This green chicken curry is a pour and cook recipe! Blend a handful of ingredients together in a food processor or blender, pour the sauce over chicken, and cook!
Green chicken masala is light and lemony and herby. It’s very different from the more common tomato-based Indian curries that you might be used to eating.
This dish is really easy to make. I’ve been working on coming up with more pour and cook recipes, and this one (like all the rest) requires very little effort and happens to be big on flavor.
What’s Green Chicken Curry/Hariyali Chicken?
This green chicken curry goes by a few names: hariyali chicken, green chicken masala, and green chutney chicken. There’s a chance I may have made up that last one (green chutney chicken). I’m not actually sure anyone calls it that except for me, lol.
Hariyali chicken is typically made two ways: as a dry preparation, which is how you’ll often find it served at Indian parties (hariyali chicken tikka), or as a curry where chicken is simmered in a verdant sauce (hariyali chicken masala) and served over rice or with roti. The recipe I’m sharing today is a curry.
Also, for those who’ve never heard the word hariyali, it just means “greenery.” And clearly, there’s quite a bit of greenery in this. The main ingredients: cilantro, mint, yogurt, lemon, spices, and cashews.
Cashews aren’t typically used in this dish, but I like the nuttiness and the touch of creaminess they add to the sauce. I’ve made this without nuts too, and it’s still good, a bit thinner, though. If you can’t have nuts, leave them out, or maybe try it with unsweetened shredded coconut? Or white poppy seeds, or sesame seeds? I’m just thinking (writing?) out loud… 🤔
Reader Review:
“Amazing! I’ve made different hariyali chicken recipes before and this one really stands out because of the use of amchur and lemon juice. It made the flavor profile so much more complex and rich.”
– Manal
LOOK AT HOW EASY IT IS TO MAKE THIS POUR AND COOK GREEN CHICKEN CURRY IN AN INSTANT POT:
Blend a few ingredients together.
Pour the green sauce over chicken and cook!
Open the lid and admire your perfectly cooked green chicken curry!
Give this green chicken curry a try and let me know what you think!
Instant Pot Green Chicken Curry (Hariyali Chicken)
Instant Pot Green Chicken Curry (Hariyali Chicken)
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds boneless and skinless chicken thighs
- 1 bunch cilantro including stems
- 1 small bunch mint leaves*
- ¼ cup raw cashews
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons yogurt
- 2- inch ginger
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 serrano pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon amchur powder dried green mango powder
- ½ teaspoon garam masala
- ½ teaspoon turmeric
Instructions
- Add the chicken to the instant pot.
- Blend the remaining ingredients in a food processor or blender then pour this over the chicken.
- Secure the lid, close the pressure valve and cook for 5 minutes at high pressure.
- Naturally release pressure or wait 10 minutes then release pressure.
- Using two forks, shred the chicken right into the curry.
Video
Notes
Emily says
Fantastic! It’s fresh and lively tasting, and easy to make! I also love that it doesn’t use tomatoes. I have made this several times now, and everyone I have served this to has loved it! My only challenge is that I get the burn message every time i make it, even though I used extra water. Next time I will double the water to see if that helps.
Ashley - My Heart Beets says
Emily, I’m so glad you like this! Sorry to hear about the burn sign – are you using a 6 quart? And are you using chicken thighs (the fat helps prevent burning)? Let me know, would love to troubleshoot!
Emily says
Thank you for your reply!
There are so many variables! I think the issue was two fold: the sauce was too thick, and I *think* my pot is having some trouble coming to pressure. I made the recipe again just two days ago and I added less cilantro so the color was more similar to yours, and I made sure to use raw nuts instead of roasted. And i added about 50% more water.
I also wonder if the chicken from my natural food store just doesn’t have as much water as other brands? I have used thighs each time, but two days ago I made it again with Trader Joe’s chicken thighs and there was a lot more water. I didn’t get a burn message, but it’s partly because I opened it up to preempt it, as it was still taking a long time to come to pressure. It still turned out great! The smell is amazing!
Jedi Dad says
Single dad here. Made this for my kids and they absolutely loved it. We had a few friends over last week, and the kids asked for this again – it went like a dream. Can’t wait to try some of the other recipes here; perhaps egg curry this weekend.
Ashley - My Heart Beets says
That’s so great to hear! I’m glad your kiddos loved this recipe 🙂 Can’t wait to hear what you think of the egg curry – let me know!
Miko says
Would this green masala freeze well? Given it would be raw ingredients, I wasn’t too sure.
Ashley - My Heart Beets says
Hi Miko, I make and freeze green chutney all the time and this is really similar so I’m sure it’d be fine to make ahead and freeze the green masala. I’ll have to try that myself sometime – it’s a good idea 🙂
Claire says
I made this for dinner tonight and it was incredible! Full disclosure though I did double the garam masala and turmeric and I added a few extra cashews. I also added large chunks of green capsicum for some extra veggies. This is definitely going to be a staple in our house – even my notoriously pick husband loved it! I think we may try making it next time with soya chunks instead of chicken for a vegetarian option.
Ashley - My Heart Beets says
Claire, I’m so glad you liked it! Thanks for letting me know how it turned out for you and your husband 🙂
Manal says
Amazing! I’ve made different hariyali chicken recipes before and this one really stands out because of the use of amchur and lemon juice. It made the flavor profile so much more complex and rich.
Ashley - My Heart Beets says
Hi Manal, that’s so great to hear! Thank you for letting me know how this turned out for you 🙂
Francoise says
Hi Ashley,
I tried your recipe today. I did not have some thighs so I used chicken legs. I did not have either the amchur powder and substituted anything for it. Otherwise, I followed your recipe (no burn message for me). It was light and delicious. Love your idea pour and cook recipes so easy to make.
Do you think that your recipe can be made with another type of meat, such as lamb?
Thank you!
Ashley - My Heart Beets says
Hi Francoise, I’m so glad you liked this recipe 🙂 I haven’t tried this with lamb but I think it’ll work! If you try, please let me know how it goes!
Francoise says
I will Ashley thank you! But I just want your advice, do you think it will be the same time in cooking because your recipes for lamb usually require more time for cooking? Thank you for your help!
Ashley - My Heart Beets says
Hi Francoise, I would try 6 minutes with a full natural release (I think 5 minutes with NPR would probably work too). I’m able to cook lamb in my lamb biryani in 6 minutes with NPR, so I think it’ll work here too 🙂
Sangu says
I have been making this for over a year and it is so easy and delicious! My daughter requests it all the time. Thank you Ashley for making our lives easier!
Ashley - My Heart Beets says
Sangu, that’s so great! Happy to hear that your daughter likes this curry so much 🙂
Noliver says
Do your Instapot recipes turn out equally well in both 3 quart and 6 quart pots? I have a 3 quart instapot but don’t want to try your recipes and waste ingredients if your recipes are not designed for a 3 quart size pot.
Ashley - My Heart Beets says
All of my recipes are tested using a 6 quart instant pot. I’ve heard that some people have successfully made my recipes in a 3 qt but I can’t say for sure. You can always ask in my facebook group – someone may be able to help!
Emma says
Your easy, healthy, and flavor-packed Indian instant pot recipes are delightful! This one tastes so fresh and verdant. I like to call it green chutney chicken too 🙂 It is on the menu again for next week. I am very glad I picked up your cookbook a few years ago! Thank you!
Ashley - My Heart Beets says
Thanks, Emma! It’s so nice to hear that 🙂 Thank you for letting me know how this recipe turned out for you!