Butter Chicken Recipe (Indian Chicken Makhani)

Butter Chicken Recipe (Indian Chicken Makhani)

4 servings
Butter chicken is a popular Indian dish made with chicken, spices, tomatoes & cream. This creamy & authentic tasting butter chicken is the best you can make at home. Serve butter chicken with Turmeric rice, Cumin rice, basmati rice or naan.

Ingredients

  • ½ kg boneless chicken)

    1.1 lbs

  • ½ to ¾ teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder)
    (or paprika adjust to taste, reduce for kids
  • ¼ to ⅓ teaspoon salt)
    (adjust to taste
  • ¾ to 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ⅓ cup Greek yogurt)

    (hung curd/thick curd, refer notes

  • ¾ tablespoon ginger garlic paste
  • ⅛ teaspoon turmeric)

    (haldi

  • ¾ to 1 teaspoon garam masala)
    (adjust to taste
  • ½ teaspoon cumin powder)

    (optional

  • 1 teaspoon coriander powder)

    (optional

  • 1 teaspoon kasuri methi)

    (optional, dried fenugreek leaves

  • ¾ to 1 tablespoon oil
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons butter)

    or ghee (divided

  • 2 inch cinnamon

    piece

  • 2 to 4 green cardamoms
  • 2 to 4 cloves
  • 1½ cups onions)

    130 grams

  • 3 cups fresh tomato puree)

    600 grams, 24 oz

  • ¾ tablespoon ginger garlic paste
  • 1 to 2 green chilies)

    (deseed, slit or chop, optional

  • 28 whole raw cashews)

    42 grams

  • ½ cup water)

    to blend (more if required

  • 1 to 2 teaspoons Kashmiri chili powder)
    (reduce for kids, adjust to taste
  • 1 to 1½ teaspoons garam masala)
    (divided, adjust to taste
  • 1 to 1½ teaspoon coriander powder)
    (optional, adjust to taste
  • ½ teaspoon cumin powder)
    (optional, adjust to taste
  • ½ to ¾ teaspoon salt)
    (adjust to taste
  • 1 teaspoon sugar)

    (to balance the flavors

  • ½ tablespoon Kasuri methi)

    (dried fenugreek leaves

  • 1½ cups hot water

    to make gravy

  • ⅓ cup heavy cream)

    80 to 100 ml

  • 2 tablespoons coriander leaves)

    (fine chopped to garnish

Directions

  1. 1

    Marinate chicken with lemon juice, chili powder and salt. Cover and rest for 20 minutes. Next add yogurt, kasuri methi, oil, turmeric, ginger garlic paste, coriander powder, cumin powder and garam masala powder.

  2. 2

    Marinate and rest for a minimum of 30 minutes, or overnight for best results. Cover and refrigerate.

  3. 3

    Optional – If using onion, sauté in 1 tablespoon oil until lightly golden, for 7 minutes. Cool down.

  4. 4

    To a blender, add tomatoes, sautéed onions, cashews and water. Blend to a smooth puree. If you want you can also blend the cashews separately with water to a smooth cream.

  5. 5

    Remove the chicken from the refrigerator, to bring it close to room temperature.

  6. 6

    Spread one tbsp. butter or ghee in a griddle/pan and heat it well. Place the marinated chicken pieces, spacing them a little apart.

  7. 7

    Add chicken to the butter chicken gravy. Pour more hot water (about ½ cup, not in the recipe) if the sauce is too thick. Cover and simmer for about 5 to 7 minutes till it becomes tender.

Butter Chicken Recipe (Indian Chicken Makhani)

Butter Chicken Recipe (Indian Chicken Makhani)

45 min4 servings

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About this Recipe

Craving the rich, creamy goodness of authentic Indian butter chicken? This homemade Indian Chicken Makhani recipe delivers that restaurant-quality flavor you love right to your kitchen, proving you can create culinary magic without ordering takeout.

What sets this Butter Chicken apart is its masterful balance of tender, spiced chicken and a velvety smooth gravy. The secret lies in a fragrant blend of whole spices, the richness of cashews, and the subtle tang of tomatoes, all simmered with cream to perfection for an unforgettable depth of flavor.

Prepare for a symphony of flavors that will transport your taste buds straight to India. You'll enjoy succulent pieces of boneless chicken enveloped in a luscious, aromatic sauce that's both subtly sweet and mildly spicy, with just the right amount of tang. The gravy is incredibly smooth and creamy, a truly comforting experience that feels both indulgent and authentic.

This recipe is quite adaptable to your pantry and preferences. You can easily adjust the spice level by using paprika instead of Kashmiri red chili powder, or reducing it for a milder, kid-friendly dish. If fresh tomato puree isn't handy, canned tomato passata works wonderfully. For an extra rich flavor, swap some butter for ghee in the cooking process. You can also omit cumin powder, coriander powder, or kasuri methi if you don't have them on hand, though they add wonderful depth.

Serve this glorious Butter Chicken as the centerpiece of a cozy family dinner or an impressive meal for guests. It pairs beautifully with fragrant Turmeric rice, Cumin rice, fluffy basmati rice, or warm, pillowy naan to soak up every last drop of that incredible sauce. A sprinkle of fresh, chopped coriander leaves adds a bright, finishing touch.

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