Chicken Lababdar Recipe | Creamy North Indian Curry

  Restaurant style Chicken lababdar

Chicken lababdar ( murgh lababdar) is a rich tomato onion based chicken gravy. You can make this delicious recipe at home like restaurant style with step by steps. This easy  recipe is made using boneless chicken breast pieces. You can make it with leg boneless or with bone in chicken pieces as well. But this boneless chicken gravy recipe is one of the best chicken recipe to make at home You can even use fresh chicken tikka or leftover tikka to make chicken tikka lababdar ( murgh tikka lababdar) as well. Choices are many to make the recipe.In restaurant style lababdar recipe grated cheese are used in the gravy and also topped them while serving . You can avoid it with cream. But cheese makes it more rich and delicious.

What is lababdar ?

Chicken lababdar is a delicious North Indian dish that combines tender pieces of Chicken with a rich tomato-onion based gravy. A perfect balance of flavours with creaminess of fresh cream complementing the spiciness of red chilli powder and garam masala. Lababdar means a strong desire and complete surrender to something mainly related to many dishes. You can say one's strong desire to surrender his taste buds to a dish. If you are looking for such a delightful recipe, you have come to the right place. Here I bring you the step by step guide on how to make Chicken lababdar recipe at home.

People are more familiar with butter chicken or chicken tikka masala. But chicken lababdar is not same with them. There are lots of differences between a chicken lababdar and butter chicken or with chicken tikka masala.

If you want to know more about Parsley and it's benefits then here is a article for you Parsley in Hindi.

Ingredients required to make the recipe

Steps to make the recipe

1. Making puree for the gravy

The puree for the gravy can be made by two methods. For first one, roughly chopped the onion and tomato and boiled them with whole spices and cashew nuts for 15 - 20 min or till they become soft and messy. Cool down and remove the whole spices and make the puree in a mixer grinder.

 I prefer the second method which is less time consuming and the resulting puree become more tasty as everything is fried.  First fry the whole spices with onion slices till light brown.

 Then fry the sliced tomatoes till messy. And lastly fry the cashew nuts with them.

 Discard the whole spices and make the puree using a mixer grinder ( blender).

2. Making lababdar 

Heat one teaspoon oil in a pan and fry ginger garlic paste till raw smell goes off. Then fry the chopped onions till become light brown. 

Add red chilli powder, cumin powder, garam masala, coriander powder and turmeric powder and saute for a while.

 Pour little water and cook the masala for 30 seconds. Next add the chicken pieces and mix well with the masala and cook for 5 minutes covering the pan on medium heat flame.

Pour the above prepared tomato onion puree into the pan and cook further 5 - 7 minutes on slow flame. 

Add a small pinch of salt or as per your taste into the gravy. If the gravy become thick then pour water as required and cook the chicken till done. Pour crushed fenugreek leaves and ghee into the gravy and mix well.

Add some grated cheese into the gravy and cook for one more minute. 

Check the seasoning of the gravy and if required add some salt and spices. Sprinkle some chopped coriander leaves and remove. Serve hot by topping with some grated cheese. Chicken lababdar is ready to enjoy with tandoori roti, naan and Paratha.

Making chicken tikka lababdar

For making this you need to marinate the chicken pieces with a yoghurt based masala paste known as tandoori masala. Thereafter roast the marinated chicken in an oven or over a pan or tawa till crisp golden. Simmer them when you make  the lababdar gravy with other spices. Pour grated cheese and remove to serve the chicken tikka lababdar.

Chicken Lababdar 

⏱️ Prep: 10 min | 🍳 Cook: 15 min | 🍽️ Serves: 1

By Chef Mobasir Hassan

Published: Aug 30, 2025 | Last Modified: Oct 8, 2025

🖨️ Print 📌 Pin

Chicken Lababdar is a rich and flavorful North Indian chicken curry made with a creamy tomato-onion base, cashews, and cheese. Perfect with naan or rice.

Ingredients

• 150 gm boneless chicken pieces
• 1 medium onion (sliced)
• 3 medium tomatoes (sliced)
• 1 medium onion (chopped)
• 1 tsp ginger garlic paste
• 1 tsp red chilli powder
• 1/3 tsp turmeric powder
• 1/3 tsp garam masala
• 1/4 tsp ground coriander
• 1/3 tsp cumin powder
• Small pinch fenugreek leaves
• 1 bay leaf, 2 cloves, 1 black cardamom, 2 green cardamoms, 1/2 inch cinnamon stick
• 6–7 cashew nuts
• 2 tsp grated processed cheese
• 1/2 tsp ghee or butter (optional)
• 2 tsp cooking oil
• Salt as per taste
• Chopped coriander leaves

Instructions

1. Heat 1 tsp oil, add whole spices, fry 30 sec. Add sliced onions, sauté till golden.
2. Add tomatoes & cashew nuts, cook till soft. Blend into smooth paste (discard whole spices).
3. Heat remaining oil, add ginger garlic paste, sauté till raw smell goes. Add chopped onions & fry till brown.
4. Add red chilli, turmeric, cumin, coriander, garam masala. Cook with splash of water.
5. Add chicken pieces, cover & cook 5 min. Add prepared puree, cook another 5–7 min.
6. Season with salt, fenugreek leaves & ghee. Mix in half the grated cheese, cook 1 min.
7. Garnish with coriander & remaining cheese. Serve hot.

Chef’s Tips

• You can use bone-in chicken for more flavor. Adjust spice level by adding green chilies along with chopped onions.
• For richer gravy, add extra cream or butter at the end.
• Always blend the onion-tomato mixture smooth for silky texture.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 248 | Protein: 18g | Fat: 12g | Carbs: 17g

❤️ Did you love this recipe?
I’d love if you’d leave a rating or review below!

🍗 Chicken Lababdar vs Butter Chicken

Frequently Asked Questions