Butter Chicken

Butter Chicken is a world famous dish made with boneless chicken in creamy tomato sauce. This rich & silky gravy tastes awesome. Cottage cheese (paneer) or vegetables can be used instead of chicken to make a vegetarian version.

Ingredients

500 gms boneless chicken

10-12 red tomatoes

3-4 tbsp butter

For 1st Marinade

1tsp Kashmiri Red chilly powder

1 tbsp lime juice

Salt to taste

For 2nd Marinade

1 cup strained thick yogurt

1 tsp Red chilly powder

1 tsp Ginger garlic paste

A pinch of garam masala powder

For Gravy

2 tbsp Butter

1 Big Cardamom

3-4 small cardamom

1 inch Mace (javitri)

1/2 tsp garam masala powder

6-7 ginger julienne

3-4 slit green chilies (seeds can be removed)

1 tsp red chilly powder (depending on taste)

1/2 tsp kasuri methi

1 cup fresh cream

1 tbsp honey

Salt to taste

Coriander leaves to garnish

Procedure

Cut chicken into small bite size pieces & marinate with first marinade for 20 minutes. Then marinate with second marinade for 2 hrs in the refrigerator.

Roughly chop tomatoes. Saute the tomatoes on a little butter. When the tomatoes become soft & pulpy, let it cool. Blend it in the mixture to a fine smooth tomato puree.

Heat butter in a pan. Add mace, big & small cardamom. Then add green chilies & ginger julienne. For extra spice some some red chilly powder can be added. Saute it. Now add the tomato puree. Add salt, garam masala powder & kasuri methi. Mix well.

Cover & cook as the gravy will splutter. Check in between. Do not add in water to this.The tomato gravy should be thick & most of the water should be evaporated. Some butter can be added in between.

Now pan fry the chicken pieces with very little oil. The chicken can also be roasted in oven. Do not overcook it as the moisture will be lost.

Mix the chicken pieces to the gravy. Be sure that the gravy is ready before the pieces are added. Now add fresh cream to it. The gravy will now be silky & smooth. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves. It tastes yummier than the restaurant ones.

Butter quantity can be adjusted according to individual liking. But as the name suggests it should give a creamy & buttery taste.

Butter chicken can be served with chapati or parathas.