🐓 How to Make Dhaba-Style Chicken Curry The Secret to Bold Flavour, Rustic Texture & Irresistible Aroma

There’s something magical about eating chicken curry at a roadside dhaba. The smoky flavors, thick oil-slicked gravy, and mouthwatering aroma stay in your memory far longer than any fancy restaurant meal.

If you’ve ever wondered how to recreate that bold, rustic, dhaba-style chicken curry at home — you’re in the right place. With the right ingredients, techniques, and a punchy blend like Welza Chicken Masala, this legendary dish can simmer to life right in your kitchen.

🔥 What Makes Dhaba-Style Chicken Different?
Unlike creamy butter chicken or mild home curries, dhaba-style chicken is:

Bold in flavor — thanks to intense roasting and whole spices

Rustic in texture — no purees, just hand-cut onions and tomatoes

Deep in color — from dry-roasted masalas and red chilli

Cooked low & slow — giving the spices time to bloom into the oil

🧂 Ingredients You'll Need
For 4 servings:

🐔 Main:
500g chicken (bone-in preferred for flavor)

🧄 For the curry:
2 tbsp oil or mustard oil

2 large onions (finely chopped)

2 tomatoes (chopped or crushed)

1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste

2–3 green chilies (slit)

Salt to taste

Fresh coriander for garnish

🌶 Spices:
1.5 tbsp Welza Chicken Masala

½ tsp turmeric powder

1 tsp red chilli powder (optional for more heat)

½ tsp garam masala (optional for final touch)

🍳 Step-by-Step Recipe
1️⃣ Heat the Oil
Heat mustard oil until it smokes lightly, then reduce the flame. This removes rawness and adds the classic dhaba punch.

2️⃣ Sauté the Onions
Add chopped onions and cook until dark golden brown. Be patient — this is key to developing the base flavor.

3️⃣ Add Ginger-Garlic Paste
Sauté till the raw smell disappears and the paste turns golden.

4️⃣ Drop in the Tomatoes
Add tomatoes, green chilies, salt, turmeric, and red chilli powder. Cook until oil separates. Mash the mixture as it softens.

5️⃣ Spice It Right
Add Welza Chicken Masala and mix well. Cook for 2–3 minutes to release the masala’s aroma and deepen the base.

6️⃣ Add Chicken & Bhuno (Roast)
Add chicken pieces and cook on high heat for 8–10 minutes, stirring regularly. This bhuno step helps coat the chicken in masala and intensifies flavor.

7️⃣ Simmer to Finish
Add water (¾–1 cup depending on how much gravy you want), cover, and let it simmer for 20–25 minutes until the chicken is tender and the gravy thick.

8️⃣ Final Touch
Sprinkle garam masala (optional), garnish with coriander, and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.

🍚 What to Serve It With?
Steaming hot jeera rice

Fresh tandoori roti or lachha paratha

Sliced onions & lemon wedges on the side

🧡 Welza Tip
Using Welza Chicken Masala eliminates the need to mix 5–6 individual spices. It’s a well-rounded blend with depth, warmth, and aroma — designed specifically for chicken gravies.

No MSG. No fillers. Just flavor that hits like a dhaba!

🛒 Grab Your Pack of Welza Chicken Masala
Order online or pick it up at your local grocery store. And next time someone says “dhaba jaisa swaad,” tell them: it’s made in my kitchen, thanks to Welza!