Butter Chicken: Recipe

If you’re a fan of Indian cuisine, you’ve probably heard of Butter Chicken. It’s a creamy, flavorful dish that’s beloved by people all around the world. The best part? You can make it at home! In this article, we’ll take you through the ingredients, preparation steps, and method to create a mouthwatering Butter Chicken that will leave your taste buds dancing.

Ingredients (Serves 4):

Before you start, gather these ingredients:

Chicken: You’ll need about 500 grams (around 1 pound) of boneless chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces.
Yogurt: 1/2 cup of plain yogurt.
Ginger-Garlic Paste: 2 tablespoons of ginger-garlic paste (you can buy this ready-made or make your own by blending ginger and garlic).
Tomato Puree: 1 cup of tomato puree (you can make this by blending tomatoes).
Cream: 1/4 cup of heavy cream.
Butter: 2 tablespoons of butter.
Oil: 2 tablespoons of cooking oil.
Spices: 1 teaspoon of cumin powder, 1 teaspoon of coriander powder, 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon of garam masala, 1 teaspoon of red chili powder (adjust according to your spice preference), and salt to taste.
Kasuri Methi: 1 teaspoon of dried fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi).
Fresh Coriander: A handful of fresh coriander leaves for garnish.
Lemon Juice: 1 tablespoon of lemon juice (optional).

Time to Cook:

Making Butter Chicken is a delightful process, but it’s important to note that it does take a bit of time. Plan for around 30 minutes of preparation and 30 minutes of cooking time.

Preparation Steps:

Now, let’s dive into the preparation steps:

Step 1: Marinate the Chicken

In a bowl, combine the yogurt, half of the ginger-garlic paste, turmeric powder, and salt.
Add the chicken pieces to this mixture and coat them well.
Cover the bowl and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes, or even better, refrigerate it for a few hours to let the flavors seep in.

Step 2: Cook the Chicken

Heat oil in a pan over medium heat.
Add the marinated chicken pieces and cook until they turn golden brown. This should take about 5-7 minutes.
Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside.

Step 3: Prepare the Gravy

In the same pan, add the remaining ginger-garlic paste and cook for a couple of minutes until the raw smell disappears.
Add the cumin powder, coriander powder, red chili powder, and tomato puree. Cook this mixture for around 10-15 minutes until the oil starts to separate from the tomato mixture. Stir occasionally.

Step 4: Finish the Dish

Reduce the heat to low and add the cooked chicken back to the pan.
Stir in the garam masala and cream, letting it simmer for another 10 minutes. This will make the sauce creamy and rich.
Crush the kasuri methi between your palms and sprinkle it over the Butter Chicken. This adds a delightful, slightly bitter flavor.
Finally, add the butter and let it melt into the sauce.
If you like it a bit tangy, you can squeeze in some lemon juice now.

Step 5: Serve and Garnish

Your Butter Chicken is ready! Garnish it with fresh coriander leaves.
Serve it hot with naan, rice, or roti. Don’t forget to have some extra buttery naan on the side to scoop up that delicious sauce.

Method:

Now that we’ve gone through the preparation steps let’s summarize the method:

Marinate the chicken with yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, turmeric, and salt for at least 30 minutes.
Cook the marinated chicken until golden brown and set it aside.
In the same pan, cook ginger-garlic paste, spices, and tomato puree until the oil separates.
Add back the cooked chicken and stir in garam masala and cream.
Crush kasuri methi, add butter, and simmer.
Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and serve hot with naan or rice.

In Conclusion:

Making Butter Chicken at home is a rewarding experience that will fill your kitchen with the wonderful aroma of Indian spices. With the right ingredients and a little bit of time, you can create a restaurant-quality dish that will impress your family and friends. So, roll up your sleeves, gather your ingredients, and get ready to savor the rich, creamy goodness of homemade Butter Chicken.

Butter Chicken recipe(youtube)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpqP43npDnQ