UK Cuisine

Chicken Balti

Birmingham-style balti with whole spices, fresh ginger and capsicum in a fragrant wok-cooked sauce — the UK curry-house icon with ~42g protein.

📅November 8, 2025
20mPrep
30mCook
3Servings
4.8Rating
Chicken Balti🍗

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

Protein 40%Fat 43%Carbs 17%
480kcalCalories
42gProtein
20gFat
18gCarbs
4gFiber

Ingredients

👥3
  • 700 gchicken thighs boneless
  • 200 gwhite onion
  • 30 gfresh ginger
  • 5 wholegarlic cloves
  • 150 ggreen capsicum
  • 400 gcanned chopped tomatoes
  • 25 gbalti spice mix (cumin, coriander, garam masala, turmeric)
  • 4 wholewhole cardamom pods
  • 40 mlvegetable oil
  • 20 gfresh coriander

Instructions

  1. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Heat oil in a steel balti dish or wok over very high heat. The high heat and wok-cooking technique are essential to a true balti.
  2. Add the cardamom pods and let them sizzle for 30 seconds. Add the finely sliced onion and stir-fry for 8 minutes until golden brown.
  3. Add the grated ginger and crushed garlic. Stir-fry for 2 minutes.
  4. Add the balti spice mix. Fry for 1 minute until fragrant.
  5. Add the chicken pieces and cook on high heat for 6 minutes, tossing regularly, until the chicken is sealed on all sides.
  6. Add the chopped tomatoes and diced capsicum. Cook on high heat, stirring frequently, for 15 minutes until the sauce has reduced and the oil begins to separate.
  7. Taste, adjust seasoning and add a squeeze of lemon. Scatter with fresh coriander. Serve in the balti dish itself with naan bread — never with rice (the true Birmingham way).

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