Chicken yakhni is the right meal to treat a cough or cold. Preparing for the winter months, this beginner’s recipe and chicken yakhni benefits will provide you with all the warmth you need to combat the cold.
This chicken yakhni recipe is simple to make and requires only a few ingredients. This chicken broth dish is delicious and has the extra benefit of boosting the immune system while also giving out a variety of minerals and nutrients.
This chicken yakhni is ideal for anyone sick with the flu. Everyone enjoys this warm, hearty and comforting meal. This recipe is easy to follow, even for inexperienced cooks.
Chicken Yakhni, a word that immediately conjures up a variety of flavors, comes from the Indian subcontinent and has a fascinating historical background.
Gotten from the Persian term ‘yakhn,’ which means ‘broth,’ it refers to its Mughal origin, which is deeply rooted in the luxurious kitchens of the Mughal Empire.
This recipe is a culinary marvel, combining flavor and scent beautifully, yet it is surprisingly simple to prepare. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced cook, with a little devotion and time, you can bring it to life.
Each layer of spices added highlights the dish’s labor of love, filling your kitchen with rich textures and welcoming fragrances that contribute to the enjoyment of the entire cooking process.
The core of chicken yakhni is its precisely seasoned broth, in which each item offers a unique layer of flavor, bringing depth and complexity to the meal.
When prepared properly, chicken yakhni offers a symphony of flavors with every spoonful, creating a seductive blend of sweet, salty, and spicy overtones.
The careful balance of ingredients in chicken yakhni is one of its most appealing features. Every ingredient in this recipe, from the soft chicken morsels to the earthy spices, contributes significantly to the rich, aromatic broth that distinguishes the dish.
Now, before going into chicken yakhni ingredients and how to make it, let’s take a look at the benefits to the human body.
Chicken Yakhni Benefits
Chicken yakhni has many benefits that it gives to the human body. This section explains the hidden benefits of Chicken Yakhni
Chicken yakhni is famous for its tasty and calming characteristics. However, are you aware that it has some health benefits?
Let’s look into the chicken yakhni benefits of using the ingredients needed to prepare the recipe.
Let’s begin with olive oil, which is known for its heart-healthy benefits. It contains a high concentration of Omega-6 fats, which have been linked to lower levels of bad cholesterol.
Nevertheless, if olive oil isn’t your preference or isn’t available, ghee or vegetable oil can be suitable alternatives, each having its health benefits.
Following that, the trio of ginger, garlic and onions has a purpose beyond simply improving flavor.
Garlic and ginger are known for their anti-inflammatory properties, whereas onions are rich in antioxidants. All three components combine to create a broth that boosts immunity and overall well-being.
The star of the show, chicken, is a fantastic source of lean protein, which promotes muscle building and aids with weight management.
Using bone-in chunks or a whole bird increases the nutritional content of the broth, as bones contain useful components such as collagen and marrow.
Finally, the spice blend of black cardamom, cinnamon, garam masala and cumin not only adds flavor but also provides health advantages.
These spices are well-known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which help to improve general health.
What Does Chicken Yakhni Recipe Provide?
There’s a reason why chicken yakhni is such a popular comfort food: it can warm more than just our tummies.
Let’s look into how this simple dish may provide so much more.
Preferably, olive oil should be used in every bowl of chicken yakhni. It adds a mild flavor and a healthful dimension to the dish.
When you run out of olive oil, you can easily substitute ghee or vegetable oil, all of which are equally capable of producing a delicious cooking experience.
The aromatic trinity of ginger, garlic, and onions adds not only to the flavor palate but also to the mood-enhancing properties of this dish.
Something is amazing about the combination of these three ingredients when used to prepare the Chicken Yakhni.
The recipe becomes more delicious when chicken is included, especially in bone-in portions or full chicken. A thick, warming soup gives off an innate feeling of coziness, akin to a warm hug in a bowl.
The carefully chosen spices (black cardamom, cinnamon, garam masala, and cumin) complete the dish. Each one adds to the variety of flavors while also providing the soothing warmth that chicken yakhni is known for.
Whether it’s a rainy day, a difficult situation, or simply a desire for some soothing food, a bowl of chicken yakhni never fails to bring relief and delight. It’s more than just a dish; it’s a source of comfort and satisfaction.
This popular Indian dish is marinated in a different combination of spices and yogurt before being perfectly grilled to perfection.
If you want to add some sweetness to your winter feast, try a bowl of rice kheer. This traditional Indian dish, similar to rice pudding, is made with a combination of milk, sugar and cardamom. Served cold, it provides a calming and creamy contrast to our hot main meals.
How to Make Chicken Yakhni
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1hour; 20minutes minutes
- Total Time: 1hour; 35minutes minutes
- Servings: 6 servings
- Calories: 393kcal
Ingredients
- 750 g Chicken
- 50 ml Olive Oil
- 1 Onion finely diced
- 1 tsp Peppercorns
- 7 Cloves
- 1- inch Cinnamon
- 2 Black Cardamom Pods
- 10 Garlic Cloves finely chopped
- 1- inch Ginger crushed
- 1 tsp. Salt
- 1 tsp. Black Pepper
- 1 tsp Garam Masala
- 1 tsp Dried Fenugreek methi
- 2 L Water
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat until heated, then add the peppercorns, cloves, black cardamoms, and cinnamon and sauté for 1-2 minutes until aromatic.
- Cook the finely diced onions for 4-5 minutes, until they are slightly softened.
- Add the crushed ginger and finely chopped garlic cloves, and simmer for 1-2 minutes.
- Add the chicken and simmer for 3-4 minutes until it changes color.
- Add the salt, black pepper, garam masala, and dried fenugreek leaves, then simmer for 5-6 minutes
- Bring the water to a boil before covering and cooking for an hour.
Yummy! Your chicken yakhni is ready!
Origin of Yakhni Pulao
Yakhni is a Persian term; hence, it is considered to have originated in Persia. It came to India through the Mughal kings.
Yakhni is more popular in Pakistan and northern India, particularly the Awadh and Kashmir regions.
Chicken Yakhni Pulao Recipe
Method
The process is separated into two sections. First, create yakhni, then use it to make yakhni pilaf/pulao.
First, wash and soak the rice in enough water. Now, let us prepare Yakhni for the pulao. Wash and drain the chicken in a colander. In a large pot, add the chicken and season with salt.
Adding salt to Chicken
Add sliced onions, garlic cloves, ginger, bay leaves, cinnamon stick, green cardamom, black cardamom, cloves, black peppercorn, star anise seed, fennel seeds, cumin seeds, and coriander seeds to the mixture. Add mace and nutmeg powders to it. Add 3.5 cups of water and mix thoroughly.
Bring the contents of this saucepan to a boil over medium high heat. After the water boils, reduce the heat to low-medium and let it cook for 20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked. After that, turn off the heat and let it settle for 2-3 minutes.
Now, use tongs to transfer the chicken pieces to a plate. Strain the water into a bowl; this is our yakhni, so set it aside and discard the rest of the solid masala.
Heat oil in another skillet or pot over medium heat, then add cumin seeds. Once they crackle, add the cut onions and sauté until golden brown. Remove half of them to a plate and set them away.
Fry Onions and Cumin Seeds
Now sauté the bay leaves, cinnamon stick, black peppercorn, green cardamom, black cardamom, and cloves. Sauté the ginger garlic mixture and fresh chiles (with a slit in the center) for a minute.
Adding Chicken Pieces
Now, add the chicken and yogurt. Sauté again. Now, add the red chili powder, coriander powder, black pepper powder, and salt, and stir thoroughly. Add the chopped coriander and soaked rice to the pan.
Adding Coriander
Now add the yakhni and thoroughly combine everything. Allow it to boil for 5 minutes. Finally, cover the pan with a lid and reduce the heat.
Allow it to cook for 15 minutes, or until all of the water has evaporated and the rice is thoroughly cooked.
