Standard Butter Chicken

Overview:

  • Prep time: 30 minutes
  • Cook time: 30 minutes
  • Marinating time: 30 minutes minimum, 8 hours maximum
  • Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

Marinade:

  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into roughly 1-inch cubes

  • 1/4 cup full-fat plain yogurt

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste

  • 1 teaspoon dried coriander

  • 1 teaspoon Paprika

  • 1 teaspoon cumin

  • Salt to taste

Sauce:

  • 8 to 10 whole almonds

  • 8 to 10 whole cashews

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter - divided in 1.5 and 0.5 tablespoon parts

  • 1/2 tablespoon ginger paste

  • 1/2 tablespoon garlic paste (crush some minced garlic if paste is unavailable)

  • 1 teaspoon sugar

  • 1 (15-ounce) can canned diced tomatoes (or tomato sauce for an easier time)

  • 2 tablespoons ground coriander

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons ground Garam Masala

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground Paprika

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground red chilli powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1 cup water

  • 1/4 cup heavy cream

  • 1/2 tablespoon Kasuri Methi

Method:

1 - 24 hrs before mealtime:

  1. Marinate the chicken: Bring the chicken and the rest of the marinade ingredients together in a large bowl. Using your hands, massage the marinade into the chicken. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to overnight.
  1. Soak cashews and almonds in water for at least an hour to (or up to overnight) before preparing the rest of the recipe.

Hour-of Meal Prep:

  1. Cook the chicken: Heat a skillet or grill pan over medium-high heat. Drizzle a teaspoon of oil to the pan.
  1. Working in batches, remove chicken from the marinade and grill them on the pan for 3 to 5 minutes on each side, until the chicken is cooked through (clear juice runs out of it when you cut into it). Do not crowd the pan.
  1. Once cooked, transfer the chicken into a separate dish. Cover and set aside for later.
  1. Start making the sauce: Melt 1 1/2 tablespoons of the butter in a medium sized Dutch oven or a skillet on medium low heat. As soon as the butter melts, add the ginger garlic paste followed by sugar. Sauté for 1 to 2 minutes.
  1. Stir in the tomato and cook for 8 to 10 minutes on medium high heat, until all the extra liquid is cooked off. The sauce should be a loose, paste-like consistency.
  1. Add coriander, garam masala, paprika, red chilli powder, and salt. Stir and cook on medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Turn off the heat.
  1. Puree the sauce with the nuts: Transfer the paste to a blender or the bowl of a food processor.
  1. Add the soaked cashews and almonds. Blend into a smooth paste.
  1. Finish the dish: Return the paste to the cooking pan over medium heat. Add the water to the paste and stir to make a smooth sauce.
  1. As the sauce starts to boil, add the grilled chicken and heavy cream. Stir well. Cover the pan and simmer for 5 minutes.
  1. Rest the butter chicken: Turn off the heat and uncover the pan.
  1. Stir in the remaining 1/2 tablespoon butter and the kasuri methi.
  1. Cover again, and let the dish rest for 8 to 10 minutes so the flavor of kasuri methi can marry into the butter chicken.

Notes

  • Serve with a side of steamed basmati rice, roti, or naan. Leftovers will keep refrigerated, covered, for 5 days.

  • You can freeze this dish in an airtight covered container or a zip-top bag for a month. Thaw and reheat in a saucepan over medium-low heat to retain the texture.

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