Authentic Chicken Balti Recipe | THE CURRY GUY (2024)

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This chicken balti recipe will get you restaurant quality results.


I first learned to make chicken Balti at a restaurant called Shababs in Birmingham’s Balti Triangle.

This is the recipe I learned that day and it is the chicken Balti I make most often and also teach at my cookery classes.

It’s the real deal unlike so many chicken Balti recipes out there.

Authentic Chicken Balti Recipe | THE CURRY GUY (1)

Chicken balti cooked in an authentic stainless steel balti bowl.

One of the key ingredients in a true chicken Balti is the Balti bowl itself.

You can cook this chicken balti in any pan and it will still be delicious.

That said, part of going out for a balti is experiencing having your curry served to you sizzling hot in the same balti bowl it was cooked in.

I recommend picking up a couple of Balti bowls if you want that experience. They aren’t expensive and can be purchased right here from the Birmingham Balti Bowl Company.

I am not affiliated with them but highly recommend their product.

Use a real Balti bowl to cook this chicken Balti and you will love being able to experience an authentic Balti at home.

Most chicken Baltis served at restaurants are not actually Baltis.

Unfortunately, these days most Baltis are not cooked the way they should be.

They are still delicious but the presentation is all wrong. Most chefs cook their Baltis in a regular frying pan and then serve the curry in an ornamental Balti pan.

As I said above, you could do this too. But just think about that sizzling hot chicken Balti you could be dining from if you use a real stainless steel Balti bowl.

How I got to know Balti…

Andy Munro is one of the leading experts on all things Balti. You can read more about him and the Birmingham balti scene right here.

I met up with Andy recently and he showed me his Birmingham, Balti Birmingham.

We visited all of his favourite Balti restaurants and Shababs was one of them. That opened my eyes to the real thing. A good chicken Balti is a work of art.

Make it as it should be and you will be in Balti heaven!

The base sauce

The slow cooked base curry sauce is another of the most important ingredients in a true chicken Balti. It’s easy to make and one of my recipes is here.

My site features many recipes that call for the base curry house style sauce.

The smooth base is one of the things that makes a British curry, British. If you want that famous flavour and texture, you’ve got to make the base!

Can I make a Balti without making the base sauce?

Yes and no. In order to get a Balti right, the base sauce must be used. You can still make a delicious curry without it as I show in my chicken Balti from scratch recipe here.

Authentic Chicken Balti Recipe | THE CURRY GUY (2)

Baltis should be quite thick when served. Perfect for soaking up with hot naans.

Pre-cooked meat

Another important ingredient in an authentic chicken Balti is pre-cooked chicken.

In my chicken Balti from scratch recipe I cooked the chicken from raw. It works but adding pre-cooked chicken such as my tandoori chicken or stewed chicken will get you superior results.

Cooking the chicken first adds another layer of delicious flavour.

The tandoori method gives an amazing flavour of smoky, marinated and grilled chicken. The meat juices can also be added to the sauce.

The stewed chicken option offers succulently cooked chicken with lots of sauce you can add with your base sauce.

Authentic Chicken Balti Recipe | THE CURRY GUY (3)

Here I used tandoori chicken in my Balti. It was amazing!

Authentic Chicken Balti Recipe | THE CURRY GUY (4)

Dig in!

If you like this chicken Balti recipe, you might like to try some of these favourites too…

Chicken Balti from Scratch
Aubergine Balti
Balti Dhal Fry

Yield: 1 - 2

CHICKEN BALTI

Authentic Chicken Balti Recipe | THE CURRY GUY (5)

Prep Time10 minutes

Cook Time15 minutes

Total Time25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp rapeseed (canola) oil or ghee
  • 1/4 medium onion - finely chopped
  • 1 tomato - diced
  • 1 tbsp garlic and ginger paste
  • 2 fresh green bird's eye chilli peppers
  • 1/2 large green or red pepper roughly chopped
  • 2 - 4 tbsp tomato puree
  • 2 tbs tandoori masala
  • Curry Base Sauce
  • 2 tsp Mixed powder
  • 225g (1/2 lb) - tandoori chicken
  • 1 tbsp cider vinegar
  • 2 tbsp chopped coriander
  • Juice of 1/2 lime
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  1. Heat the ghee or oil in a large frying pan or balti pan over high heat.
  2. Toss in the chopped onion and allow to fry for about 3 minutes or until the onion is beginning to turn soft and translucent.
  3. Add the garlic and ginger and stir to combine. About 30 seconds should do the job. You just want to cook off the rawness.
  4. Spoon in the tandoori masala and curry powder.
  5. Now add the green chillies, bell peppers, chopped tomatoes and tomato puree. Give this all a good stir to combine.
  6. Add about half of the base curry sauce and bring to a simmer.
  7. Throw in the chicken pieces and top as needed with more base sauce. Remember, Baltis are quite dry curries so don't add too much. If you do, you could always cook it down.
  8. Simmer for about 8 minutes or until the chicken is heated through. Stir in more base sauce as needed.
  9. Add the cider vinegar and simmer for another minute.
  10. Just before serving, sprinkle the coriander into the curry and season with salt and pepper to taste and then add the lime juice.

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Authentic Chicken Balti Recipe | THE CURRY GUY (2024)

FAQs

What is Balti sauce made of? ›

A tomato based sauce with peppers, cumin and coriander.

Is Balti Indian or Pakistani? ›

Where did Balti come from in the first place? Good question. According to some sources, the style of cooking originated in the Baltistan region of Northern Pakistan. Others say the name actually comes from the Urdu word for bucket, referring to the wok-like pot in which Baltis are commonly served.

What is the difference between a Balti and a normal curry? ›

Balti curries are cooked quickly using vegetable oil rather than ghee, over high heat in the manner of a stir-fry, and any meat is used off the bone. This combination differs sharply from a traditional one-pot Indian curry which is simmered slowly all day.

What level of spice is chicken Balti? ›

Because there are no definitive ingredients, there is no definitive level of spiciness, especially as different forms of curry flavour can be cooked in a balti style. Most standard baltis however are cooked to a medium level of spice, hotter than a korma or a pasanda, but less spicy than a jalfrezi or madras.

Is a Balti curry healthy? ›

Whether Indian Balti Curry is considered healthy depends on its ingredients and preparation. Generally, Balti curry can be healthy if it includes lean proteins like chicken or fish, plenty of vegetables, and is cooked with minimal oil.

Is Balti authentic? ›

There are suggestions that it comes from Baltistan, a town in Northern Pakistan, while others claim that it was first served in Adil's restaurant in 1977 in Sparkbrook in Birmingham, which lays foundations to what was later known as the Balti triangle.

What is the closest curry to Balti? ›

The Karahi curry is a spicy dish and is a particular favourite in Northern India and Pakistan. It is related to the Balti and Jalfrezi as all of them are stir fried dishes. A Karahi is actually the name for a type of Indian iron round bottomed wok in the same way that a Balti is a flat bottomed metal dish too.

What does chicken Balti taste like? ›

The chicken balti recipe is prepared into a spicy, tender, delicious, thick, tomato-based, saucy, tangy, flavoursome curry that contains onion, ginger and a lot of Indian ground spices like garam masala and chilli powder sauteed with tender chicken pieces that absorb all the heat and flavours of the spices, enhancing ...

Who invented the Balti curry? ›

It's believed that Birmingham is the original home of the Balti due to its large number of Balti houses. Local legends suggest Balti cooking first appeared in 1977 in a restaurant called Adil's which was located in the inner city area of Birmingham, Balsall Heath.

Why do people use Balti dishes? ›

Crafted with enamelled cast iron, the Balti Dish is an exceptional retainer of heat all-while spreading it evenly throughout the dish. This piece of cookware is compatible with all cooktops, including induction, and is built to last. Its wide loop handles make it easier to transfer from stovetop to table.

How do you eat a Balti? ›

Yes, it may be messy, but there's no better way to eat a Balti than to tear off your warm naan bread on the side and use it to scoop up and eat the curry. It also makes a great sponge to soak up all the hot sauce and wipe the bowl clean at the end.

What does the word Balti mean? ›

noun. a spicy Indian dish, stewed until most of the liquid has evaporated, and served in a woklike pot. ( as modifier )

Does a Balti come with rice? ›

How is the dish served? A traditional balti is served in the dish it was cooked in, a round bottom cast iron wok; some sides frequently come with the dish; you can order either rice or naan bread.

Are Balti dishes saucy? ›

Balti is a style of cooking, almost like a stir fry. It's said to be invented in the UK. Birmingham lays claim to being the birthplace of Balti.

What does Balti taste like? ›

It is a mild, tomato based curry made with a fresh blend of many aromatic spices, and it is a very 'wet' curry, with lots of tasty gravy. It is usually cooked with chicken or lamb, with the addition of fresh garlic, ginger, onion, chopped tomatoes, coriander leaves and 2-3 tsp of the Balti spice mixture.

What is a Balti tikka masala? ›

A balti curry is first cooked over a high flame with spiced fresh meat and vegetables; then cooked again with extra spices; before being served in the traditional round-bottomed balti dish. There are so many ways of preparing a Balti Tikka Masala and this version is perfectly wonderful and memorable.

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