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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Authentic Mangalorean Chicken Ghee Roast | Ghee Roast Chicken

    Last Updated On: Jul 16, 2024 by Preeti · 10 Comments


    Jump to Recipe

    This chicken ghee roast, also known as Kundapur ghee roast, is a popular, easy-to-make Mangalorean dish from a coastal city in Karnataka, India. Tender chicken marinated and cooked in a tangy, spicy ghee roast masala. Enjoy this restaurant-style spicy chicken with neer dosa or steamed rice. Learn to prepare this flavorful dish at home with simple step-by-step photos and a video tutorial.

    close-up of chicken ghee roast in a pan.
    Jump to:
    • About This Chicken Ghee Roast
    • Ingredients Notes
    • How to make Mangalorean Chicken Ghee Roast with Step by Step Photos
    • Tips to make the best chicken ghee roast
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Recipe Card

    What I love the most about this Mangalorean chicken ghee roast recipe is the aroma of ghee, the heat of red chilies, and the succulent flavor of tender chicken. They all combine to create a dish that’s not only flavorful but so delicious that you will love it.

    As a true Mangalorean, I adore all our spicy dishes like this Ghee Roast Chicken, Prawns Ghee Roast, Chicken Sukka, Prawn Sukka, Kori Gassi (Chicken Curry), Mackerel (Bangda) Fish Curry, and Rava Fish Fry.

    About This Chicken Ghee Roast

    This chicken ghee roast recipe is easy to make semi-dry spicy Mangalorean chicken curry. This dish is a blend of silky smooth ghee roast masala clinging to tender chicken, with a hint of spice.

    Don't worry about the spiciness of this ghee roast recipe. Roasting them in ghee reduces their heat and develops a rich flavor without overwhelming spiciness. Tamarind adds a tang and jaggery adds a sweetness that balances the spicy flavor. It's so mild, that even my kids (age 8) love to have it.

    The chicken marinated and cooked in a spice blend, becomes incredibly tender after a slow simmer in ghee. Each bite of this ghee roast chicken bursts with the warmth of fiery red chilies, the earthiness of coriander and cumin, and the richness of ghee. Traditionally this ghee roast chicken is served with neer dosa but you can also enjoy it with steamed rice, roti, or Malabar paratha.

    While many Mangalorean restaurants offer their twist on this dish, this chicken ghee roast recipe draws inspiration from Shetty Lunch Home in Kundapur, where the iconic Ghee Roast is said to have originated.

    You may also like some other popular Chicken recipes from this website

    1. Chicken 65
    2. Chili Chicken
    3. Chicken Pasanda
    4. Hyderabadi Chicken Masala
    5. Andhra Chicken Fry
    6. Hyderabadi Chicken Dum Biryani

    Ingredients Notes

    Homemade ghee roast masala is the star of the dish. While roasting and grinding your masala takes time, the resulting blend infuses dishes with a depth of flavor unmatched by store-bought options. This ghee roast masala can be added to other ghee roast recipes like prawn ghee roast or paneer ghee roast.

    • Chicken - This chicken ghee roast recipe is versatile. You can use either boneless or bone-in chicken. Bone-in chicken adds a touch more flavor. Alternatively, swap the chicken for prawns and create a delicious prawns ghee roast.
    • Ghee/clarified butter - Ghee provides richness, a wonderful aroma, and a saxsilky smooth texture to the dish. Slow-roasting the spices in ghee with curry leaves releases their aromatic essential oils, enhancing the flavor and aroma. Do not reduce the quantity of ghee - It's ghee roast chicken. Use fresh homemade ghee. If using store-bought ghee, ensure it is fresh (check the manufacturing date).
    • Byadgi Chilies - Dried byadagi red chilies give a vibrant red color and spiciness to this ghee roast chicken recipe. You can substitute it with Kashmiri red chilies.
    • Tamarind - This is a common ingredient used in Mangalorean cuisine. It gives a tangy taste to the masala. You can substitute it with lemon juice. But the taste will slightly differ.
    • Curry leaves - Gives a nice South Indian flavor to this Mangalorean ghee roast chicken. If you do not have it then skip it.
    individually labeled ingredients to make mangalorean chicken ghee roast recipe is laid out on a table.

    How to make Mangalorean Chicken Ghee Roast with Step by Step Photos

    Marinate the chicken

    • Combine chicken, yogurt, salt, and turmeric powder in a mixing bowl. Cover and marinate for 30 minutes. (images 1 & 2). For best results, marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours in the refrigerator. Do not skip this step. It will keep the chicken nice and moist, preventing it from drying when we roast it with ghee.
    collage of 4 images showing how to make mangalorean chicken ghee roast. It shows marinating the chicken and roasting ghee roast masala spices.

    Make the Ghee Roast Masala

    • Heat a pan over medium-low heat. Dry roast coriander seeds, fenugreek seeds, cumin, pepper, fennel, cloves, and cinnamon until aromatic. Remove and set this aside on a plate. (image 3)
    • In the same pan, dry roast red chilies until crisp. Remove and set this aside on a plate. (image 4). Let all the roasted ingredients cool down completely. (image 5)
    • Deseed the red chilies to reduce the spiciness. This step is optional. (image 6)
    • Add all the roasted ingredients to the mixer or grinder jar.
    • To this, add garlic cloves and tamarind. Now add ¼ cup of water and grind to a fine paste. You have to add less water to grind the masala. Otherwise, it won't be easy to roast the masala. (image 7)
    • Homemade ghee roast masala is ready. Set this aside. (image 8)
    Collage image of 4 steps showing how to make ghee roasted masala for making kundapur chicken ghee roast.

    Making the Mangalorean Chicken Ghee Roast

    • Heat 2 teaspoons of ghee in a heavy bottom pan over medium-high heat.
    • Add the marinated chicken and cook it until the color of the chicken turns from pink to white. (image 9 & 10)
    • Next, cook until the marinade thickens (2-3 minutes). The chicken will not be completely cooked at this stage. We will cook it again with ghee roast masala later. (image 11)
    • Remove it to a bowl. Keep it covered. (image 12)
    collage of 4 images showing how to make chicken ghee roast. It shows roasting the marinated chicken in ghee.
    • To the same pan, add 2 teaspoon ghee. Set the heat to medium-low.
    • Add curry leaves and ghee roast masala. (image 13)
    • Stir and cook the masala. After 3-4 minutes, the ghee roast masala will start sticking to the pan. This is the time to add another 2 teaspoon of ghee and continue to cook the masala. (image 14)
    • Taste the ghee roast masala and add salt. Be careful, we have already added salt while marinating the chicken. (image 15)
    • You have to cook the masala, stirring continuously. Keep adding ghee at regular intervals until the masala starts to release ghee from the sides. (It may take 15-20 minutes). (image 16)
    collage of 4 images showing how to make mangalorean ghee roast masala. It shows roasting the masala with ghee.
    • Next, add the chicken. Stir to coat the chicken with the ghee roast masala. (image 17)
    • Add 1 tablespoon ghee and combine. (image 18)
    • Cover and cook for 2 minutes or until the chicken is cooked. Stir it in between so the masala does not stick to the bottom of the pan.
    • Cook uncovered for 2 minutes.
    • Finally, add jaggery, lemon juice, and curry leaves. (image 19)
    • Cook it for a minute and remove it from the heat. Serve with neer dosa or rice and dal. (image 20)
    collage of 4 images showing addition of chicken to ghee roasted masala and roasting the chicken with masala.

    Tips to make the best chicken ghee roast

    1. For authentic Mangalore chicken ghee roast, the byadgi red chilies are soaked in hot water and then ground with the roasted spices. It makes the masala extra smooth in texture.
    2. While marinating the chicken for this ghee roast recipe is optional, but it's highly recommended. It ensures the chicken stays nice and moist during cooking.
    3. Dry roast all the ingredients on medium-low heat. Make sure to stir them frequently so that they get roasted evenly and to avoid the spices from burning.
    4. The slow roasting of spices and chicken in ghee/clarified butter enhances the flavor of the dish. Do not increase the heat to fasten the cooking process, it can burn the masala. Also, stir it continuously while cooking.
    5. Be careful when adding water while grinding the ghee roast masala. If you add more water than required then it will be difficult to roast the masala and the cooking time will increase. It will take more time to evaporate the water content from the masala.
    6. Use a heavy/thick bottom pan. It will prevent masala from sticking to the pan as this recipe requires a lot of roasting.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is ghee roast made of?

    Ghee roast chicken is made with chicken and a fragrant masala paste, both cooked in ghee. The masala is made by roasting and grinding coriander seeds, fenugreek seeds, cumin, pepper, fennel, cloves, cinnamon, fiery bayadagi red chilies, garlic, and tangy tamarind.

    Is chicken ghee roast spicy?

    This dish is moderately spicy. Roasting the masala in ghee mellows the heat of the bayadagi red chilies, while tamarind and jaggery add a touch of tang and sweetness. The result is a complex and flavorful curry that's not overpoweringly spicy. However, you can reduce the spiciness by reducing the number of dried red chilies in the recipe and deseeding them.

    Is it safe to cook with ghee?

    Yes, it is safe to cook with ghee. Ghee has a high smoke point, making it ideal for high-heat cooking methods like sautéing, frying, and roasting. Additionally, ghee has a longer shelf life compared to butter. Like any fat, ghee should be consumed in moderation. While it may be a healthier alternative to some oils for high-heat cooking, it's still high in calories.

    If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and rating below. We'd love to hear your feedback.

     And, consider following me on social media so we can stay connected. I’m on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube!

    Recipe Card

    close-up image of mangalorean chicken ghee roast. It shows succulent pieces of chicken coated with ghee roasted masala in a black color pan.

    Chicken Ghee Roast Recipe (Ghee Roast Chicken)

    This Mangalorean chicken ghee roast is also known as Kundapur chicken ghee roast or ghee roast chicken, is a semi-dry chicken curry from Mangalorean cuisine. It is made with succulent pieces of chicken, marinated and cooked in fiery red, tangy, and spicy ghee roast masala. Serve with Neer Dosa, Roti, or Steamed rice.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Indian, mangalorean
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6 people
    Calories: 450kcal
    Author: Preeti

    Equipment

    • 1 Heavy bottom pan
    • 1 Mixing bowl

    Ingredients

    To marinate the chicken

    • 500 g chicken with bones
    • ¼ cup yogurt/curd
    • salt to taste
    • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder

    For Ghee roast masala

    • 2 tablespoon coriander seeds
    • 15 nos fenugreek seeds (or a pinch)
    • 1 teaspoon cumin
    • 1 teaspoon pepper (reduce it to half if you prefer less spicy)
    • 1 teaspoon fennel
    • 4 cloves
    • 1- inch cinnamon
    • 10-12 bedgi red chilies substitute Kashmiri red chilies
    • 8 garlic cloves
    • a small ball of tamarind

    Other ingredients

    • ¼ cup + 1 tablespoon of ghee, divided (clarified butter)
    • 3 spring curry leaves
    • 1 teaspoon jaggery
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice Add as per taste

    Instructions

    Marinate the chicken

    • In a mixing bowl, combine chicken, yogurt, salt, and turmeric powder. Marinate for 30 minutes. For best results marinate the chicken for at least 2 hours in the refrigerator.

    Making Ghee Roast Masala

    • Heat a pan over medium-low heat. Dry roast coriander seeds, fenugreek seeds, cumin, pepper, fennel, cloves and cinnamon until aromatic. Remove and set this aside on a plate.
    • In the same pan dry roast red chilies until crisp. Remove and set this aside on a plate.
    • Let all the roasted ingredients cool down completely. Deseed the red chilies to reduce the spiciness. This step is optional.
    • Transfer all the roasted ingredients to the mixer or grinder jar. To this add garlic cloves and tamarind. Now add ¼ cup of water and grind to a fine paste. You have to add less water to grind the masala. Otherwise, it will be difficult to roast the masala. Homemade ghee roast masala is ready. Set this aside.

    Cooking the Chicken

    • Heat 2 teaspoon of ghee in a heavy bottom pan over medium high heat. Add the marinated chicken and cook it until the color of chicken turns from pink to white.
    • Next, cook until marinade thickens (2-3 minutes). The chicken will not be completely cooked at this stage. Remove it to a bowl. Keep it covered.

    Making Mangalorean Chicken Ghee Roast

    • To the same pan add 2 teaspoon ghee. Set the heat on medium-low. Add curry leaves and ghee roast masala.
    • Stir and cook the masala. After 3-4 minutes the masala will start sticking to the pan. This is the time to add 2 teaspoon ghee and continue to cook the masala.
    • Taste the masala and add salt. Be careful, we have already added salt while marinating the chicken.
    • You have to cook the masala stirring continuously. Keep adding ghee at regular intervals until the masala starts to release ghee from the sides. (It may take 15-20 minutes).
    • Next, add the chicken. Stir to coat the chicken with the masala. Add 1 tablespoon ghee and combine.
    • Cover and cook for 2 minutes or until the chicken is cooked. Stir it in between so the masala should not stick to the bottom of the pan.
    • Cook uncovered for 2 minutes.
    • Finally, add jaggery, lemon juice and curry leaves. Cook it for a minute and remove from heat.
    • Serve this ghee roast chicken with Neer dosa or steamed rice and dal.

    Video

    Notes

    • Dry roast all the ingredients on medium-low heat. Make sure to stir them frequently so that they get roasted evenly and to avoid the spices from burning.
    • For authentic Mangalore ghee roast recipes, the byadgi red chilies are soaked in hot water and then ground with the roasted spices. It makes the masala extra smooth in texture.
    • Use fresh homemade pure ghee for better aroma & flavor. Or if using store-bought ghee, make sure it is fresh (check the manufacturing date). Old ghee may give a bad smell & can spoil the dish.
    • The slow roasting of spices and chicken in ghee/clarified butter enhances the flavor of the dish. Do not increase the heat to fasten the cooking process, it can burn the masala. Also, stir it continuously while cooking.
    • Be careful when adding water while grinding the masala. If you add more water than required then it will be difficult to roast the masala. Also, the cooking time will increase. It will take more time to evaporate the water content from the masala.
    • Use a heavy/thick bottom pan. It will prevent masala from sticking to the pan as this recipe requires a lot of roasting.
    • Storage - Leftover ghee roast can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Stays good for 5 days. Reheat it until piping hot and serve. Store the leftovers within 2 hours of preparing the dish.
    • You can prepare the ghee roast masala in advance. Store it in an airtight container in the freezer. Stays good for 15 days.
    • Storage & Reheating
        • Store the leftover Mangalorean chicken ghee roast within 2 hours of preparing the dish. It can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Stays good for 5 days.
        • To reheat - Reheat it on the stovetop in a heavy bottom pan over medium-low heat until piping hot and serve.
        • You can prepare the ghee roast masala in advance. Store it in an airtight container in the freezer. Stays good for 15 days.
        • Before consuming the stored leftovers, always check for any signs of spoilage like black spots, foul smell, bad taste, etc. if there are any such signs discard them immediately.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 450kcal

    Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

    Tried this recipe?Mention @theyummydelights or tag #theyummydelights!
    image of preeti nayak.
    Preeti

    Hi! I’m Preeti Nayak, and with over two decades of hands-on experience in Indian cooking, I’m excited to share my passion with you. As the author, photographer, and editor behind every well-tested, family-friendly recipe on this blog, my goal is to help you cook with confidence and bring the bold, authentic flavors of India to your table.


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      Recipe Rating




    1. Harshlata Bhojane

      July 13, 2021 at 10:38 pm

      5 stars
      I have followed this recipe with minor twist, n I must say this is must try n one of the best chicken recipe I have made . Thank you.

      Reply
      • Preeti

        July 14, 2021 at 3:54 pm

        Welcome 🙂 Thank you so much for the feedback. Have a good day 🙂

        Reply
    2. Raj

      July 29, 2021 at 10:28 pm

      5 stars
      Looks delicious.

      Reply
    3. Shiney

      August 16, 2021 at 8:11 am

      Hi,
      Not sure if recipe is tweaked but manglorean/ kundapur ghee roast we don't use onion.
      Masala and then add chicken directly.

      Reply
      • Preeti

        August 17, 2021 at 12:28 pm

        Right, it is mentioned in the recipe notes.

        Reply
    4. veronica

      April 18, 2023 at 10:38 pm

      yesterday i tried your recipe of chicken ghee roast, was simply delicious! My family really appreciated it.
      Thank you for sharing !

      Reply
    5. Raghvendra

      September 20, 2023 at 11:28 am

      5 stars
      Loved the masala. Tastes super. Loved it... Will try more recipes from your site. This is the best ghee roast I hv ever tasted.

      Reply
      • Preeti

        September 21, 2023 at 10:38 am

        Thanks a lot. Gald you liked it.

        Reply
    6. Vee

      October 25, 2024 at 12:06 am

      5 stars
      I made it…delicious…wouldn’t change a thing!

      Reply
      • Preeti

        October 29, 2024 at 3:36 pm

        Glad you enjoyed. Thanks for the feedback.

        Reply

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    I’m Preeti Nayak, the author, photographer & editor here at theyummydelights.com. Here at this website, we share easy family-friendly recipes that you will love.

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