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A rich, fragrant and relatively hot curry, chicken madras is easy to make at home in one pan. Blending the onion gives the sauce a thick and sumptuous texture. A great Friday night curry!
Nicky’s Notes
A Madras curry is a fairly hot curry with a thick, dark red sauce (the colour comes from the chillies and paprika). It’s got slightly tangy notes to it from the addition of tamarind and fenugreek. The chicken is not marinated in this dish, and the spices are often dry-fried or roasted.
The sauce is usually a smooth sauce. We’re using a Madras spice mix in this recipe, but will also add in a few extra spices. To get the lovely smooth sauce, we’ll be blending the onion and also using passata (rather than tinned tomatoes – which are quite lumpy).
My version has a little bit of warming heat, but it’s not too hot (my kids happily eat it and they don’t like things that are too hot).
I also add coconut milk into my recipe. This isn’t always typical in a madras, but a lot of British Indian Restaurant style curries do include some. It adds a little bit of richness to the curry and a hint of sweetness to balance out the tomatoes and spices.
Table of Contents
📋 Ingredients
Note on Madras Curry Powder
Madras curry powder is generally fairly hot and spicy. If you want the taste and texture of a madras, but without the heat, you can replace it like-for-like with mild curry powder. You’ll be adding in garlic, ginger, cinnamon, tamarind, paprika and fenugreek too – so you’ll still get the complex, slightly tangy flavour of a madras.
Swap the chicken for beef or lamb?
Yes. For a quick beef or lamb curry, use strips of lean beef steak (such as rump or flat iron) or lean lamb steak (shoulder or leg). Fry the strips in a little oil in a very hot pan for a 3-4 minutes until cooked but still tender, then add them into the sauce a the end of cooking (after the 10 minutes of simmering the sauce).
For a slow cooked version, use diced braising or chuck beef, or diced lamb leg or shoulder. Add in as you would the chicken (at step 3). Add an additional 200ml (70z) of passata, plus 200ml (70z) of beef stock (as well as the 200ml (70z) of coconut milk), then bring to the boil and place in the oven at 160C/320F for 3 hours (stir occasionally). Or place in the slow cooker and cook on high for 5-6 hours or low for 7-8 hours.
🧑🍳 Abbreviated Process
***Full recipe with detailed steps in the recipe card at the end of this post***
- Blend onion, garlic and ginger to a paste in a mini food processor. Fry the mixture in ghee or oil over a high heat.
- Add in chopped chicken and cook for 2-3 minutes, until sealed.
- Lower the heat to medium and add in the seasonings. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly until those spices release their fragrance.
- Add in passata and tomato puree and bring to the boil, then stir in coconut milk. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 minutes.
Pro Tip
This curry can be made as hot as you like. We’re using madras hot curry powder for the heat, but you can add in more heat with fresh chillies, or less heat by swapping out the madras powder for regular medium or mild curry powder.
I like a hot curry every now and then, but not so hot you can’t taste the flavours and you’re sweating at the table!
Pin this now to find it later
Pin It🍽️ What to serve it with
- I love to serve this spicy curry on a bed of Boiled Rice, Onion Fried Rice, or Pilau Rice.
- Mop up all that lovely spicy curry sauce with Homemade Peshwari Naan, or Garlic Naan.
- Also, serve with a simple Tomato and Onion Salad, and Homemade Mango Chutney.
I like to top the curry with fresh coriander (cilantro), a few sliced red chillies, finely sliced red onion and some red chilli slices too.
🍲 More fantastic curries
Want to make a Chicken Tikka Madras?
Add even more flavour to your madras by marinating the chicken in tikka paste and then grilling the chicken to lightly charred perfection!
Here’s how:
To a bowl add 1/2 cup (120ml) thick natural yogurt, 2 minced cloves of garlic, 1 tbsp minced ginger, the juice of half a lemon, 1 tsp each of ground coriander and paprika, 1/2 tsp each of turmeric, cumin, mild chilli powder (or hot if you like it spicy), salt and pepper, plus a pinch of cinnamon.
Mix it all together, then stir in the chopped chicken breasts. Cover and place in the fridge to marinate for 2-3 hours.
Once marinated, place the chicken on skewers, or just spread the pieces out on a baking sheet and brush with 2 tbsp of vegetable oil. Then grill (broil) the chicken, turning once, until cooked though.
Add the cooked chicken to the sauce right at the end (after it has simmered for 10 minutes).
📺 Watch how to make it
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Chicken Madras
Ingredients
Chicken Madras:
- 1 onion peeled and roughly chopped
- 2 cloves garlic peeled
- 2 tsp minced ginger
- 3 tbsp ghee or vegetable oil
- 3 chicken breasts chopped into bitesize chunks (this is about 525g or 18.5oz)
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 3 tbsp madras hot curry powder * see note 1
- 1 ½ tsp paprika
- ¼ tsp ground fenugreek * see note 2
- ½ tsp tamarind paste
- ¾ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 400 ml (14 oz) passata
- 2 tbsp tomato puree paste for US
- 200 ml (7 oz) coconut milk (full-fat)
To serve:
- small bunch of fresh coriander
- 1 finely sliced red chilli
- ¼ red onion peeled and finely sliced
- boiled rice
Instructions
- Add the onion, garlic, and ginger to a mini food processor and blend to a paste. Add a splash of oil to loosen if needed.1 onion, 2 cloves garlic, 2 tsp minced ginger
- Heat the ghee (or oil) in a large frying pan over a high heat. Add the onion mixture and fry for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until starting to brown at the edges.3 tbsp ghee or vegetable oil
- Add the chicken and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often, until sealed.3 chicken breasts
- Turn the heat down to medium and add the cinnamon, madras curry powder, paprika, ground fenugreek, tamarind paste, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.½ tsp ground cinnamon, 3 tbsp madras hot curry powder, 1 1/2 tsp paprika, ¼ tsp ground fenugreek, ½ tsp tamarind paste, 3/4 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper
- Add in the passata and tomato puree and bring to the boil.400 ml (14 oz) passata, 2 tbsp tomato puree
- Add the coconut milk. Stir and bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 minutes.200 ml (7 oz) coconut milk (full-fat)
- Serve with fresh coriander, sliced chillies, red onion, and boiled rice.small bunch of fresh coriander, 1 finely sliced red chilli, 1/4 red onion, boiled rice
Video
Notes
Note 1 – Madras curry powder
If you can’t find madras curry powder use regular curry powder but add a teaspoon (or two if you like it really hot) of cayenne pepper or hot chilli powder.Note 2 – Fenugreek:
Don’t buy a full jar if you’re only going to use it for this recipe, you can leave it out if you don’t have any – the madras powder will likely have some in anyway.Can I make it ahead?
Yes, this chicken madras can be cooked, quickly cooled, covered and refrigerated for 2 days. Reheat over a medium heat in a pan, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is piping hot throughout (about 10 minutes). You may need to add a splash of water to stop it drying out.Can I freeze it?
Yes, this chicken madras can be cooked, quickly cooled, covered and frozen. Defrost in the refrigerator overnight, then reheat over a medium heat in a pan, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is piping hot throughout (about 10 minutes). You may need to add a splash of water to stop it drying out.Can I make it in the slow cooker?
Yes, make the curry in a pan up to the end of step 5, then transfer to the slow cooker along with the coconut milk and stir together. Cook on low for 3-4 hours or high for 1-2 hours. Nutritional Information is per serving without the serving suggestions of rice and coriander (cilantro).Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This post was first published in March 2020. Updated in March 2025 for housekeeping. Updated since with improvements and for housekeeping reasons.
Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links – which means if you buy the product I get a small commission (at no extra cost to you). If you do buy, then thank you! That’s what helps us to keep Kitchen Sanctuary running. The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary depending on several factors. For more information please see our Terms & Conditions.
My favorite neighborhood Indian restaurant closed, so have been learning to make my own. I tried this out a couple of times. So amazing!
When I used the tikka marinating trick it was very good, but it got a bit acidic. I think the lemon juice in the marinade might be the reason. Probably should skip the tamarin if using the marinade?
One thing was unclear to me. You list “ground fenugreek”. Do you mean leaves or the seeds. I could not find seeds or powder in the local specialty store. Only the dried leaves. The Indian owner said that is what they use and what he recommends. The seeds are bitter. Just take some in your palm and rub it to a powder. So that is what I used and it was great.
I like my food spicy so threw in a Habanero in the blender when I made the paste. Worked wonders.
Thanks for the recipe!
Sounds fantastic Sammy! If you’re making the tikka marinade, the lemon juice in the marinade helps to make the chicken more tender, but the yogurt is also acidic, so that helps to make the chicken tender too. You could leave out the lemon juice or reduce the amount to a teaspoon.
I use powdered fenugreek from my supermarket (it’s possible it’s more readily available in the UK), but yes the leaves, scrunched up into a powder work great too.
Thanks for the feedback 🙂
Hi nicky, I’m going to do this chicken madras for my guests, but one guest is a vegetarian, but will eat an egg curry! Would this madras sauce be suitable for the egg curry. Looking foreward to doing this dish.
I have done your slow cooker curry and that was authentic, but instead of using a tin of chopped tomatoes could I replace with pasta, as I like a smoother sauce. Thanks for your website, I have so many of your recipes to do.
Keep up the good work you do. Keep well.
Laurence.
Hi Laurence, yes you can replace with passata – that will be fine 🙂
I would do this as an egg curry too, sounds rather tasty actually!
I’ve made this recipe a number of times now without realising it was from your site. I just dug out my dog-eared and somewhat splattered recipe sheet so I could make it again tonight and spotted your name at the bottom of. So I can say without hesitation that it is a fabulous recipe and works a treat.
I usually use my own pilau rice recipe (which is made with spinach and grated carrots), but tonight I shall be using your rice recipe left over from when I made your chicken jalfrezi a couple of weeks ago.
Cheers!
What a wonderful curry, made with Chicken Tikka which made the dish excellent.
Thanks again Nicky
Hi Nicky
We’re all into curry! I have tried your tikka masala and chicken jalfrezi and they were both a hit w/ my 2 girls! This is next on my menu. I noticed you don’t have chicken korma. Can I please request if you can make this one next time. Thank you in advance!
Absolutely delicious & so easy to make. Step by step guide was great, will be making again soon
My Daughter sent me a link to you web site for Sweet & Sour Chicken (which I have yet to do?) whilst looking at that recipe I noticed the Chicken Tikka Masala recipe and decided to try that, it was beautiful although it does take a little time to prepare and cook it is well worth the effort, many thanks for your work on the site it is well set out and the photo’s are great, will definitely try some more of your recipes and I have signed up for your updates, once again many thanks for your time Kind regards Steve B
Thanks Stephen – so happy you liked the spag bol 🙂
My 15 year old son did this recipe and it came out beautifully! Once a week they are going to pick a recipe off your website and get cooking. Their future partners can thank me and you later.
Love your website.
Love your ethos.
Well done guys !
This curry is ace!
We love this curry. That hot sauce is just perfect with a cool beer. Easy to make in less than an hour, it is now a regular dish in our house. I put in 5tbsp of Madras curry powder for a bit more heat. I prefer it with coconut milk unlike a previous commenter. Thanks Nicky, you have reduced our takeaway bill.
I grew up in England, my American husband and I have been missing the Indian food that you can so easily find there. We live in a small town with no local options. With all that said, this recipe was awesome, I had to make a couple of substitutions with the aid of google, but it still tasted amazing. Thank you!!