The 30-Minute Pakistani Butt Karahi is a quick and easy dish made with chicken quarters and flavored with my Homemade Karahi Masala. It comes together effortlessly, making it perfect for a delicious meal in no time!
WHAT IS BUTT KARAHI?
30-Minute Pakistani Butt Karahi is a Pakistani recipe made with chicken quarters cooked in a rich tomato-based gravy and seasoned with Homemade Karahi Masala. Unlike Mutton Karahi and Chicken Karahi, which originated in Karachi and North India, Butt Karahi has its roots in a famous restaurant in Lahore, Pakistan.
This popular Pakistani main dish is a favorite at restaurants across the country, offering all the traditional flavors that make a good Karahi so special. Personally, aside from Chicken Biryani and Beef Haleem, Karahi is my absolute favorite Pakistani food. I love Karahis so much that I jokingly call myself the "Queen of Karahi" on Google!
The first time I had Butt Karahi was when my late uncle brought it back from a work trip in Lahore to Karachi, where I was visiting. From the very first bite, I fell in love with it, and the rest is history. After I got married, I told my husband all about the rich, unforgettable flavors of this Karahi. We experimented with the Pakistani recipe about seven times until he nailed the taste perfectly!
STEPS IN THIS KARAHI
- Add the chicken, oil, tomato paste, tomatoes, onion, green pepper, ginger garlic paste, and red chili powder to a wok.
- Cover and for few minutes.
- Add yogurt, whole button chilis, and powder spices.
- Garnish with Cilantro and ginger.
INGREDIENTS YOU'LL NEED...
- Chicken – I always use chicken quarters because they’re juicier, but you can easily substitute them with chicken breasts or thighs if you prefer.
- Tomatoes – I use medium-sized Roma tomatoes for their balance of sweetness and acidity.
- Ginger Garlic Paste – Homemade is my go-to for freshness, but store-bought works just fine too.
- Yogurt – I typically use homemade yogurt for a richer taste, but store-bought is a convenient option as well.
- Homemade Karahi Masala – I prefer my preservative-free homemade masala for the best taste, but store-bought masala works as well.
HOW TO MAKE BUTT KARAHI?
Make the Homemade Karahi Masala.
Add chicken, ginger garlic paste, green peppers, tomatoes, onion, tomato paste.
Cover and let it cook then uncover it. It should look like this.
Add yogurt, salt, powdered spices, and chicken cube.
Add button red chilis.
Garnish with cilantro, ginger, and enjoy!
SERVE WITH THIS KARAHI...
Butt Karahi is serve with a warm homemade Chapati or Naan.
Hey Friend, You’ve made it this far, so now we’re basically best friends! If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a quick review & star rating ★ below. Make sure you follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
Let's Make Butt Karahi!!!
30-Minute Pakistani Butt Karahi
Ingredients
- 1 lbs chicken quarters
- ⅓ cup olive oil or any neutral oil
- ½ medium onion roughly chopped
- 4 tbsp ginger garlic paste
- 2 medium tomatoes chopped
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 green peppers slitted
- 1 bouillon chicken cube
- 3 button dried red chili pepper
Powdered spices
- 1 tsp red chili powder
- 3 tbsp homemade karahi masala
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp Garam Masala Powder
Garnish
- 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
- ⅛ ginger juilenne
- ¼ cilantro fresh, finely chopped
Instructions
- Make the homemade karahi masala.
- In a wok, add chicken, oil, red chili powder, ginger garlic paste, green peppers, onion, tomato paste, and tomatoes.
- Turn on the stove.
- Place the wok on the stove.
- Turn on stove on medium heat.
- Mix well for 5-6 minutes.
- Cover the lid on and let it cook for 6-7 minutes or until the chicken is 80% cooked.
- Uncover give it a quick mix.
- Add yogurt, homemade Karahi Masala, coriander powder, black pepper, Garam Masala Powder, and chicken cube.
- Give it a mix and let it cook for 5 minutes.
- Add dried button chili pepper and give it a mix.
- Let it cook for4- 5 minutes constantly stirring.
- Turn off the stove.
- Garnish with lemon juice, cilantro, and ginger.
- Serve with chapati or white rice.
- Enjoy!
S says
Hi! What’s the chicken quantity? I don’t see it in the recipe.
Sarah Mirza says
please check again I edited it. Thanks for letting me know.