• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Sprinkles and Sprouts

Great food with grocery store ingredients

  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact Me
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • By Category
  • Chicken
  • Pasta
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • By Category
    • Chicken
    • Pasta
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
  • ร—
    Home > Meal Type > Main Dishes

    Chicken Salli

    Updated: Sep 13th 2022 โ€ข Published: Jul 13th 2022 โ€ข 10 Comments

    Jump to Recipe SaveSaved! Pin Recipe
    Pinterest Image - Bowl of Chicken Salli with text overlay
    Pinterest Image - Bowl of Chicken Salli with text overlay
    Pinterest Image - Bowl of Chicken Salli with text overlay
    Pinterest Image - Bowl of Chicken Salli with text overlay
    Pinterest Image - Bowl of Chicken Salli with text overlay

    This Chicken Salli is a beautiful and different curry. It is cooked with dried apricots and spices, then garnished with deep-fried potato straws, called Salli.

    It is a Parsi chicken curry that is often served on special occasions. But it is so easy to make at home that you can serve it as a midweek meal.

    The dried apricots give this curry a wonderful natural sweetness, while the marinade on the chicken adds a tartness. A truly delicious curry can be on the table in under an hour.

    a bowl of curry and a bowl of rice with a plate of roti

    Jump Menu

    • What is Chicken Salli?
    • Ingredient Tips
    • Marinating the chicken
    • Making Salli (Potato Straws)
    • What to serve with Chicken Salli
    • Chicken Salli

    What is Chicken Salli?

    Chicken Salli is also known as Murgh Salli or Jardaloo Salli Marghi. 

    Salli is the potato stick.
    Marghi means chicken.
    Jordaloo means apricot.

    Chicken Salli is a delicious Parsi curry with some sweetness from the apricots and some bite from the vinegar used to marinate the chicken. 

    It is a delicious, well-balanced curry, perfect served with rice, roti, and kachumber. 

    Ingredient Tips

    • Chicken: Use chicken thighs to ensure you get juicy, tender meat.
    • Ground Spices: Turmeric, ground cumin, ground coriander, sweet paprika, ground fennel, garam masala, and nutmeg. These can all be easily found in grocery stores.
    • Whole spices: The cinnamon stick and cardamom pods are left whole, but you can use ground spices instead. See the recipe notes for how to substitute ground spices.
    • Vinegar: You can use apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, or red wine vinegar.
    • Ghee: You can find this in larger grocery stores, but you can easily substitute it with a neutral-flavored oil like canola.
    • Onions: Standard brown onions are great here.
    • Green chili: To add flavor without too much heat, stab it a few times with a knife and then leave it whole. If you want more spice, you can chop it up or leave it out altogether.
    • Dried Apricots: These can be left out but add an exquisite taste to the curry.
    • Brown Sugar: This gives the curry a hint of caramel. You can substitute it with white sugar.
    potato fries on a bowl of curry with cilantro

    How to make Chicken Salli

    First, the chicken is marinated in a mixture of spices, salt, and vinegar. This is set aside while the curry base is made. You can leave the marinade on for several hours. 

    While the chicken is in the marinade, the curry base comes together. 

    Whole spices, onion, garlic, and ginger are cooked in ghee or oil. Then a can of pureed tomatoes is added along with some apricots, sugar, and chili. We leave it whole but stab it with a knife, so it releases some of its flavor and heat but doesn't make the curry too spicy. Feel free to chop it up and add it if you want a spicier curry.

    Once this has been simmered, the chicken and marinade are added, and everything is cooked together for 20-25 minutes. 

    The final curry is topped with deep-fried potato sticks and garnished with fresh cilantro.

    Marinating the chicken

    The spices you need for the chicken can all be found in the grocery store. 

    • turmeric
    • ground cumin
    • ground coriander
    • paprika
    • ground fennel
    • salt

    These get mixed with some vinegar and used to marinate the chicken.

    overhead pof a blue bowl of Chicken Salli with potato straws

    Making Salli (Potato Straws)

    You can buy fried matchstick potatoes in the grocery store or make your own. The grocery store ones are super crispy. So if you want a real crisp crunch, grab a bag of those.ย 

    For homemade ones, first, you want to peel the potatoes and cut them into thin matchsticks.ย 
    Next, soak the potatoes in salted water while you make the curry. Then drain well and pat dry.ย 
    Fry them in neutral oil until crispy. Drain on kitchen paper and top the curry just before serving.

    close up on the potato straws on top of a curry

    What to serve with Chicken Salli

    Although this chicken curry has crispy potato straws on top, I think you still need some extra sides. 
    We like to serve it with rice, either simple basmati rice or an Indian Pilau. 
    And then a side of naan or roti is perfect as well. The curry's sweetness balances perfectly with a spicy bread like this Bullet naan. But sweet Peshwari naan is fantastic with it, as is a simple Garlic naan.

    close up on the chunks of chicken in the curry

    If you make this Chicken Salli, don't forget to come back and comment. You can also tag me on social media.

    Any questions about the recipe? Use the comments section below.

    Enjoy x

    chicken salli in a blue bowl with potato, onion and cilantro on top
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    4.93 from 14 votes

    Chicken Salli

    This Chicken Salli is a beautiful and different curry. It is cooked with dried apricots and spices, then garnished with deep-fried potato straws, called Salli. This Parsi chicken curry, also called Sali Murghi, is so easy to make at home that you can serve it as a midweek meal. The dried apricots give this curry a wonderful natural sweetness, while the marinade on the chicken adds a tartness. A delicious curry can be on the table in under an hour.
    Prep Time15 mins
    Cook Time45 mins
    Total Time45 mins
    Course: Main
    Cuisine: Indian
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 531kcal
    Author: Claire | Sprinkle and Sprouts
    For more great recipes follow me on PinterestFollow @sprinklessprout
    Need Metric Measurements?Use the options below to toggle between cups and grams (if relevant)
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    US Customary - Grams

    For the chicken

    • 1 lb chicken thighs - boneless skinless
    • 1 teaspoon turmeric
    • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
    • 1 tablespoon ground coriander
    • 1 tablespoon sweet paprika
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ยฝ teaspoon ground fennel
    • 2 teaspoon vinegar - see note 1

    For the curry

    • 1 tablespoon ghee/canola oil
    • 1 cinnamon stick - see note 2
    • 4 green cardamom pods - see note 3
    • 2 bay leaves
    • 2 onions - chopped into large chunks
    • 3 cloves garlic - minced
    • 1 tablespoon grated ginger
    • 1 cup pureed tomatoes
    • ยผ cup chicken broth
    • 1 green chili - see note 4
    • ยฝ cup dried apricots
    • 2 teaspoons brown sugar - see note 5
    • 1 ยฝ teaspoon garam masala
    • pinch nutmeg
    • salt

    For the potato straws

    • 1 large potato
    • ยฝ cup oil

    To garnish

    • red onion
    • cilantro

    Instructions

    Prep work

    • Chop the chicken thighs into bite-sized chunks.
      1 pound/450g boneless, skinless chicken thighs

    • Mix the turmeric, ground cumin, ground coriander, sweet paprika, salt, ground fennel, and vinegar in a large non-metallic bowl.
      1 teaspoon turmeric
      1 tablespoon ground cumin
      1 tablespoon ground coriander
      1 tablespoon sweet paprika
      1 teaspoon salt
      ยฝ teaspoon ground fennel
      2 teaspoons vinegar

    • Add the chopped chicken to the marinade and set aside while you make the curry base or for up to 4 hours.
    • Peel the potato and then slice them into thin matchsticks.
      1 large potato

    • Soak the sliced potatoes in salted water while everything else cooks.

    For the curry base

    • Add the ghee/oil to a heavy pan.
      2 tablespoons ghee/canola oil

    • Add the cinnamon stick, cardamom pods, and bay leaves. Cook for 2 minutes.
      1 cinnamon stick
      4 cardamom pods
      2 bay leaves

    • Add the onion and cook for 10 minutes over medium-high heat until soft and colored on the edges.
      2 peeled and chopped onions

    • Add in the minced garlic and ginger. Stir for a minute, then pour in the tomatoes, broth, and green chili. (see note 4)
      3 minced cloves of garlic
      1 tablespoon grated ginger
      1 cup pureed tomatoes
      ยผ cup chicken broth
      1 green chili

    • Bring to a simmer and cook for 6-8 minutes.
    • Add the dried apricots, brown sugar, garam masala, and nutmeg. Stir to combine.
      ยฝ cup dried apricots
      2 teaspoons brown sugar
      1ยฝ teaspoons Garam Masala
      pinch of nutmeg

    • Add the marinated chicken and scrape in any marinade or juice from the bowl.
    • Cook over medium-low heat for 20-15 minutes until thick.
    • Taste the curry and add salt if needed.

    To prepare the Salli (potato straws)

    • Drain the potatoes and pat dry with a kitchen towel.
    • Place a large skillet over medium heat. Add the oil.
      ยฝ cup oil

    • Fry the potatoes until golden brown. Use a slotted spoon to remove them from the oil and drain them on kitchen paper.
    • Season with a bit of salt. (as you would fries)
    • Serve the curry topped with potato straws, thinly sliced red onion, and plenty of fresh cilantro.

    Notes

    1. You can use apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, or red wine vinegar.
    2. If you want to substitute the cinnamon stick with ground cinnamon, use ยฝ a teaspoon and add it when you add the sugar to the curry.
    3. If you want to substitute the cardamon pods with ground cardamon, use ยฝ a teaspoon and add it when you add the sugar to the curry.
    4. To add flavor without too much heat, stab the chili a few times with a knife and then leave it whole. If you want more spice, you can chop it up or leave it out altogether. (You can substitute with red chili)
    5. You can substitute brown sugar with white sugar.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 531kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 38g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 21g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 118mg | Sodium: 871mg | Potassium: 814mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 1601IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 102mg | Iron: 4mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @sprinklesandsprouts or tag #sprinklesandsprouts

    More Main Dishes

    • a hand holding a turkey sandwich with gravy
      French Dip Hot Turkey Sandwich
    • sliced rolled turkey breast on an cream oval plate
      Rolled Stuffed Turkey Breast
    • close upon sliced turkey on a slice of bread with gravy
      Open Faced Turkey Sandwich
    • close up on the crispy bacon on top of a pumpkin risotto
      Pumpkin Bacon Risotto

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ann says

      August 07, 2022 at 10:17 pm

      5 stars
      I have never heard of this before, but it sounds delicious! Excited to give it a try! Thanks for the share!

      Reply
    2. Amy Liu Dong says

      August 06, 2022 at 12:57 am

      5 stars
      It looks like a good and tasty dish. I will try to make this at home.

      Reply
    3. Savita says

      August 05, 2022 at 8:48 pm

      5 stars
      I love how it balanced two different flavors, also the recipe seems so easy to follow. Loved it.

      Reply
    4. Danielle says

      August 05, 2022 at 3:13 am

      5 stars
      This is something new I can try tonight for dinner with my partner! Thank you! Very intrigued about the natural sweetness of the apricots.

      Reply
      • Claire McEwen says

        August 05, 2022 at 1:35 pm

        It is a delicious and different dish for sure. Hope you enjoy it ๐Ÿ™‚
        Cx

        Reply
    5. Luke says

      August 04, 2022 at 10:10 pm

      5 stars
      An excellent curry recipe; the apricots give it the perfect amount of sweetness ๐Ÿ™‚
      We love this for a Friday night fakeaway ๐Ÿ˜‰

      Reply
    6. Gen says

      July 19, 2022 at 12:15 am

      5 stars
      I love a good sweet & savory combo - the apricots and sugar really liven this dish up! Thanks for a great recipe.

      Reply
    7. Shelby says

      July 18, 2022 at 8:45 pm

      5 stars
      Dried apricots are one of my kids favorites so I actually one them over on this dish with just that! Loved the classic curry flavor but the light, fruit undertone!

      Reply
    8. Jennifer says

      July 18, 2022 at 8:05 pm

      5 stars
      I was craving something different so we gave this recipe a try. Wow! Terrific! The dried apricots gave it such a subtle sweetness that was much appreciated after eating so many 1-note curries. We'll be back for more!

      Reply
    9. Allyssa says

      July 18, 2022 at 8:01 pm

      5 stars
      This tasted so amazing! Thanks a lot for sharing this super easy to make chicken salli recipe! Fam really loves it! Will surely have this again! Highly recommended!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    a lady stood in a white kitchen chopping a tomato

    I'm Claire and I love food!
    I dream about food and I am happiest when I am in the kitchen cooking. Whether that is dinner for my family, snacks for drinks with my girlfriends or testing new recipes for my site, the kitchen is my happy place. Sprinkles and Sprouts is where I share it all and I am so happy you are here.

    Read More โ†’

    As featured in

    Popular

    • close up on a ladle of gravy pouring into a white gravy boat
    • square picture of a cast iron skillet of pasta
    • close up on the coriander and charred top of a sweet naan bread
    • Garlic bacon spaghetti in a large shallow grey bowl
    • Close up on roasted lemon potatoes in a white bowl

    Footer

    โ†‘ back to top

    About

    • About Sprinkles
    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    All content, recipes and photographs are copyrighted to Claire McEwen and are the property of Sprinkles and Sprouts.
    THEY MAY NOT BE REPUBLISHED IN PART OR WHOLE WITHOUT PERMISSION AND PROPER CREDIT.
    Contact me to see republishing and syndication rights.

    Copyright ยฉ 2020 Sprinkles and Sprouts

    Copyright © 2023 ยท Cravings Pro Theme on Genesis Framework ยท WordPress ยท Log in