1-First, marinate the 500 to 600 grams boneless chicken with 2 teaspoons lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, and ½ teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder. Let it rest for 15 to 20 minutes to soak up the flavors. While that’s sitting, puree fresh tomatoes if needed to make 1¼ cups, or use ¾ cup ready tomato puree, and dice your bell peppers and onions for easy access.

2-Next, heat 2 tablespoons oil in a pan and sauté the ¾ cup finely chopped onions until they’re golden. Add ½ tablespoon grated ginger or ginger paste and ½ to ¾ tablespoon grated garlic or garlic paste, cooking for about one minute until it smells amazing.

3-Then, add the marinated chicken and stir-fry for 3 to 4 minutes on medium-high heat until it turns pale. Mix in the spices: 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder, ¼ teaspoon turmeric, ¾ to 1 teaspoon garam masala, 1 to 1 ½ teaspoon coriander powder, ½ teaspoon cumin powder, and ½ teaspoon fennel powder if you’re using it; stir for one minute to blend everything.

4-Pour in the ¾ cup tomato puree or 1¼ cups fresh tomatoes pureed and cook until the oil separates from the masala. If the mixture looks dry, add ¼ cup hot water, then cover and cook on medium heat until the chicken is tender and the sauce thickens.

5-In another pan, heat 1 to 2 tablespoons oil or ghee, and add 1 dried red chili, 1 green chili, and 1 inch ginger juliennes if you like some extra kick. Once it sizzles, toss in ½ cup diced onions and 1½ cups diced bell peppers; stir-fry for 2 to 4 minutes to keep them crunchy.

6-Finally, stir the cooked chicken with 1 tablespoon kasuri methi, 1 teaspoon sugar if using store-bought tomato puree, and the stir-fried veggies. Optionally, add 1 tablespoon soy sauce or ½ tablespoon Worcestershire sauce for more depth. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, taste and adjust salt, then garnish with 2 tablespoons finely chopped coriander leaves. Serve hot with rice or naan for a complete meal. For dietary adaptations, swap chicken with tofu or chickpeas during this step and adjust cooking times to keep things perfect.