Chicken 65 is a tasty south Indian snack of crispy fried spicy chicken tossed in a delicious tangy garlic sauce and the flavours are incredible! It makes a wonderful starter and it is perfect for entertaining.
This recipe is for the Hyderbadi version where small bite size pieces of spicy fried chicken are tossed in a yogurt based sauce with curry leaves and spices. This dish is truly mouthwatering!
Chicken 65 is a hugely popular street food snack in south India and it is also found on the menus of most non-vegetarian south Indian restaurants.
The recipe varies from state to state where different combinations of spices and methods are used to prepare it.
It is typically made using off the bone chicken, either breast or thigh, which is marinated in a spicy masala batter, fried and then tossed in tempered spices.
This particular version of chicken 65 is from Hyderabad where spicy fried pieces of chicken are cooked in a rich and tangy yogurt sauce.
Chicken 65 is a perfect snack with drinks for entertaining and guests can’t seem to get enough of it!
If you are making this for a party you can start preparing in advance, see my make ahead notes below.
It also makes a wonderful starter for a home cooked Indian meal alongside my tandoori chicken and lamb tikka.
Find instructions below for an oil free version using an air fryer, and to make it ahead in three easy steps over a couple of days.
Ingredient notes
These are the ingredients for chicken 65.
- chicken – off the bone works best, you could use chicken breast or thighs.
- egg – locks in the chicken juices and helps bind the ingredients together.
- cornflour and flour – for a crispy batter.
- ginger and garlic – chop and mince, or grind using a pestle and mortar to make into a paste for maximum flavour.
- lemon juice – to tenderize the chicken
- coconut milk (optional) – gives flavour and also tenderizes the chicken.
- spices – adjust the amount of red chilli for more or less heat, the quantity in this recipe makes it fairly spicy. Kashmiri red chillies are very mild with a fruity flavour. Mustard seeds and curry leaves give a characteristic south Indian flavour.
- yogurt – gives tanginess, use Greek or strained yogurt for a rich sauce, regular yogurt will make the sauce more watery.
See the recipe card below for quantities.
Instructions
Cut the chicken into small pieces and coat well in the marinade. Cover and leave to rest for at least 1 hour (overnight will make it even tastier).
If your kitchen is cool you can leave it to marinate on the counter for up to an hour. If not keep it in the fridge then take it out 30 minutes before cooking to bring to room temperature.
See the food safety rules below.
Fry the chicken in hot oil, then set aside on kitchen paper to drain.
Tip: To check if the oil is hot enough for frying, dip a wooden spoon and if bubbles form around it, you can start frying.
For a healthier oil free option use an air fryer, see below for the instructions.
Are you worried about burning or semi cooked chicken? Use a cooking thermometer (affiliate link) to ensure the chicken is not overcooked or under done, see my post on correct temperatures for cooking meat and poultry.
Lightly fry the spices in oil (this is the tempering), turn the heat down, stir in the yogurt then add the chicken. Mix well to coat the chicken in the sauce.
Garnish with freshly cracked black pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice, serve immediately.
Top tips
- Bring the chicken to room temperature before cooking so it cooks for evenly, to avoid the outside cooking quickly while the inside remains raw .
- To check if the oil is hot enough for frying dip a wooden spoon and if bubbles form around it, you can start frying.
- Leave space between the pieces of chicken as they fry, see my post on why you shouldn’t overcrowd a pan.
Use an air fryer
For a healthier version, use an air fryer to fry the chicken, before mixing in the sauce.
- Preheat the air fryer to 200℃/400℉ for 3 minutes.
- Place the chicken in the basket spaced apart from one another without over lapping, as you would in frying fan.
- Set the timer to cook for 8 minutes. Remove the cooked chicken from the basket and repeat with the rest.
Substitutions
Substitutions to try if you have any of these dietary requirements.
- Egg-free – substitute the egg with 2 tablespoons of Greek yogurt in the marinade.
- Gluten free – for gluten free chicken 65, replace the all purpose flour with the same quantity of rice flour.
- Dairy free – you can make this without the yogurt and it will still be delicious.
To make ahead
Chicken 65 can be prepared over a period of a couple of days in three separate stages:
Marinate – Prepare the chicken and leave to marinate in the fridge for an hour or overnight for a tastier result. Remove it 30 minutes before cooking to reach room temperature before frying to ensure it cooks evenly.
Fry – Deep fry/lightly fry or use an air fryer to cook the chicken. Allow it to com to room temperature, then keep it in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 2 days before using. Remove from the fridge 30 minutes before cooking in the sauce.
Sauce – Prepare the tempering then turn the heat down, add the yogurt and then the chicken. Stir the chicken well to ensure it is fully coated then garnish with lemon juice and black pepper and serve warm.
Storage
Leftovers will keep in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Reheat the chicken in a saucepan on low heat for around 5 minutes or till warmed.
The chicken can be frozen after frying but before mixing in the sauce. Keep it in a sealed container in the freeze for up to a month.
To reheat from frozen, spread the fried chicken out on a baking tray and bake at 200℃ fan/220℃/430℉ for 15-20 minutes, turning once.
Food safety
- Cook chicken to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash your hands after touching raw meat
- Don’t leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
See more guidelines at USDA.gov.
⭐️ Are you making this recipe for Chicken 65? I’d love to hear how it went, please do let me know in the comments below and don’t forget to give it a star rating! Thank you!
⚜️
Chicken 65 Hyderabadi Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 kilos boneless chicken 2 pounds, cut into small bite size pieces.
- vegetable oil for frying
Marinade
- 1 teaspoon red chilli powder
- 1 teaspoon grated garlic
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- ½ teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon all purpose flour (UK-plain flour)
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 3 tablespoons coconut milk (optional)
- 1 egg beaten
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- 2 cloves garlic finely sliced
- 2 Kashmiri red chilli broken into small pieces
- 2 medium green chillies chopped
- 10 curry leaves
- ½ salt salt
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
Garnish
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
Marinate
- 1 kilos boneless chicken, 1 teaspoon red chilli powder, 1 teaspoon grated garlic, 1 teaspoon grated ginger, ½ teaspoon garam masala, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1 tablespoon all purpose flour, 3 tablespoons coconut milk, 1 egg, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon vegetable oilCombine all the ingredients for the marinade, add chicken and mix to coat the chicken evenly. Cover and leave the chicken to marinate for 1 hour.
To fry in a skillet
- vegetable oil for fryingHeat the oil in a large heavy bottomed skillet on high heat and fry the chicken , a few at a time. Place the cooked chicken on kitchen paper to absorb excess oil.
Using in an air fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 200℃/400℉ for 3 minutes. Place the chicken in the basket spaced apart from one another without over lapping, as you would in frying fan. Set the timer to cook for 8 minutes, then remove the cooked chicken from the basket and repeat with the rest of the chicken.
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon mustard seeds, 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, 2 cloves garlic, 2 Kashmiri red chilli, 2 medium green chilliesIn a large pan on medium-low heat, dry toast the mustard seeds for a minute, then add the oil, cumin seeds, Kashmiri chilli, green chillies, garlic and curry leaves. Lightly fry the spices for around 30 seconds then turn the heat down to low and stir in the yogurt for another 30 seconds. Add the chicken and stir gently for 1-2 minutes till all the chicken is well coated in the sauce then remove from the heat.
- Allow to cool slightly before tasting for seasoning and add more salt if required. Garnish with lemon juice and freshly cracked black pepper.
Notes
- Marinate the chicken – If the kitchen is cool, you can leave the chicken to marinate on the counter, otherwise keep in the fridge and remove 30 minutes to bring to room temperature before cooking.
- To check if the oil is hot enough for frying, dip a wooden spoon and if bubbles form around it, you can start frying.
- When frying the chicken, keep them spaced apart so they cook separately.
- Serve immediately.
- Leftovers will keep in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- To reheat, place on a baking tray and bake at 200℃/400℉ for 5-10 minutes.
MEASUREMENT NOTES
The ingredients here on EOTF are set out in grams & milliliters and in US cups & spoons.
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