This is one of my new favorite dishes: PK Chicken Karahi

I had Pakistani Chicken Karahi suggested to me during a live stream and after testing and researching for this video, it's one of my new favorite dishes. It's so damn flavorful, and there is no better way to enjoy it than with a handful of roti.

RECIPE & SOURCES LINK:

📚 Videos & Sources mentioned:

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INGREDIENTS LIST

Step 1 - Cook meat
- 1 pound (454 g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut pieces
- Salt to taste
- 28 g high smoke point oil (peanut, ghee, avocado)

Step 2 - Build sauce base
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- Small gnob ginger, crushed
- 3 whole peeled tomatoes from a can, strained (or fresh tomatoes)

Step 3 - Develop flavor
- 1 spoonful ground cumin seeds
- 1/2 spoonful ground coriander seeds
- 1 spoonful garam masala
- 1 spoonful kashmiri chile powder (substitute: cayenne)
- 1/2 spoonful turmeric
- 30 cranks black pepper
- Sprinkle of MSG (optional)

Step 4 - Reduce and adjust sauce taste
- 5 green chiles, chopped in half
- 14 g (1 tbsp) butter ***(optional)***
- Salt to taste

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USEFUL KITCHEN GEAR

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0:00 Why you should make Chicken Karahi?
0:40 What is PK Chicken Karahi
2:15 Step by step recipe
6:56 Taste test and final thoughts

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MISC. DETAILS
Music: Provided by Epidemic Sound
Filmed on: Sony a6600 & Sony A6400 w/ Sigma 16mm F1.4
Voice recorded on Zoom H4n with Behringer Mic
Edited in: Premiere Pro

Affiliate Disclosure:

[apostatecactus]

I'm Pakistani and my mom used to always make this. She passed away a while back and I've been trying to figure out how she cooked everything, to varying degrees of success. But your videos have helped a lot, the butter chicken tastes exactly like hers and this looks identical too. I can't wait to try it.

Edit: wow, thanks for the support everyone

[shabbarbukhari]

Man Ethan really does his research, this recipe is criminally accurate!

[ricardhodgsonrh]

I lived in Bahrain and Saudi for quite a few years, and I must say Pakistani cuisine was my favourite in a country where I could get pretty much any world cuisine I wanted.

[SpikeTheSpiker]

I love that you actually consider real things. Caloric count, how long it takes to clean, when to drop each thing in, what you can change or alter. You're genuinely one of the best no nonsense cooks I've seen on YT. Big props to all the production value you put into your work love watching these.

[keeloraz]

Excellent. As a Pakistani I can say this is totally authentic.

Fun fact: the word Karahi in Urdu means Wok

[rihazzahir]

If Ethan goes to Pakistan looking like he does in this video, he’d pass as a Pashtun

[superpcstation]

I'm a Pakistani and first of all, thank you so so much for using you platform to share this wonderful dish with the word.

Here's my karahi recipe. I've made some modern adjustments to it.

1 chicken cut in small pieces (skin on preferred)
Oil half cup (olive oil preferred)
1 small onion
1 inch of ginger
6 - 10 cloves of garlic
Whole cummin seeds 2 tbs
Whole coriander seeds or powder 1 tbs
Black peppercorns or freshly cracked pepper 1 teaspoon
Half a nutmeg
Red chilli powder 1/2 teaspoon or 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika (preferred)
turmeric 1/2 tsp
Garam masala 1/2 tsp (optional)
Tomato paste 1 tbs (optional)
4 medium tomatoes
Yogurt 3 table spoons
Green chilli
MSG 1 tsp (optional)
Garlic powder (optional)
Half a lemon
Fresh coriander


If the chicken is not frozen, marinade it with yogurt and set it aside.

Start by finely chopping the onion and the tomatoes
Heat up the oil in a wok or a large pot
Add the onions and a pinch of salt
Finely dice the ginger and slice the garlic
Once the onions start to brown, add ginger and garlic
Grind the spices in a mortar and pestle (except for the cummin)
once the garlic just starts to brown add all the spices and toast them in the oil
Add tomato paste and brown it
Add the tomatoes and diced green chili

Cook for a minute and then add the chicken and the yogurt.
Reduce the gravy into a thick sauce
Add msg and garlic powder and cook for additional minute
Shut off the flame and squeeze the lemon on top
Optionally add more freshly cracked pepper
Garnish with slices of ginger and fresh coriander and more green chilis

[magicbananas]

Mad respect to this guy for actually doing his research and executing the dish flawlessly

[NamezzemaN]

I cannot describe enough how great this channel is for beginner home cooks. Including mention of the prep, how long things take, and when to get some dishes clean makes it so much easier to follow along with.

[ibrahimahmed]

I really like how you include cleaning and home kitchen organisation in the recipe makes it very realistic.

[mongsway]

Man, you really made the dish well, as I'm Pakistani and this dish is one of my favorites and bonus tip ; I advise you to try beef or Mutton Nihari (whatever meat you prefer) this is my favorite dish in the whole world and I wait every week cuz my mom usually makes it on Sundays so that the whole family can enjoy, if you see this it'll mean the world

[sunnybhai]

As a Pakistani I’m so happy people are experimenting with Pakistani food and creating their own version to their preference. There is no right or wrong way and 100s of regional variations. Feel free to experiment!!

[PrashantRawat]

A pro tip: before grinding cumin and coriander seeds, roast them for 1.5 minutes in medium flame in a pan .. and let them cool off before grinding them .. this really opens up the flavors

[omkarmodak]

Hey Ethan! As an Indian I want to thank you for showing people food from both India and Pakistan in a way which is both approachable and delicious. I've been watching western YouTube chefs make dishes from the Indian subcontinent for a long time and I got to say that you and pro home cooks are some of the few creators who do justice to Indian and Pakistani cooking. You show how simple it is to make absolutely delicious food using good techniques and good spices. I've never had Pakistani style chicken Karahi before but after watching this video and seeing you coming back to take another bite of it again and again I'm definitely going to make it for my parents and friends. 😂

[coreykales]

Just made this tonight - incredible. You the man Ethan.

Edit; not to mention how affordable and easy this dish is. Few ingredients, quick cooking and cleaning up time, hearty and comforting.

[tkb]

Me: A brown university student far from home learning how to cook his favourite dish from a white guy 😅

Thanks bro! Subscribed

[Tuneracookie]

My husband is Pakistani and he loves chicken karahi, I’ll make it tomorrow in shaa Allah 😋 great video as usual!

[xXxOklahomAxXx]

This dish is insanely good. I’ve made it so many times now. Just made one with a can of Fire Roasted Salsa style tomatoes because I forgot the normal cans but holy moly I might have found a new secret

[PakistaniReacts]

You really stuck to the roots. Good to skip butter and cream its really not needed. ngl that karahi looks bussin

[fourleafs]

I'm Chinese but this is one of my favorite dishes to make and eat! But I cheat and use Shan box spices 🙈