The 2nd-8th of October marks the 25th annual National Curry Week. To celebrate and honour the nation’s favourite cuisine, Newcastle’s renowned Punjabi restaurant, Sachins, is here to share the ultimate beginner-friendly chicken curry recipe to tantalise taste buds and spice up your week. 

This curry recipe can easily be adapted to accommodate a pescetarian or vegetarian diet. Simply swap out the chicken for your favourite fish or meat substitute. 

What you need:

• 3-4 chicken breasts 
• 2 medium white onions (finely chopped)
• 3 ripe tomatoes or a tin of chopped tomatoes
• A handful of fresh, finely chopped coriander
• 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
• 150ml of water
• ¼ teaspoon of haldi
• ¼ teaspoon of chilli powder
• 1 tablespoon of garlic and ginger paste
• ¼ tablespoon of garam masala
• Pinch of mustard seeds
• Pinch of fenugreek seeds
• Pinch of coriander seeds (crushed)
• Pinch or fennel seeds
• Pinch of whole cumin seeds
• Salt to taste

Method:

1. Warm a heavy non-stick pan on medium heat
2. Add your crushed coriander seeds, cumin seeds, fennel seeds, mustard seeds and fenugreek seeds to the pan
3. When the seeds start to pop, add the tablespoon of vegetable oil and add your finely chopped onions
4. Cook until the onions start to go translucent
5. Add a tablespoon of garlic and ginger paste and keep stirring to avoid the paste sticking to the bottom of the pan
6. When the onions start going a golden colour add your tomatoes 
7. Keep cooking until you have a thick masala
8. Add salt to taste, a quarter teaspoon of haldi, a quarter teaspoon of chilli powder and also add the garam masala
9. Add approximately 150ml of water to the pan
10. Add the chicken breasts to the pan and cook (if you have a pan lid, now is a good time to put this on)
11. Once the chicken breasts are cooked through, add some finely chopped coriander and serve the curry with either rice or a roti

Situated on Forth Banks in the heart of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Sachins has been serving up authentic Punjabi cuisine for over 40 years. 

To dine in, book your table by calling 0191 232 4660 or visit sachins.co.uk for more information on this iconic North East restaurant.