Jeera Chicken (Indian Hariyali Chicken) Recipe with Trader Joe’s Zhoug Sauce
This is a quick and easy Indian hariyali chicken recipe, using store bought rotisserie chicken, that can be ready in under 10 minutes. This Indian rotisserie chicken recipe is a spiced green herb mix made with fresh ingredients like garlic, ginger, cilantro, and lots of dry spices such as cumin seeds and turmeric. Serve it with brown rice, salad, or wrapped inside of a warm tortilla.
Hariyali Jeera Chicken
This quick, tasty, and healthy green chicken recipe is known as Hariyali Jeera Chicken. A family favorite from years back is what this Indian flavored chicken recipe is. It takes minutes to make from start to finish and tastes great as an appetizer or a main meal which can be served with brown rice, white rice, naan, quinoa, or even in a tortilla.
History
Origination of this dish dates back to the 70’s! PICTURE THIS: My dad had just moved to the United States from India and loved the smell of Rotisserie Chicken at grocery stores. BUT, it tasted too simple for his spice loving Indian tastebuds. So he added some flavor!!! Which is how this dish came alive. He ate just as the recipe is listed with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and an onion salad. Ever since then it became a staple in the kitchen.
What is hariyali chicken?
Hariyali simply means green. In which case, a Hariyali Chicken Recipe would mean Green Chicken Recipe. The end result of this dish gives off a green color with a lot of cumin flavors. So you might find it being called Hariyali Jeera Chicken sometimes.
What to serve with it?
- white rice
- brown rice
- quinoa (flavored or unflavored)
- quick Instant Pot masala rice
- salad
- condiments: papad, onion salad, and fresh lemon
- raita
The mixture of fresh cumin seeds and cilantro set this Jeera Chicken Recipe in stone.
Ingredients
- Trader Joe’s Zhoug Sauce (recipe below if this is not convenient for you)
- Pulled rotisserie chicken (no skin no bones)
- oil
- freshly grounded dry cumin seeds
- salt
- turmeric powder
- water
How to make the recipe
Heat a pan with high heat resistant oil. Add the ground cumin seeds and zhoug sauce to the pan and cook until the raw flavors have dissolved (a quick 30 seconds). Add the pulled and chopped rotisserie chicken turmeric powder, salt, water, and ground coriander seeds (optional). Cook until heated through. Serve!
Can I make my own Zhoug Sauce?
Of course you can! There are many variations to a Zhoug Sauce. If you do not have a Trader Joe’s around, then I recommend making your own to get the perfect flavor. Just as my dad did years ago. Whole foods also sells a variation of Zhoug Sauce, but I prefer using Trader Joe’s Zhoug Sauce for this Hariyali Jeera Chicken Recipe.
Homemade Copycat Trader Joe’s Zhoug Sauce
- 1 bunch of fresh cilantro
- 3 serrano chili peppers
- 7 cloves garlic
- 1 tbsp ginger
- 5 tbsp oil
- salt
- fresh lemon/lime juice
- 3-4 curry leaves (optional)
- red chili flakes (optional)
- ⅛ tsp cardamom powder (optional)
Blend all of the ingredients together for a HOMEMADE TRADER JOE’S COPY CAT ZHOUG SAUCE.
Tips and Tricks
- I recommend using a rotisserie chicken, pre-cooked chicken, or finely diced raw boneless skinless chicken thighs to cook with.
- Add vegetables such as bell peppers, zucchini, squash, onions, etc
- GO VEGETARIAN AND USE ONLY VEGETABLES!
What is cumin?
A seed used in various different cuisines that generally ranges from the Middle East to India, but has been adapted by all cuisines throughout the years. It tastes great with many dishes and in particular this Green Cumin Chicken Recipe.
SO SATISFYING!
Does Trader Joe’s sell cumin?
Not sure about cumin, but I know for a fact that they sell something to make this recipe much easier! I made the dish even easier by using TRADER JOE’S “Zhoug Sauce” as a base instead of making my own green hariyali chicken paste. If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s around, then Whole Foods also sells a variation of a “Zhoug Sauce” or you can simply make your own by following my recipe listed above.
Recipe
10 Minute Hariyali Jeera Chicken
Ingredients
- 8 oz Trader Joe's zhoug sauce (or recipe above)
- 1 rotisserie chicken, deboned and skinned and chopped to desired size
- ¼ cup grinded jeera/cumin seeds (powder not recommended)
- ½ cup water (more or less depending on your consistency preference)
- pinch turmeric (optional)
- 1 tbsp dry coriander powder (optional)
- red chili powder (optional for extra spice)
- oil
- salt
- lemon wedge (garnishment)
- cilantro (garnishment)
Instructions
- Heat a pan with a generous amount of oil.
- Add the jeera seeds and zhoug sauce to the pan.
- Cook until the raw flavor is out. Takes about 30 seconds to a minute with constant stirring.
- Add the chopped chicken, turmeric powder, coriander powder, red chili powder, salt, and water.
- Mix well and heat through.
- Serve with a lemon wedge and onion salad.
- ENJOY! <3
Optional Recipe-Wrap with Stuffed Hariyali Chicken
This has been a popular recipe that my followers have enjoyed. The recipe uses left over/meal prepped jeera chicken and used as a stuffing. The wrap includes these ingredients below, which make it a complete flavor bomb.
- warm tortilla (try siete for healthier version)
- hariyali jeera chicken
- crushed roasted papad
- onion raita
- lettuce
- garlic chutney
- raita
Recipe Video
10 INDIAN INSPIRED CHICKEN RECIPES
- Butter Chicken
- Jeera Chicken
- Chicken Kheema
- Bell Pepper Chicken Curry
- Chicken Curry
- Dhaba Chicken Curry
- Chicken Kebabs
- Tandoori Chicken
- Chicken Tikka Masala (Clean Eating)
- Chicken Shakshuka
