I first tasted and even heard about Chicken Majestic at a friend’s place where she served it as a starter. It tasted amazing and the highlight was how tender the chicken pieces were. Chicken Majestic is apparently a very popular starter with chicken particularly well known in Andhra. Although I lived in Hyderabad for a couple of years, I had never come across this particular dish, what a shame. While Chilli Chicken will always remain a personal favourite chicken starter, chicken majestic is a great variation and a welcome change from the usual dishes like chilli chicken or South Indian chicken 65.
There’s a secret to why the chicken pieces are super tender – it’s because they are marinated in buttermilk for a few hours. The recipe is also a nice blend of Indo-Chinese and Indian with Chinese sauces and Indian spices and curry leaves. You can adjust the the spice levels to your preference and while the preparation time may seem quite long, it’s a great make-ahead recipe which makes an amazing chicken starter for your guests when you are entertaining.
- 200 gm of chicken breast, cut into long strips
- 2 tsp of coriander powder
- 2 tbsp of corn flour
- ½ tsp of cumin powder
- ¼ cup of buttermilk
- 1 egg
- 1.5 tsp of ginger garlic paste
- 3-4 green chillies
- 1 tsp of soya sauce
- A fistful of curry leaves
- 1 small bunch of mint leaves (I didn't have any)
- 1 tsp + 1 tbsp of oil
- 3 tbsp of plain yogurt / curd
- 2 tsp of minced garlic
- ¼ tsp of turmeric powder
- Marinate the chicken pieces in buttermilk and salt for 4 hours. Leave it in the refrigerator while you marinate.
- To the same bowl, add the egg, corn flour, ginger garlic paste, 1 tsp oil and leave it to marinate for another hour.
- When ready to cook, heat the 1 tbsp oil in a pan and add the chicken pieces. Saute until the pieces brown nicely and get fried. The original recipe calls for deep frying but I found sautéing is quite effective too since the chicken is very tender after marinating.
- After the chicken is browned and fried, drain and set aside.
- In the same pan, add the minced garlic and green chillies. Saute until lightly browned and add the curry leaves and mint leaves, if using.
- When the curry leaves are wilted, add all the masala powders - chilli powder, coriander, jeera, and turmeric.
- Saute for 5 seconds without burning and add the plain curd. Stir around quickly and add soya sauce and the fried chicken pieces. Mix well until the ingredients are well coated.
- Keep sauteing until the chicken is cooked fully and the masala turns a lovely brown.
- ServeChicken Majestic as a starter or with rice and some sides
How to Make Chicken Majestic:
1. Marinate the chicken pieces in buttermilk and salt for 4 hours. Leave it in the refrigerator while you marinate.
2. To the same bowl, add the egg, corn flour, ginger garlic paste, 1 tsp oil and leave it to marinate for another hour.
3. When ready to cook, heat the 1 tbsp oil in a pan and add the chicken pieces. Saute until the pieces brown nicely and get fried. The original recipe calls for deep frying but I found sautéing is quite effective too since the chicken is very tender after marinating.
4. After the chicken is browned and fried, drain and set aside.
5. In the same pan, add the minced garlic and green chillies. Saute until lightly browned and add the curry leaves and mint leaves, if using.
6. When the curry leaves are wilted, add all the masala powders – chilli powder, coriander, jeera, and turmeric.
7. Saute for 5 seconds without burning and add the plain curd. Stir around quickly and add soya sauce and the fried chicken pieces. Mix well until the ingredients are well coated.
8. Keep sauteing until the chicken is cooked fully and the masala turns a lovely brown.
Serve Chicken Majestic as a starter or with rice and gravy. Tastes great either ways.
E. K. Jones says
April 19, 2017 at 9:55 pmWow, I’ve been DYING to find this! Had it years ago, could never figure out how the chicken got so tender! Thank you!
Ria Raichu Samuel says
September 26, 2016 at 9:07 pmThis recipe looks different and easy. I have to try marinating the chicken in buttermilk!!
Lima says
May 26, 2016 at 12:00 pmThanks a ton for writing the recipe for chicken majestic, I had this when I was in Vizag for few years after leaving thàt place I use to miss that item so much. So there was no other option than to learn it but never came across the recipe as didn’t know its called chicken majestic, always use to search in internet as chicken fry which has a different recipe. So now I will try to prepare it myself.
nags says
May 26, 2016 at 12:59 pmglad you found it, it’s very good, do try!