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  3. Chicken Vindaloo
Delicious Pakistani chicken curry with spices and garnished with onion and coriander.

Fiery Goan curry with vinegar, garlic, and Kashmiri chilies

Chicken Vindaloo

Chicken Vindaloo

1hMedium

Prep Time

20 min

Cook Time

40 min

Total Time

1 hr

Servings

4

5 cups

Difficulty

Medium

Cost

Moderate

$$

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Chicken Vindaloo

Fiery Goan curry with vinegar, garlic, and Kashmiri chilies

A bold, tangy-hot curry from Goa with Portuguese roots. Chicken simmers in a fiery sauce made from dried chilies, garlic, vinegar, and warming spices.

20m

Prep Time

40m

Cook Time

60m

Total Time

4

Servings

Medium

Difficulty

Moderate $$

Cost

Indian CuisineMain CourseGluten-FreeDairy-Free
Sarah Chen
Sarah Chen

June 29, 2024(Updated April 13, 2026)

Vindaloo is not just about heat—it is about balance. The tanginess of vinegar, the warmth of cinnamon and cloves, and the earthy depth of dried chilies create a complex curry that keeps you coming back for more.

Why This Recipe Works

Marinating the chicken in vinegar and spice paste tenderizes the meat and infuses it with flavor. Using Kashmiri chilies gives deep red color without overwhelming heat.

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs bone-in chicken, cut into pieces
  • 8 dried Kashmiri chilies, soaked in warm water
  • 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
  • 8 garlic cloves and 1 inch ginger
  • 1 tsp cumin, 1/2 tsp black pepper, 4 cloves, 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 onions, finely chopped, and 2 tbsp oil

Instructions

  1. 1

    Blend soaked chilies, vinegar, garlic, ginger, cumin, pepper, and cloves into a smooth paste.

  2. 2

    Marinate chicken in half the paste with 1 tsp salt for at least 30 minutes.

  3. 3

    Heat oil in a heavy pot, fry onions until deeply golden, then add remaining spice paste and cook 3 minutes.

  4. 4

    Add marinated chicken and 1/2 cup water; bring to a boil, then cover and simmer 30 minutes.

  5. 5

    Uncover and simmer 10 more minutes until sauce thickens and oil separates; serve with steamed rice.

Serving Suggestions

Ways to Serve This Dish

  • Serve with warm naan bread or basmati rice

  • Top with fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime

  • Pair with a cooling cucumber raita on the side

Substitutions

Kashmiri chiliesGuajillo chilies or 2 tbsp paprika + 1/2 tsp cayenne

Adjust cayenne to desired heat level

White wine vinegarApple cider vinegar

Slightly sweeter but works well in this recipe

FlavorPantry

Test Kitchen Pick

Dried Chiles

Helpful Pantry Staple

Why the dried chiles matter

The chile base sets the flavor profile here. Whole dried chiles give you a deeper, cleaner taste than leaning on a generic powder.

This ingredient shapes the sauce more than another topping would.

  • More depth than standard chile powder
  • Useful across sauces, braises, and marinades

Dried chiles are one of the best pantry upgrades if these flavors show up in your cooking.

Shop dried chiles for this recipe

Tips & Storage

Pro Tips

  • Kashmiri chilies provide gorgeous color without extreme heat; do not substitute cayenne.

  • The dish tastes even better the next day as the vinegar mellows and flavors deepen.

Storage

Refrigerate for up to 5 days. Freezes well for up to 3 months.

Reheating

Reheat on stovetop over medium-low heat; the flavors improve with reheating.

Nutrition Facts

Per serving (110mg) · 4 servings

Calories340
LowModerateHigh

A moderate-calorie serving · based on a 2,000 cal daily diet

Protein32g
Carbohydrates10g
Fat16g
Fiber720mg
Sugar2g
Sodium4g

Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add potatoes?
Yes, add 2 cubed potatoes when you add the chicken for a heartier dish.
Is vindaloo always extremely spicy?
You can control heat by reducing the number of chilies or removing seeds.

Explore More

More Indian RecipesMore Main CourseGluten-Free RecipesDairy-Free RecipesStovetop Recipes
Sarah Chen

About Sarah Chen

Sarah Chen is a professional recipe developer and food editor with over a decade of experience in test kitchens and food media. She trained at the Culinary Institute of America before spending six years developing and testing recipes for national food publications, where she honed her ability to translate restaurant techniques into approachable home cooking. At RecipePool, Sarah leads recipe development, ensuring every dish is tested at least three times for clarity, accuracy, and genuine deliciousness. When she is not in the kitchen, she is browsing farmers markets and collecting vintage cookbooks.

View all recipes →

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