Butter chicken
Author: Cee Gee
Nutrition Information
- Serves: 4 to 6
- Serving size: 400 gr
- Calories: 667
- Fat: 47 gr
- Saturated fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated fat: 15 grams
- Carbohydrates: 24 gr
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 670 mg
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 242 mg
Recipe type: Dinner
Cuisine: Indian
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Butter Chicken, or Murgh Makhani, is a beloved classic of Indian cuisine that has won hearts around the world. This indulgent dish originated in Delhi in the 1950s and has since become a staple in Indian restaurants globally. Our recipe captures the essence of this iconic curry - tender, slightly charred pieces of chicken bathed in a velvety smooth, tomato-based sauce that's enriched with butter and cream. The magic lies in the balance of flavors: the tanginess of the tomatoes, the richness of the dairy, and the aromatic blend of mild spices that add depth without overwhelming heat.
Ingredients
For the chicken marinade:
- 800g boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup yogurt
- 2 tsp ginger-garlic paste
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp turmeric
- Salt to taste
For the sauce:
- 50g butter
- 2 tbsp oil
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 2 tsp ginger-garlic paste
- 400g canned tomatoes, pureed
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp dried fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi)
- 200ml heavy cream
- 2 tbsp sugar
- Salt to taste
- Additional butter for finishing
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken: Mix chicken pieces with yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, garam masala, turmeric, and salt. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Grill the chicken: Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F). Arrange marinated chicken on a baking sheet and grill for 15-20 minutes until slightly charred and cooked through.
- Prepare the sauce: In a large pan, heat butter and oil. Sauté onions until golden brown.
- Add ginger-garlic paste and cook for a minute until fragrant.
- Add pureed tomatoes, cumin, coriander, and garam masala. Simmer for 15-20 minutes until the sauce thickens and oil begins to separate.
- Stir in cream, sugar, and fenugreek leaves. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add the grilled chicken pieces to the sauce and simmer for another 5 minutes.
- Adjust seasoning with salt if needed.
- Finish with a swirl of cream and a dollop of butter.
- Garnish with fresh coriander leaves if desired.
- Serve hot with naan bread or steamed basmati rice.