What To Serve With Chicken Jalfrezi: 10 BEST Sides!
Need some inspiration for what to serve with chicken jalfrezi? You’re in the right place!
Whether you’re looking for traditional options like you’d find in your favourite curry house, or you want to dive into some more creative options and really get experimental with your Indian cuisine, we’ve got you covered…
What to serve with chicken jalfrezi
Some of the most popular sides and accompaniments for chicken jalfrezi curry are restaurant style basmati rice, fluffy naan bread, masala chips, and Bombay potatoes.
Delicious canapé style choices that can be served as starters or sides include veggie pakora and chicken samosa.
You might also want to try Indian salad, lemon pilau rice, South Indian mushroom biryani, and Indian style roast potatoes.
Want to try making some of these sides at home? Check out these easy to follow recipes…
1. Restaurant style basmati rice
Rice is probably the most obvious and most loved choice when it comes to side dishes for any kind of curry, and you can’t beat a generous helping of perfectly fluffy white rice, with your favourite spicy sauce poured over.
Though it’s a simple accompaniment, it can be surprisingly tricky to get right. If you’ve ever experienced mushy, claggy rice that sticks together, you’ll know exactly what I mean!
This recipe for restaurant style basmati rice works like a charm, and as long as you carefully follow the instructions, you’ll be rewarded with a side that’s just as good as any you’d find in a reputable curry house or your favourite Indian takeaway.
2. Wonderfully fluffy naan breads
There’s nothing quite as satisfying as using a fresh, pillowy, hot-out-the-oven naan bread to mop up all the warming sauce of your favourite curry.
Making naan bread is another process that requires a little trial and error, and too many recipes are basically just flatbreads that have none of that trademark elasticity that you’ll find when you order bread in an Indian restaurant.
For best results, try this recipe for the best ever naan bread. You’ll be rewarded with fluffy, light, chewy bread. There’s no kneading involved, and it’s almost definitely a lot easier than you might think!
3. Masala chips
If you’ve never ordered masala chips in an Indian restaurant, you’re missing out! These crispy potato fries are tossed in a slightly spicy masala sauce, and a beautiful addition to the table alongside jalfrezi and your other chosen side dishes.
Best of all, making masala chips at home is super easy. You can use frozen chips straight from the bag, so you don’t even need to worry about peeling the potatoes.
Just cook them in the oven or an air fryer, make your masala, and toss everything together in a hot pan before garnishing with coriander and chilli.
4. Bombay potatoes
You really can’t beat a potato side dish, can you?
My recipe for Bombay potatoes is perfect for what to serve with chicken jalfrezi as part of a banquet style meal, and it’s a great addition to the table to serve alongside other popular sides like rice and naan breads.
Thanks to the turmeric that’s included in the ingredients, they’re a beautiful golden colour, and have a rich, slightly earthy taste. You can add some extra chillis if you like, to create a little extra heat.
5. South Indian mushroom biryani
Rice is a classic choice for serving alongside Indian food, but if you find plain rice a little boring, there are plenty of ways to jazz it up a little.
I love to make this South Indian mushroom biryani, which incorporates wonderfully fragrant spices including cumin, cardamon, star anise, and cinnamon. The smell of it cooking may well remind you of the festive season, though it’s great at any time of the year!
If you can, use ghee for this recipe. Though it’s high in fat and best used in moderation, it gives food a delicious buttery flavour and it has a higher smoking point than standard butter. These days, you can pick it up in most large supermarkets.
6. Veggie pakora (Indian fritters)
Pakora are Indian vegetable fritters that are loaded with fragrant, warming spices and fried until crispy, golden, and delicious. They’re a fabulous starter or side dish for a curry, and I like to serve them with some dipping sauces like minty yoghurt and mango chutney.
You can use practically any vegetables that you like, so they’re a good way to use up produce in your fridge, and this pakora recipe is easy to follow as well as being totally delicious!
7. Indian salad
Indian cuisine can be rich and filling, and a bright and vibrant salad can be the perfect accompaniment to ensure you have balance in a meal. It can also be a good way to cut down on calories if that’s something that’s important to you when it comes to menu planning.
When you make this colourful Indian salad, you really won’t feel like you’re missing out on anything. With cucumber, tomato, pomegranate, red onion, chilli, and lime juice, it’s refreshing and zesty on the palate, and it requires no cooking.
8. Lemon pilau rice
A citrus based rice brings bright zest to the dinner table, and this lemon pilau rice couldn’t be any easier to make.
You’ll use cooked and cooled rice, making it a tasty way to use up any leftover rice that you might have, and add a range of flavours including lemon peel, turmeric, and fresh coriander.
It’s a simple but crowd pleasing choice for what to serve with chicken jalfrezi!
9. Chicken samosa
If you’ve got 40 minutes to spare, you’ve got enough time to whip up this beautiful chicken samosa recipe!
Once you’ve tried making your own, you’ll never again revert to their shop bought counterparts. The pastry alone is so flavoursome and delicious, and they’re ideal for serving with a drink before your main course.
If you like, you can make the dough the day before you prepare your samosas, and chill covered in the fridge.
10. Indian roasted potatoes
You really need to try these roasted potatoes with East Indian spices.
Mint, coriander, and lime juice all come together to create a fresh and vibrant flavour profile, and it’s an exciting and unique choice for what to serve with chicken jalfrezi.
If you want to add some extra heat, you could throw in some cayenne pepper, or garnish with fresh chopped red and green chillis. Don’t be scared to experiment a little and make these potatoes your own!
Choosing the best sides for chicken jalfrezi
Some of the best sides for chicken jalfrezi curry include:
- Restaurant style basmati rice
- Fluffy naan breads
- Masala chips
- Indian salad
- Veggie pakora
- Chicken samosa
Add these to the table and serve banquet style, for a feast that everyone will love!
Before you go, why not take a look at side dishes for lemon pepper chicken?
