So often I would order this dish at Indian restaurants, I finally decided to make it myself. So tender and full of rich spices and flavor, Butter Chicken is a favorite of mine! I love eating it with fresh rice and buttery naan. The spices in Butter Chicken are perfectly balanced with the richness of the heavy cream. You’ll love the realness of the spices in this dish, making a strong, warm flavor.
What is Butter Chicken?
Butter Chicken, traditionally known as murgh makhani, is an Indian recipe that originally came from the Old Delhi neighborhood of India in the 1950s. It was made by accident by mixing tandoori chicken in a tomato gravy which was rich in butter. The Butter Chicken recipe itself is chicken that is marinated in lemon juice, yogurt, ginger garlic paste, garam masala, and Kashmiri red chili to achieve a very flavorful and tender piece of chicken. The gravy or sauce it is served in is always tomato based, though there are many variations on what can be put in it including cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, and cloves. However, the sauce needs to velvety smooth and creamy.
What is Garam Masala?
Garam masala is a blend of spices which originated from India. It is commonly used in Indian, Pakistani, Nepalese, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, and Caribbean cooking. It typically includes cardamom, cinnamon, cumin, cloves and peppercorns, but is not limited to these spices. The flavor profile is a complex chorus of sweet, spicy, and a little but of heat. Many Indian dishes include garam masala.
What to Serve with Butter Chicken
The classic items to serve with Butter Chicken are basmati rice and naan. The nuttiness of the basmati rice compliments the creaminess and tomato base of the Butter Chicken so well. The naan is perfect to dip into the curry as well as load up with chicken.
How to Make Butter Chicken
To begin, cut the chicken into bite sized cubes. In a small bowl combine the marinade ingredients. Add the chicken and marinade to a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour up to overnight. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil. Add the chicken in batches and brown all sides. You don’t have to cook the chicken all the way through at this stage. Remove the chicken and set aside. In the same pan, add the butter. Once the butter is melted, add the onion. When the onion starts to sweat, add the tomato paste, spices, jalapeno, and cinnamon stick. Cook until onions are soft and translucent. Add the tomatoes and cashews. Cook for a few more minutes until everything is bubbling. Remove the cinnamon stick and add heavy cream. Spoon the sauce into a blender or use an immersion blender and blend until smooth. Add the sauce back to the pan. For a smoother sauce, pass it through a fine mesh sieve. Bring the sauce to a simmer over medium heat. Add the chicken back in and simmer for 20 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Top with cilantro and serve with naan and basmati rice.
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title: “Butter Chicken” ShowToc: true date: “2024-10-15” author: “Norma Hubbard”
Published Mar 07, 2018 Updated Sep 09, 2024
Murgh Makhani (Butter Chicken)
Butter chicken is a creamy, tomato-based and spice-laden chicken curry and it’s probably one of the most popular Indian curry recipes, other than Indian chicken curry and chicken tikka masala. The best and most authentic butter chicken is made with tandoori chicken, butter, with tomatoes, whipping cream and various Indian spices. You can make homemade butter chicken on a stove top, or you can also make Instant Pot Butter Chicken, or using a pressure cooker.
Butter Chicken Curry Sauce
The creamy sauce calls for ingredients such as tomatoes, whipping cream and various spices like red chili powder, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, etc. The rich and creamy flavors come from the tomatoes and the cream, making the taste absolutely delightful to the palate. The butter chicken sauce is amazing with steamed basmati rice or naan.
Adding Vegetables To Butter Chicken
Authentic butter chicken has no vegetables and if you want authentic flavors, do not add vegetables. The creamy sauce is made with fresh tomatoes so it’s loaded with nutrition.
How Do You Cook Indian Butter Chicken
First, you prepare the chicken by marinating the chicken with ginger, garlic, chili powder and lime juice. Cook or grill the marinated chicken until the chicken turns brown on the surface. To make the butter chicken sauce, use fresh tomatoes and cook until they break down, about 5-7 minutes. Add the spices (cardamom, cloves cinnamon), ketchup, sugar, chili powder, butter and heavy cream. Remove the butter chicken from the heat, top with chopped cilantro.
What To Serve With Butter Chicken
For a wholesome meal and easy weeknight dinner, I recommend the following recipes. I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.
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