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Butter Chicken Recipe

Butter Chicken

A rich, restaurant-style butter chicken with charred marinated chicken in acreamy tomato-cashew sauce.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Marinate Time: 2 hours
Total Time 3 hours
Servings: 4
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken Marinade
  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into 1.5-inch pieces
  • ½ cup plain full-fat yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
  • 1 teaspoon Kashmiri chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon salt
Sauce Base
  • 3 tablespoons ghee or unsalted butter
  • 1 medium yellow onion roughly chopped
  • 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
  • 2 cups canned crushed tomatoes
  • ¼ cup raw cashews
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 teaspoon Kashmiri chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • Salt to taste
To Finish
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • ⅓ cup heavy cream
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon dried fenugreek leaves kasuri methi, crushed
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped, for topping

Method
 

  1. Marinate the chicken with all marinade ingredients for at least 2 hours, up to overnight.
  2. Broil the chicken on a baking sheet for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping once, until charred at the edges and cooked through to 165°F.
  3. Sauté the onion in ghee over medium heat for 6 to 7 minutes until soft and golden at the edges.
  4. Add ginger-garlic paste and cook 30 seconds, then stir in tomatoes, cashews, water, chili powder, garam masala, and cumin. Bring to a simmer.
  5. Simmer uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes, until thickened and the oil separates slightly at the edges.
  6. Cool 5 minutes, then blend until smooth and return to the pot.
  7. Add the broiled chicken and its juices. Simmer 8 to 10 minutes.
  8. Stir in butter, cream, sugar, and crushed kasuri methi. Warm through 2 to 3 minutes on low heat.

Notes

Storage: Refrigerate in an airtight container up to 4 days. Freezes up to 2 months; texture may shift slightly on thawing.
Allergens: Contains dairy and tree nuts (cashews). See substitutions in the full post above.
Notes: Overnight marinating gives the most tender chicken. Don't skip broiling the chicken separately, it's what gives the dish its char.