• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Rookie with a Cookie
  • About
  • All Recipes
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
  • ×
    • Two plates full of Nihari stew and garnished of ginger and cilantro
      Authentic Beef Nihari with Homemade Spices
    • Masala Lamb Chops on a white plate
      Masala Lamb Chops -Airfryer Lamb Chaap
    • Rice Pulao on a plate with a side on onions and tomatoes
      Lamb/Mutton Pulao (Fast and easy!)
    • Poached eggs over yogurt with sourdough in a plate with spicy sauce on top
      Turkish Eggs CILBIR-Egg & Yogurt Breakfast
    • hot and sour soup in a pot
      Hot n Sour Soup- Classic Chinese
    • eggplant bharta dish in a wok with tomato and lemon in the background
      Baingan Bharta (Smoky Eggplant Bharta)
    • Minced lamb and potatoes in a cute steel pot
      Aloo Keema (Spiced Meat and Potato Curry)
    • A rich deep brown colored chicken curry in a wok
      Tandoori Chicken Karahi
    • mediterrean bowl with lamb meatballs and veggies incouding red onion, cucumber, tomatoes, tzatziki, feta and pita chips. it's a beautifully arranged bowl
      Cava Grill Inspired Mediterranean Lamb Meatballs
    • Plate with chow mein noodles and cabbage
      Panda Express Chow Mein
    • Mixed Chana Chaat with Chickpeas, tomatoes, tamarind, onion and crispy papri in a bowl
      Mixed Chana Chaat-Street Style
    • Smooth creamy and Velvety Palak (spinach) chicken curry in a pot.
      Palak Chicken (Spinach Curry)
    Home » Recipes

    Reshmi Chicken Handi

    Published: Jun 16, 2021 · Modified: Dec 17, 2024 by Izzah Khan · 28 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    In one of my recent trips to Pakistan, I had the joy of having Reshmi Paneer Chicken at Tandoori Hut in Karachi. Tandoori Hut prepares a Reshmi Handi that is rich, creamy and buttery. I recreated those flavors in this recipe and I think they are bang on! If you have tried my Instagram viral Makhni Chicken, know that this recipe is the second best on the blog!

    Reshmi Chicken Paneer with Green Bell Pepper and white creamy sauce from Pakistan

    What is a Reshmi Chicken Karahi

    Reshmi Chicken Karahi is a flavorful and creamy variation of the traditional Chicken Karahi, a popular Pakistani curry cooked in a wok-like pan called a "karahi." The term "reshmi," means "silky" in Urdu and refers to the rich, smooth texture of the dish, which is achieved primarily through the use of yogurt, cream, and a subtle blend of aromatic spices. A big distinction is that Reshmi Chicken will not have tomatoes.

    Tips for Making Reshmi Chicken

    1. Use chicken thighs. The images in this post are slightly outdated. Where previously I used to cook with chicken breast, now I ONLY use chicken thighs. It's juicy and the most forgiving cut of chicken to cook curries with.
    2. Avoid adding any red chili. The color of this dish is creamy, therefore you MUST avoid adding any red chili or spice that darkens the dish. Instead of black pepper, we will opt for white pepper for heat.
    3. Whisk Yogurt. As a rule of thumb, when adding yogurt to any curries during the cooking process, always whisk it thoroughly with a fork to avoid curdling it in the hot pan. Another method that is widely used is to temper the yogurt with the hot curry by pouring in a couple teaspoons to bring the yogurt to room temperature.
    4. High heat is IMPORTANT. Frying the chicken on high heat (uncovered) will ensure that the chicken traps in the juices; you achieve this by not letting the chicken create any steam. So I would highly recommend adding at least ¼ cup oil. You can always discard some of the oil right before adding the beaten yogurt.
    5. Add dairy on Low Heat: Cream and especially cheese must be added on low heat. Because this recipe only calls for a ¼ cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, there is less chances of it curdling to begin with. But DO remember that once your cream and cheese have been added, your heat needs to remain low.
    Reshmi Chicken Paneer with Green Bell Pepper and white creamy sauce from Pakistan
    Reshmi Chicken Paneer with Green Bell Pepper and white creamy sauce from Pakistan

    Reshmi Paneer Chicken Handi

    Izzah Khan
    This Reshmi Chicken is inspired by Karachi's Tandoori Hut that is known for their mouth watering Handi dishes. This Reshmi Chicken is creamy, buttery, cheesy with the perfect balance of South Asian spices.
    5 from 11 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Curry, Main Dish
    Cuisine Pakistani
    Servings 4

    Ingredients
      

    • ⅓ cup canola or any neutral cooking oil
    • 2 tsp ginger and garlic paste
    • 1 lb chicken breast cubes medium sized cubes
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ cup yogurt lightly beaten to prevent curdling
    • ¾ teaspoon cumin powder
    • 1 teaspoon coriander coarse ground
    • ½ teaspoon red chili powder use ¼ teaspoon if you don't like any heat
    • ½ teaspoon white pepper
    • ⅓ teaspoon nutmeg powder
    • ½ green bell pepper strips
    • ¾ cup heavy cream
    • ¼ cup shredded mozzarella
    • 1 tablespoon butter
    • pinch black pepper for garnish

    Instructions
     

    • On medium high heat, fry chicken in oil and add ginger garlic paste and salt for 3 minutes.
    • Turn the heat to low and add beaten yogurt. Then turn up the flame to medium high and cook for 2 minutes.
    • Add spices and continue to fry the chicken (uncovered) on medium high heat for 6-7 minutes or until the oil separates.
    • Once oil has separated, lower the flame and add green bell peppers followed by heavy cream. Let the cream bubble a bit and then add mozzarella cheese keeping the flame low.
    • Adjust the salt and let the chicken simmer uncovered for a few minutes.
    • Garnish with a little sprinkling of black pepper and red chili flakes and enjoy hot with fresh naan or pita bread.

    More Recipes

    • Dutch baby pancakes with mushroom and arugula topping
      Savory Dutch Baby Pancakes with Chicken and Wild Mushrooms
    • A plate of Paya Stew-mutton trotters in a rich broth
      Authentic Mutton Paya, Goat Trotters
    • plate with two kebab skewers
      Reshmi Chicken Seekh Kebab
    • Golden brown Chickpea flour on a cutting board
      Vegan Chickpea Pancake | Besan Chila

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

      Recipe Rating




    1. Ifrah

      December 27, 2024 at 8:11 am

      5 stars
      Served this over dinner last night and my god! The guests couldn’t stop raving about it - the leftovers were also packed and taken much to my husbands dismay who wanted to have them today! Needless to say I will be making this again very soon!

      Reply
      • Rookie With A Cookie

        December 27, 2024 at 7:35 pm

        Make me the happiest reading this! Thank you for the review Ifrah!

        Reply
    2. Eamon

      December 20, 2024 at 7:44 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe competes with the chicken Makni recipe. It is so easy, so flavorful, and everyone devours it.

      Reply
      • Rookie With A Cookie

        December 20, 2024 at 8:03 pm

        My top two consistently remain Makhni and Reshmi Chicken. Thanks Eamon. Appreciate you and the review 🙂

        Reply
    3. Z

      December 15, 2024 at 8:44 am

      5 stars
      Great recipe

      Reply
    4. Saman

      December 15, 2024 at 8:30 am

      5 stars
      I've made this recipe soo many times in small and big quantities, shared it with so many of my friends and family who love it.

      Reply
      • Rookie With A Cookie

        December 16, 2024 at 5:29 am

        So happy to hear this Saman!

        Reply
    5. Meghna

      August 06, 2024 at 7:05 am

      This recipe is so delicious. It’s lightly spiced and still rich in flavour. Izza’s recipes are unique and incredibly simple with minimal ingredients. I love that this recipe skips using onions/tomatoes, making it quick and easy to prepare. Highly recommend trying this one.

      Reply
      • Rookie With A Cookie

        August 07, 2024 at 4:58 pm

        Thank you for sharing Meghna! So happy you tried it.

        Reply
    6. Nafisa Aly

      April 26, 2024 at 10:01 pm

      Absolutely delish! My 5 year old couldn't stop eating and he's an extreme picky eater!

      Reply
      • Rookie With A Cookie

        April 26, 2024 at 10:22 pm

        Thank you for leaving this review, Nafisa. I'm so happy that kids and adults are both enjoying my Reshmi Handi!

        Reply
    7. Nita

      September 07, 2023 at 12:12 pm

      Too much ad on your website, can’t even see the recipe. Sex ad too!!

      Reply
    8. Sahar

      April 10, 2022 at 9:14 am

      5 stars
      If I increase the quantity to 1kg, how much cheese do I add? As too much mozerella might make it bitter

      Reply
      • Rookie With A Cookie

        April 21, 2022 at 9:20 pm

        Mozzarella shouldn't make it bitter but ensure you are adding cheese on very low heat. For 1 kg, you can double the recipe.

        Reply
    9. Madiha

      February 08, 2022 at 9:17 pm

      5 stars
      I haven't tried the original dish but I can imagine this recipe gives it stiff competition! Izzah ain't no rookie in the kitchen, that's for sure! Best part is how quick it is to make- and it's gone even faster!

      Reply
      • Rookie With A Cookie

        February 09, 2022 at 2:05 am

        Thank you leaving a review! I'm so glad it turned out for you just the way I hoped it would while creating this recipe.

        Reply
    10. Henna

      February 03, 2022 at 10:17 pm

      5 stars
      This is so sooo delicious! It’s delicately spiced and so creamy! We’re enjoying this tonight with some parathas ❤️

      Reply
      • Rookie With A Cookie

        February 09, 2022 at 2:06 am

        Thank you for leaving a review Henna! Getting an upvote from a great chef like yourself makes me immensely happy.

        Reply
    11. Areeba Nehal

      November 19, 2021 at 1:32 am

      Loveee it!!!!!! thank you izza once again for savinggg the kitchen❤️👏🏻👏🏻

      Reply
    12. Chermaine

      October 23, 2021 at 9:48 pm

      How many of the cheese wedges do I need? The brand ‘La vache qui rit’ is easy to get here in The Netherlands :€

      Reply
    13. Tanees

      October 23, 2021 at 9:48 pm

      5 stars
      Such an easy and cofmy handi to make! Really enjoyed it. Used the left overs to make paratha roll - was a treat!! Thanks for sharing 😃

      Reply
    14. Nikita

      September 04, 2021 at 7:35 pm

      5 stars
      Just made this today and it tastes AMAZING! Thanks for such a quick and delicious recipe!

      Reply
      • Rookie With A Cookie

        September 06, 2021 at 8:04 pm

        thank you for sharing your feedback Nikita!

        Reply
    15. Chithira

      June 30, 2021 at 8:25 pm

      5 stars
      The best and super easy Reshmi chicken recipe I have tried so far😍. I will blindly trust your recipe for an event 😊

      Reply
    16. Ash Sandha

      June 18, 2021 at 12:27 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely gobsmacking and heartwarming. It comes together so quickly and goes away equally soon. There will never be any leftovers and I promise you, you’ll make this again and again. Thank you for the recipe, Izza.

      Reply
      • Rookie With A Cookie

        June 18, 2021 at 7:03 pm

        Thank you so much for reviewing my recipe. So happy you loved it!

        Reply
    17. Jill Dsilva

      June 16, 2021 at 7:41 am

      Absolutely delicious and so so easy ..this recipe is a keeper.

      Reply
      • Rookie With A Cookie

        June 18, 2021 at 6:50 am

        Ahh thank you so much for the review!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Izza!

    I’m a Program Manager in Big Tech and the creator of this blog. My recipes are tried and true dishes inspired by my Pakistani roots and frequent travels. I live in Los Angeles with my husband and occasionally do private dinners.

    Learn more...

    Top Recipes

    • Pakistani Seekh Kebab + Yogurt Raita
    • Delicious Makhni chicken that is buttery rich and creamy
      Makhni Chicken -Butter Chicken with 1M+ views
    • Tacos with birria meat slow cooked and shaped into a quesadilla
      Viral Birria Tacos-Easy Mexican Recipe
    • Crispy deep fried Chicken Zinger Burger inspired by KFC
      The Best Fried Chicken Burger (KFC-Inspired)

    Recent

    • Three chicken Za'atar skewers on rice
      Za'atar Chicken and Rice
    • Shakshuka breakfast skillet with fried eggs
      Shakshuka Skillet (Poached Eggs in Tomato Sauce)
    • Bowl of saag
      Sarson ka Saag
    • herby lemon chicken orzo skillet
      Mediterranean Lemon Chicken Orzo

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility

    Newsletter

    • Subscribe for emails and updates

    Contact

    • About
    • Work With Us

    Copyright © 2024 Rookie With A Cookie