If you love spicy and flavorful chicken recipes, this Andhra Style Pepper Chicken is definitely worth trying. Made with tender chicken, freshly crushed black pepper, curry leaves, onions and aromatic Indian spices, this chicken dish has a delicious spicy and slightly roasted flavour.
This Pepper Chicken Recipe is easy to prepare at home and doesn't require any complicated ingredients. It can be served with steamed rice, ghee rice, chapati, roti or even enjoyed as a spicy chicken starter.
Preparation Time
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Marination Time: 20 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Serves: 4 people
Ingredients
For Chicken Marination
- 500 grams chicken, preferably bone-in
- 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon red chilli powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper powder
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- Salt as required
For Pepper Chicken
- 3 tablespoons cooking oil
- 2 medium onions, finely sliced
- 3–4 green chillies, slit
- 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
- 2 sprigs curry leaves
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 small cinnamon stick
- 2 cloves
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1–1½ teaspoons freshly crushed black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garam masala
- Salt as required
- Fresh coriander leaves
How to Marinate Chicken
Clean the chicken pieces and drain the excess water.
Take the chicken into a mixing bowl. Add ginger-garlic paste, turmeric powder, red chilli powder, black pepper powder, lemon juice and salt.
Mix everything thoroughly so the spices coat the chicken evenly.
Cover and keep the chicken aside for around 20 minutes.
How to Make Pepper Chicken
Step 1: Prepare the Pepper
For the best flavour, use whole black pepper and crush it coarsely instead of using only ready-made pepper powder.
Keep the crushed pepper aside.
Step 2: Fry the Whole Spices
Heat oil in a thick-bottomed pan or kadai.
Add cumin seeds, cinnamon, cloves and bay leaf.
Allow them to release their aroma.
Add curry leaves and slit green chillies and fry for a few seconds.
Step 3: Cook the Onions
Add the sliced onions and a little salt.
Cook on medium flame until the onions become soft and turn light golden brown.
This step is important because well-cooked onions give the pepper chicken a richer flavour.
Step 4: Add Ginger-Garlic Paste
Add ginger-garlic paste and sauté until the raw smell disappears.
Keep the flame medium so the paste doesn't burn.
Step 5: Add the Chicken
Add the marinated chicken pieces to the pan.
Mix thoroughly with the onion masala.
Cook on medium-high flame for around 6–8 minutes while stirring occasionally.
The chicken will start releasing its natural juices.
Step 6: Add the Spices
Add coriander powder, turmeric powder and salt if required.
Mix well.
Cover the pan and cook on low-medium flame for around 15 minutes or until the chicken becomes tender.
You generally don't need to add much water because the chicken releases moisture while cooking. If necessary, add a small amount of water.
Step 7: Add Black Pepper
Once the chicken is completely cooked, add the freshly crushed black pepper.
Add garam masala and mix everything well.
Cook uncovered for another 5–8 minutes.
Allow the excess moisture to reduce until the masala coats the chicken pieces.
Step 8: Final Touch
Add freshly chopped coriander leaves and a few curry leaves.
Mix once and switch off the flame.
Your spicy Andhra Style Pepper Chicken is ready.
How to Serve Pepper Chicken
Pepper chicken tastes delicious with:
- Steamed rice
- Ghee rice
- Jeera rice
- Chapati
- Roti
- Paratha
- Dosa
- Andhra-style meals
You can also serve it as a spicy chicken side dish for a weekend lunch or dinner.
Tips for Making Tasty Pepper Chicken
- Use freshly crushed black pepper for a stronger aroma.
- Bone-in chicken gives the dish a richer flavour.
- Don't burn the curry leaves or whole spices.
- Cook the onions properly before adding the chicken.
- Add most of the black pepper towards the end to retain its aroma.
- Adjust the quantity of pepper according to your preferred spice level.
- Avoid adding too much water if you want a dry Andhra-style pepper chicken.
Why You Should Try This Recipe
This easy pepper chicken recipe is perfect when you want something spicy without spending a lot of time in the kitchen. The combination of black pepper, curry leaves, onions and tender chicken gives it a strong South Indian flavour.
If you enjoy Andhra chicken recipes, this pepper chicken is a great addition to your weekend lunch menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use boneless chicken?
Yes. Boneless chicken can be used for this recipe. Since boneless pieces cook faster, reduce the cooking time to prevent the chicken from becoming dry.
Can I make pepper chicken without red chilli powder?
Yes. You can reduce or completely skip red chilli powder and increase freshly crushed black pepper according to your taste.
Is pepper chicken very spicy?
It can be spicy because black pepper is the main flavouring ingredient. You can reduce the amount of pepper and green chillies for a milder version.
Can I make this recipe in a pressure cooker?
Yes. You can briefly cook the chicken in a pressure cooker, but avoid overcooking it. Finish the dish in an open pan so the excess moisture evaporates and the pepper masala coats the chicken.
Conclusion
Andhra Style Pepper Chicken is a simple, spicy and aromatic chicken recipe that can be prepared with everyday ingredients. Freshly crushed black pepper and curry leaves give this dish its distinctive South Indian flavour.
Try this easy homemade Pepper Chicken Recipe with hot rice, chapati or ghee rice for a delicious family meal.
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