicken is half tender.
• When liquids dry, sauté the chicken until it changes in color. Keep aside.
• Reserve any left over chicken stock for later use.

Preparing Curry

• Heat some oil in a pot.
• Then add the onions and sauté until light pink.
• Add ginger garlic(paste or finely chopped) to the onions and sauté for a minute.
• Add salt, curry powder, oregano, thyme.
• Now add tomato puree.
• Sauté until the rawness of the tomatoes goes.
• Add tomato paste and chili paste
• Sauté again for some time until oil starts oozing from the sides.
• Now add the chicken stock cube. Mix well.

Add Chicken to Curry

• Add the sautéed chicken. Combine everything well such that curry spices mix into the chicken pieces.
• Lastly add water and peanuts or cashew nut powder.
• Cover and let the chicken simmer on low flame until done.

How to serve

• Serve chicken on rice
• Additionally, sprinkle chopped capsicum, peanuts, green chilies, cucumber, grated coconut, pineapple, tomatoes, onions.
• Finish off with a few drops of lemon juice.
• Relax and enjoy this meal.
• With every morsel feel the interplay of textures and flavours in your mouth.

Notes

• In order to garner to a rich fiery red color curry use red ripe tomatoes and chilies. Red color of the curry is characteristic of this dish. But the yellow color chicken curry is not uncommon either. The difference is that the red tomato paste or red chilies maybe used at bare minimum levels. in moderation.
• Omit fresh red chilies if not available. However a good substitute is Hot Chili Garlic paste or Homemade  Schezwan sauce.
• Use which ever curry powder is available locally. Though Nigerian curry powder is the best for an authentic taste.  
• Adjust the amount of  curry powder, salt, thyme and oregano  in curry as per individual requirement. 

Keyword Chicken Recipes, Nigerian Chicken Curry, Nigerian Chicken Curry recipe, Party Recipes

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