Recipe for butter chicken

• Butter chicken, also known as Murgh Makhani, is a delicious and popular Indian dish that has become a favorite all over the world.
• The dish features marinated chicken cooked in a tomato-based sauce with butter and cream. It is a perfect blend of spices and flavors that makes it irresistible.
• In this blog post, we will take you through a step-by-step guide on how to make butter chicken at home.

Ingredients:

• 1 kg boneless chicken
• 1 cup yogurt
• 1 tablespoon ginger paste
• 1 tablespoon garlic paste
• 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon red chili powder
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin powder
• Salt, to taste
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 2 onions, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 4-5 tomatoes, pureed
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon garam masala powder
• Coriander leaves, for garnish

Step 1: Marinate the chicken

The first step in making butter chicken is to marinate the chicken. In a large bowl, mix together the yogurt, ginger paste, garlic paste, turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, cumin powder, and salt. Add the chicken and mix well to coat. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.

Marinating the chicken helps to tenderize the meat and infuse it with flavor. The yogurt also helps to keep the chicken moist during cooking.

Step 2: Cook the chicken

Once the chicken has marinated, it's time to cook it. You can either bake, grill or cook the chicken on a stovetop. For baking, preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the marinated chicken on a baking tray and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until cooked through.

For grilling, preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Place the chicken on the grill and cook for 6-8 minutes on each side, or until cooked through.

For stovetop cooking, heat a tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the marinated chicken and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until cooked through.

Once the chicken is cooked, set it aside and start preparing the sauce.

Step 3: Prepare the sauce

To prepare the sauce, heat 2 tablespoons of butter and 1 tablespoon of oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the chopped onions and cook until golden brown, stirring occasionally. Add the tomato paste and cook for a minute. Add the pureed tomatoes and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens.

Tomatoes are an important ingredient in butter chicken as they provide the base for the sauce. Make sure to use ripe and juicy tomatoes for the best results.

Step 4: Add the chicken to the sauce

Once the sauce has thickened, add the cooked chicken pieces to the pan and stir well to coat with the sauce. Add the heavy cream and stir again. Cook for 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened and the chicken is fully coated with the sauce.

Heavy cream is what gives butter chicken its creamy and rich texture. You can use half-and-half or coconut milk as a substitute if you prefer a lighter version.

Step 5: Add garam masala and garnish

• Add the garam masala powder to the pan and stir well. Cook for another 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and garnish with chopped coriander leaves.

• Your butter chicken is ready to serve! Serve it hot with naan bread or steamed rice.

Tips:

1. You can adjust the amount of chili powder according to your taste preference.
2. You can also add a tablespoon of honey or sugar to the sauce to balance out the acidity of the tomatoes.
3. You can make the sauce ahead of time and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Just reheat the sauce and add the cooked chicken before serving.
4. You can also freeze the cooked chicken in the sauce for up to 2 months. Just thaw and reheat before serving.