Name: The Ultimate Chicken Tadka Recipe: Your New Favorite Comfort Food 🍗
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: Chicken breast, cut into long strips – 500g; Black pepper – 1 tsp; Ginger-garlic paste – 2 tbsp; Salt – to taste; Egg – 1 large; Corn flour – 3 tbsp; Oil for deep frying – as needed; Chopped garlic – 4-5 cloves; Green chili – 2-3 pieces; Curry leaves (meethi neem) – 8-10 leaves; Whole dry red chili – 2-3 pieces; Red chili powder – 1 tsp; Turmeric powder – 1/2 tsp; Butter – 3 tbsp; Curd – 1/2 cup; Tandoori mayonnaise – 3 tbsp; Salt for sauce – a pinch

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Hey there, food lovers! 😊 Are you ready to dive into a dish that’ll make your taste buds dance with joy? Today, I’m sharing my go-to Chicken Tadka recipe that never fails to impress. This isn’t just any ordinary chicken dish – it’s a beautiful fusion of crispy fried chicken strips tossed in aromatic Indian spices, finished with a creamy, tangy sauce that’ll have you licking your fingers!

What Makes Chicken Tadka So Special?

Chicken Tadka is like a warm hug on a plate. The magic happens when perfectly marinated chicken breast strips meet that sizzling tadka (tempering) of butter, garlic, and aromatic spices. It’s comfort food at its finest, and honestly, once you try this recipe, you’ll understand why it’s become such a beloved dish in Indian households and restaurants alike.

Let’s Talk Ingredients – Your Flavor Arsenal 🧄

The beauty of Chicken Tadka lies in its simple yet powerful ingredient list. Here’s what you’ll need to create this culinary masterpiece:

For the Chicken:

Chicken breast, cut into long strips (the star of our show!)
Black pepper (for that gentle heat)
Ginger-garlic paste (aromatic base)
Salt (to taste)
Egg (for binding)
Corn flour (for that perfect crispy coating)
Oil for deep frying

For the Tadka (The Magic Happens Here!):

Chopped garlic (because more garlic is always better!)
Green chili (fresh heat)
Curry leaves (meethi neem) – these little leaves pack such flavor!
Whole dry red chili (smoky depth)
Red chili powder (vibrant color and spice)
Turmeric powder (golden goodness)
Butter (rich, creamy base)

For the Creamy Sauce:

Curd (tangy freshness)
Tandoori mayonnaise (creamy spice blend)
Salt (just a pinch)

Step-by-Step: Creating Your Chicken Tadka Magic ✨

Step 1: Marinate & Fry – Building the Foundation

Start by mixing your chicken breast strips with black pepper, ginger-garlic paste, salt, egg, and corn flour. This marinade is what gives our Chicken Tadka its incredible flavor base. Let those chicken strips get cozy with all these flavors for a few minutes while your oil heats up.

When you deep fry these marinated strips until they’re golden and crispy, you’re creating the perfect canvas for our tadka. The corn flour gives them this amazing crunch that contrasts beautifully with the creamy sauce later.

Step 2: Prepare the Tadka – Where the Magic Happens

Here’s where your kitchen will smell absolutely divine! Heat butter in a pan (and let me tell you, butter makes everything better 😉). Add your chopped garlic, green chili, curry leaves, whole dry red chili, red chili powder, and turmeric powder.

The moment these spices hit that hot butter, you’ll hear that satisfying sizzle and smell the most incredible aroma. Sauté everything until it’s beautifully aromatic – this is what makes Chicken Tadka so special!

Step 3: Bring It All Together

Add your golden fried chicken into that fragrant tadka and mix well. Let everything cook together for about 10 minutes. This is when the chicken absorbs all those beautiful flavors, and the tadka coats every single piece perfectly.

Step 4: The Creamy Finish

While your chicken is soaking up all that flavor, quickly whisk together curd, tandoori mayonnaise, and a pinch of salt. This sauce is the perfect cooling contrast to the warm spices in your Chicken Tadka.

Step 5: The Grand Finale

Drizzle that creamy sauce over your hot Chicken Tadka and serve immediately. Trust me, this dish is best enjoyed fresh and hot, though I doubt it’ll last long enough to get cold!

Pro Tips for Perfect Chicken Tadka Every Time 💡

Don’t skip the marination time – even 15 minutes makes a difference
Make sure your oil is hot enough for frying to get that perfect crispy texture
The curry leaves are essential – they add an authentic flavor that dried herbs can’t replicate
Serve immediately for the best experience

Why You’ll Fall in Love with This Recipe

This Chicken Tadka recipe is everything you want in a comfort food dish. It’s got that satisfying crunch from the fried chicken, the warm embrace of aromatic spices, and the cooling touch of that creamy sauce. Plus, it’s surprisingly easy to make – perfect for both weeknight dinners and when you want to impress guests!

So there you have it, friends – your new go-to Chicken Tadka recipe that’s guaranteed to become a favorite. The combination of crispy chicken breast strips, aromatic tadka, and creamy sauce creates a dish that’s pure comfort food gold.

Give this recipe a try, and don’t forget to let me know how it turns out! Happy cooking! 🍽️✨

Chicken Tadka Recipe: Your New Favorite Comfort Food

What Makes Chicken Tadka So Special?

Let’s Talk Ingredients – Your Flavor Arsenal 🧄

Step-by-Step: Creating Your Chicken Tadka Magic ✨

Step 1: Marinate & Fry – Building the Foundation