Indian Butter Chicken
Butter chicken is a luxurious and soul-warming dish defined by its velvety, spiced tomato-cream sauce and tender marinated poultry. It is a world-renowned favorite that pairs perfectly with warm garlic naan or basmati rice.
- Prep time: 23 minutes
- Cook time: 27 minutes
- Total time: 50 minutes
- Servings: 4
- Difficulty: Medium
- Cuisine: International
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 2 tablespoons ginger-garlic paste
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 can crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- Fresh cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken in yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, turmeric, and chili powder for 1 hour.
- Sear the chicken in a pan until browned and remove from heat.
- In the same pan, melt the butter and add the crushed tomatoes.
- Simmer the tomatoes until they darken, then stir in the garam masala and sugar.
- Add the heavy cream to create a smooth, orange-colored sauce.
- Return the chicken to the pan and simmer until cooked through.
- Garnish generously with fresh cilantro.
- Serve hot with naan or rice.
Tips
- Marinating the chicken in yogurt is essential for tenderizing the meat.
- Use high-quality garam masala for the most authentic flavor.
- For an extra silky sauce, you can strain the tomato base before adding the cream.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this dairy-free?
You can replace the yogurt with coconut yogurt and the heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk.
Is this dish very spicy?
It is generally mild and creamy, though you can adjust the chili powder to increase the heat.
What if I don't have ginger-garlic paste?
You can finely mince fresh ginger and garlic in equal parts as a substitute.