Butter Chicken

Serves 1
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Directions

  1. 1Start by marinating chicken thighs in yogurt, ginger and garlic paste, salt, pepper, cumin, coriander, red chili powder, garam masala, and turmeric.
  2. 2Heat up vegetable oil with 1 tbsp of butter in a pan.
  3. 3Fry the chicken in batches until charred and crispy on both sides.
  4. 4Remove the chicken from the pan.
  5. 5In the same pan, fry sliced onions for 5 minutes until softened.
  6. 6Add a cinnamon stick and some cardamom pods to the onions.
  7. 7Add a splash of water to the onions and spices.
  8. 8Once the water has evaporated, add salt, pepper, cumin, coriander, red chili powder, garam masala, and turmeric to the pan and fry for 1 minute.
  9. 9Add tinned peeled tomatoes, green chilies, and fresh coriander to the pan.
  10. 10Add 300ml of water to the sauce.
  11. 11Cover the pan and let the sauce reduce for about 10 minutes.
  12. 12Take out the cinnamon stick and cardamom pods from the sauce.
  13. 13Blend the sauce until it's nice and smooth using an immersion blender.
  14. 14Add 1 tbsp of butter to the blended sauce and mix until it melts.
  15. 15Add the seared chicken back into the sauce.
  16. 16If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of water.
  17. 17Let the chicken finish cooking in the sauce for a few minutes.
  18. 18Finish the dish by adding double cream, saving a few tablespoons for garnish.
  19. 19Add dried fenugreek leaves to the dish.
  20. 20Garnish with chopped coriander and the saved cream.

Ingredients

  • 1 kg chicken thighs
  • 3 tbsp full fat yogurt
  • 1 tbsp ginger and garlic paste
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 1 tsp coriander
  • 1 tsp red chili powder
  • 0.25 tsp garam masala
  • 0.25 tsp turmeric
  • 4 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 3 cardamom pods
  • 1 tin peeled tomatoes
  • 2 -4 green chillies
  • 1 handful fresh coriander
  • 200 ml double cream
  • 1 tsp dried fenugreek leaves

Equipment

pantongswooden spoonimmersion blender

Tips

  • Charring the chicken gives the dish a nice smokey flavor and depth.
  • Adding water to onions prevents them from browning, you want onions to add a sweet, caramelized note.
  • Using peeled tomatoes results in a smoother sauce, you can also use passata.