🍗 Chicken Bat Ball Stew – A Hidden Non-Veg Gem at Zam Zam Take Away, Karbala Mod, Jaipur

🍗 Chicken Bat Ball Stew – A Hidden Non-Veg Gem at Zam Zam Take Away, Karbala Mod, Jaipur

Jaipur, known for its royal history, vibrant streets, and cultural treasures, is also home to some of India’s most underrated street food. Nestled in the bustling area of Karbala Mod, Zam Zam Take Away serves a unique dish that’s creating waves among non-veg lovers – the Chicken Bat Ball Stew.

This stew isn’t your typical curry. It’s a rich, aromatic, and rustic preparation where juicy chicken balls (similar to koftas) and meaty drumsticks ("bats") are simmered in a traditional masala stew. The texture, the spices, and the slow-cooking method make this dish stand out in Jaipur’s crowded food scene.

🧆 What Are Chicken Balls?

The star of the dish is the chicken balls – soft, juicy, and bursting with flavor. These are made from minced chicken breast, seasoned with:

• Garam masala

• Kabab masala

• Yellow chili powder

• Salt to taste

To make the chicken balls extra soft and moist, mutton fat (fait) is added to the mixture – a traditional secret that elevates the texture to melt-in-the-mouth perfection. Crushed green chilies and a generous amount of ginger-garlic paste are mixed in to add spice and aroma.

Once the mixture is combined well, it’s shaped into uniform balls and set aside, ready to be added to the stew.

🍲 The Stew – Where Magic Happens

Now let’s talk about the stew – a flavorful gravy that holds everything together. The base starts with refined oil heated in a deep pan. Into this goes ginger-garlic paste, which is fried until golden and aromatic.

Next comes the yogurt. Yes, you read that right. Yogurt is added and cooked until the oil separates, giving the stew a rich, creamy texture and a hint of tanginess. To this, salt and a pinch of cumin seeds are added, infusing the yogurt with a toasty, earthy flavor.

Then, fried onions go in, followed by turmeric powder, coriander powder, and yellow chili powder. A splash of water is added to ensure the masalas cook evenly. This mixture is slow-cooked for about 20 minutes until a thick, beautifully spiced gravy forms.

At this point, the prepared chicken balls are gently added into the stew. Just like cooking fish, they are not stirred too much to avoid breaking them. The balls absorb the stew’s flavors while staying whole and tender.

🍗 The “Bat” – Chicken Leg Surprise

What sets this stew apart is the addition of chicken legs, which are referred to as “bats” locally. Once the balls are nearly done, these legs are dropped into the pot. They’re simmered slowly for another 15 minutes until the meat is tender and infused with all the spices.

Before finishing, the chef adds a final touch: whole coriander seeds and dried red chilies. These give the stew an earthy, slightly smoky tone that balances the richness of the yogurt and masala.

 🤤 Flavor Explosion – My Experience

When I tried this stew with freshly baked tandoori roti, I was genuinely surprised. The chicken balls were incredibly soft – they dissolved in the mouth like butter. The stew was thick, spicy, and comforting, with just the right amount of tang from the yogurt and depth from the roasted spices.

The “bat” or chicken leg was perfectly cooked – not overdone, but fall-off-the-bone tender. Together with the stew, it created a complete, satisfying non-veg meal.

This isn’t a dish you’ll find in fancy restaurants. This is authentic, soulful, street-style food at its best – and that’s what makes it worth the visit.

📍 Location & How to Try

If you’re in Jaipur, you can’t miss this.

📍 Zam Zam Take Away
🗺️ Location: Karbala Mod, Jaipur
🎥 Watch the full recipe video: Click here

The place may look simple from the outside, but what’s cooking inside is nothing short of royal. You’ll often find a small crowd waiting for their turn to try this one-of-a-kind dish.

Final Thoughts

The Chicken Bat Ball Stew at Zam Zam Take Away is not just a meal – it's an experience. From the thoughtful use of mutton fat in chicken balls to the earthy whole spices in the stew, every bite tells a story of tradition and flavor.

If you’re a foodie visiting Jaipur, this should be on your must-try list. And if you're a local and haven’t tried it yet – what are you waiting for?