This Indian Chicken Curry Without Tomato is a comforting homestyle curry made with onions, yogurt, ginger, garlic and warm Indian spices. It has a rich savoury gravy without tomatoes and pairs beautifully with rice, roti or naan.
Why Make Chicken Curry Without Tomato?
Tomatoes are common in Indian chicken curries, but they are not essential. Yogurt and slowly cooked onions create a rich base while the spices add depth.
Ingredients
- 750 g chicken pieces
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt, whisked
- 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
- 2 green chillies
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1 small cinnamon stick
- 2 green cardamom pods
- 2 cloves
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon chilli powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
- Salt to taste
- 1/2–1 cup hot water
- Fresh coriander
How to Make Tomato-Free Chicken Curry
1. Brown the onions
Heat oil in a heavy pan. Add cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and bay leaf. Add onions and cook over medium heat until golden. This step builds the curry’s flavour.
2. Add ginger and garlic
Add ginger-garlic paste and green chillies. Cook for about a minute until the raw smell disappears.
3. Cook the chicken
Add chicken, turmeric, coriander powder, cumin powder, chilli powder and salt. Stir well and cook for 5–7 minutes until the chicken is coated with the masala.
4. Add yogurt
Lower the heat. Add whisked yogurt gradually while stirring continuously. Cook until the masala becomes thick and the oil starts to separate.
5. Simmer
Add hot water according to your preferred gravy consistency. Cover and simmer until the chicken is tender and fully cooked.
6. Finish
Add garam masala and fresh coriander. Taste and adjust salt. Rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Best Side Dishes
Serve with steamed basmati rice, jeera rice, chapati, roti, naan or paratha. A simple cucumber and onion salad is also a good side.
Tips for the Best Chicken Curry
- Use bone-in chicken for deeper flavour if preferred.
- Whisk yogurt until smooth before adding it.
- Keep the heat low while adding yogurt.
- Do not rush the onions.
- Adjust water for thick or thin gravy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use boneless chicken?
Yes. Boneless chicken cooks faster, so start checking it earlier to avoid overcooking.
Can I skip yogurt?
Yes, but the texture and flavour will change. Use a little extra cooked onion and adjust the water if making it without yogurt.
This tomato-free chicken curry is an easy addition to a homestyle Indian meal. The onion and yogurt base gives it plenty of flavour without a complicated ingredient list.