Description
Creamy butter chicken offers a delightful journey through Indian cuisine, showcasing tender marinated chicken in a rich, velvety sauce. Spices blend harmoniously, creating a memorable meal that transports diners to the heart of North India’s culinary traditions.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 pounds (907 grams) chicken thighs
- 1 cup (227 grams) plain yogurt
Spices and Aromatics:
- 1 tablespoon (15 grams) ginger, grated
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 2 teaspoons garam masala
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt (or to taste)
Liquid and Additional Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons (42 grams) butter
- 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) chicken broth
- 14 ounces (397 grams) crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 cup (237 milliliters) heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon (15 grams) cumin
Instructions
- Prepare a rich marinade by combining yogurt, lemon juice, and garam masala. Submerge chicken pieces completely, ensuring thorough coating. Refrigerate for minimum 30 minutes or ideally overnight for maximum flavor infusion.
- Extract chicken from marinade, allowing excess liquid to drain. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high temperature. Sear chicken pieces until golden brown and caramelized on each side, approximately 6 minutes total. Transfer browned chicken to a separate plate.
- Reduce skillet heat to medium. Melt butter and sauté diced onions until translucent and soft. Introduce minced ginger, crushed garlic, and aromatic spices including cumin, garam masala, coriander, chili powder, turmeric, and cinnamon stick. Toast spices for 60 seconds to release their essential oils.
- Pour chicken broth into the spice mixture. Reintroduce browned chicken pieces, add crushed tomatoes and a touch of sugar. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, allowing sauce to reduce and thicken slightly.
- Gently incorporate heavy cream into the sauce, creating a luxurious texture. Continue cooking for additional 5-10 minutes. Remove and discard cinnamon stick before final preparation.
- Plate the butter chicken over steamed rice. Garnish generously with freshly chopped cilantro leaves for a vibrant, aromatic finish.
Notes
- Enhance marination by piercing chicken with a fork to help yogurt penetrate deeper, creating more tender and flavorful meat.
- For a healthier version, swap heavy cream with Greek yogurt or coconut milk to reduce calories and add different nutritional benefits.
- Toasting whole spices before grinding intensifies their flavor, transforming the dish from good to extraordinary with minimal extra effort.
- Make this recipe gluten-free by ensuring all spices and broth are certified gluten-free, perfect for those with dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 800
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 52 g
- Saturated Fat: 31 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 51 g
- Cholesterol: 220 mg