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aerial view of fried chiken plate and chutni in the center

Crispy Spicy Fried Chicken | Desi Style Recipe

This Desi Fried Chicken is crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and packed with bold South Asian flavors. The chicken is first cleaned in a vinegar brine, then marinated with aromatic spices, gram flour, yogurt, and sesame seeds before being fried until golden and served with a sweet and tangy tamarind chutney.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes
Course main course
Cuisine Indian, South Asian
Servings 4
Calories 375 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

For Cleaning the Chicken

  • 2 lb chicken drumsticks
  • 2 tbsp vinegar
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • Water enough to cover the chicken

Tamarind Chutney

  • ⅔ cup tamarind pulp
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp red chili powder
  • ½ tsp brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp water
  • 1 tbsp chopped parsley

Chicken Marinade

  • 1 tsp ground coriander dry roasted
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • ½ tsp red chili powder
  • 1 tsp crushed carom seeds ajwain
  • ¼ tsp chili flakes
  • 1 tsp ground cumin dry roasted
  • 2 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
  • 1 tbsp green chili paste

Coating

  • 3 tbsp gram flour besan
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • ⅓ cup plain yogurt
  • 1 tbsp sesame seeds
  • 1 tsp sesame seeds to sprinkle

For Frying

  • Oil as needed for deep frying

Instructions
 

Soaking the Chicken

  • Cut shallow slits into the chicken drumsticks so the marinade can penetrate deeply.
  • In a large bowl, combine water, vinegar, and salt. Add the chicken and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Preparing Tamarind Chutney

  • Meanwhile, prepare the tamarind chutney by mixing tamarind pulp, salt, red chili powder, brown sugar, water, and chopped parsley. Set aside.

Marinating the Chicken

  • Drain the chicken thoroughly and pat dry.
  • In a bowl, combine ground coriander, paprika, black pepper, red chili powder, crushed carom seeds, chili flakes, ground cumin, ginger-garlic paste, and green chili paste.
  • Coat the chicken evenly with the spice mixture and refrigerate for another 30 minutes.

Adding Gram Flour & Cornstarch

  • Add gram flour, cornstarch, yogurt, and sesame seeds to the marinated chicken. Mix until every piece is well coated.
  • Sprinkle additional sesame seeds over the coated chicken.

Frying the Chicken

  • Heat oil over medium-low heat.
  • Carefully place the chicken into the hot oil.
  • Fry on low heat for 5–6 minutes per side, or until the chicken is golden brown, crispy, and fully cooked.
  • Transfer the fried chicken to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
    • Meaningful Masala Tips:
    1- Make shallow cuts in the chicken to help the marinade penetrate deeper.
    2- Pat the chicken dry with paper towel before marinating for better spice adhesion.
    3- Frying over med - low heat helps the chicken cook thoroughly & evenly.
     

Notes

Meaningful Masala Serving Suggestion:
Serve immediately with the prepared tamarind chutney.

Nutrition

Calories: 375kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 30gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 142mgSodium: 2240mgPotassium: 603mgFiber: 3gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 621IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 97mgIron: 3mg
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