Butter chicken - a dish that’s beloved across the world for its rich, comforting flavours and velvety texture. If you’ve ever tried this classic Indian recipe, you know it’s more than just food; it’s an experience. This recipe will guide you to create a restaurant-quality butter chicken in your own home, complete with tips for achieving that perfect balance of spices and creamy sauce.
Ingredients
For the Chicken Marinade:
1 lb boneless chicken thighs, cubed
1 lb chicken breast, cubed
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
6 cloves garlic, freshly grated
1 tbsp ginger, freshly grated
2 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp garam masala
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp paprika
1 tsp salt
For the Sauce:
2 tbsp ghee
1 tbsp olive oil
1 shallot, finely minced
1/2 tsp turmeric
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp powdered ginger (optional; adds depth)
1 tsp garlic powder (optional; enhances flavour)
1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp ground coriander
1/3 cup cashews, soaked in hot water (optional, can skip if allergic)
1 can diced tomatoes with juice
6 cloves garlic, freshly grated
1 tbsp ginger, freshly grated
1 cup heavy cream
1 tbsp garam masala
8 tbsp unsalted butter, cubed
Garnish:
1 tbsp fresh coriander, chopped
1 tbsp heavy cream (for a swirl, if desired)
Method
Step 1: Marinate Your Chicken
Start by marinating the chicken. In a large bowl, mix together the Greek yogurt, lemon juice, grated garlic, grated ginger, garam masala, ground cumin, coriander, turmeric, paprika, and salt. Add the chicken pieces to the bowl and ensure they are well-coated with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or overnight if possible, for the marinade to infuse the chicken with deep flavour.
Step 2: Cook the Chicken
Preheat a large skillet or saucepan over medium-high heat. Add either olive oil or avocado oil to the pan. Cook the marinated chicken in batches until it is nicely charred on the outside and 95% cooked through - about 6–8 minutes, turning occasionally. Set the chicken aside.
Step 3: Create the Sauce
Using the same skillet or saucepan, melt the ghee with olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced shallot and sauté until it becomes soft and fragrant, about 4 minutes. Sprinkle in the turmeric, cumin, coriander, paprika, chili powder, and salt, stirring for 1–2 minutes to let the spices bloom.
Next, stir in the freshly grated garlic and ginger, followed by the cashews (if using), diced tomatoes, and 1/3 cup of water. Let the mixture simmer for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and the flavors meld.
Step 4: Blend the Sauce
To achieve that signature smooth texture, use an immersion blender to puree the sauce right in the pan until smooth. For an extra touch of luxury, run the sauce through a mesh strainer to remove any remaining bits - this step is optional but adds a refined finish.
Step 5: Finish the Sauce
Return the sauce to the skillet over low heat. Stir in the heavy cream, garam masala, and the cubed butter. Simmer for 5 minutes to let the flavours marry and the sauce become velvety and luscious.
Step 6: Add the Chicken
Add the cooked chicken back into the sauce, stirring to coat well. Let it simmer for an additional 5 minutes so the chicken finishes cooking in the sauce and absorbs all the rich flavours. Taste and adjust the seasoning if needed; remember, it’s best to season after adding the chicken to avoid over-salting.
Final Touches
Garnish your butter chicken with freshly chopped coriander and a drizzle of heavy cream if you want that extra touch of elegance. Serve this dish with warm naan bread or a bed of fluffy rice for the full experience.
The Joy of Cooking Butter Chicken
While butter chicken might seem intimidating at first with its long list of ingredients, the process is straightforward and truly rewarding. This dish embodies comfort and warmth, making it a perfect addition to your culinary repertoire. The layers of flavour, the creamy sauce, and the spiced chicken all come together to create a meal that’s as satisfying as it is impressive.
@mxriyum Silky, Flavor-packed Butter Chicken ♡ 🫶🏼 As always, I recommend checking out the full blog post rather than just relying on the ingredients. The instructions and tips I couldn’t fully explain in the video are all neatly laid out for you there! Ingredients you’ll need: * 1 lb boneless chicken thighs cubed * 1 lb chicken breast cubed Chicken Marinade✮⋆˙ * 1/2 cup greek yogurt plain * 6 cloves garlic freshly grated * 1 tbsp ginger freshly grated, about 6 grams * 2 tsp lemon juice * 1/2 tsp garam masala * 1 tsp ground cumin * 1 tsp ground coriander * 1/2 tsp turmeric * 1/2 tsp paprika * 1 tsp salt Gravy (sauce) ✮⋆˙ * 2 tbsp ghee * 1 tbsp olive oil * 1 shallot finely minced * 1/2 tsp turmeric * 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin * 1 tsp powdered ginger optional (I enjoy doing both fresh a powdered in this recipe ) * 1 tsp garlic powder optional (I enjoy doing both fresh a powdered in this recipe ) * 1 tsp salt adjust to preference !! * 1 tsp chili powder * 1 tsp ground coriander * 1/3 cup cashews soaked the morning of in hot water (can skip this ingredient if you're allergic or simply don't want to include it) you can also skip soaking them – but it makes them blend better into our sauce * 14 oz can diced tomatoes with juice * 6 cloves garlic freshly grated * 1 tbsp ginger freshly grated, about 6 grams * 1 cup heavy cream * 1 tbsp garam masala * 8 tbsp butter, unsalted cubed Garnish✮⋆˙ * 1 tbsp fresh cilantro chopped * 1 tbsp heavy cream for a heavy cream swirl if desired #butterchicken #indianfood #dinnerideas #recipeoftheday ♬ original sound - Mxriyum
