Butter Chicken

Butter chicken: – Butter Chicken is a dish, originating in the Indian subcontinent, of chicken in a mildly spiced tomato sauce.

INGREDIENTS
For the chicken marinade:

• 800gm boneless and skinless chicken thighs or breasts cut into bite-sized pieces.
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt.
• 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic.
• 1 tablespoon minced ginger.
• 2 teaspoons garam masala.
• 1 teaspoon turmeric.
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin.
• 1 teaspoon red chili powder.
• 1 Lemon.
• 1 teaspoon of salt.

For the sauce:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil.
• 2 tablespoons ghee (or 1 tbs butter + 1 tbsp oil).
• 1 large onion, sliced or chopped
• 1 1/2 tablespoons garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon ginger, minced or finely grated
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 400 gm crushed tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon red chili powder (adjust to your taste preference)
• 1 1/4 teaspoons salt (or to taste)
• 1 cup of heavy or thickened cream (or evaporated milk to save calories)
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon kasoori methi (or dried fenugreek leaves)

INSTRUCTIONS

In a bowl, combine chicken with lemon juice and red chili powder. Keep this mixture for 15 minutes in the refrigerator until then grind the tomatoes. Now take out the chicken mixture and mix 1/2 cup plain yogurt, 1 tablespoon garlic paste, 1 tablespoon minced garlic, 1 tablespoon minced ginger, 2 teaspoons garam masala, 1 teaspoon turmeric, 1 teaspoon ground cumin and salt according to taste.Now the whole chicken marinade is ready for fry.

Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. When sizzling, add chicken pieces in batches of two or three, making sure not to crowd the pan. Fry until browned for only 3 minutes on each side. Set aside and keep warm. (You will finish cooking the chicken in the sauce.)

Heat butter or ghee in the same pan. Fry the onions until they start to sweat (about 6 minutes) while scraping up any browned bits stuck on the bottom of the pan. Add garlic and ginger and saute for 1 minute until fragrant, then add ground coriander, cumin, and garam masala. Let cook for about 20 seconds until fragrant, while stirring occasionally. Add grinded tomatoes, chili powder, and salt. Let simmer for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally until sauce thickens and becomes a deep brown-red color.

Remove from heat, scoop mixture into a blender and blend until smooth. You may need to add a couple of tablespoons of water to help it blend (up to 1/4 cup). Work in batches depending on the size of your blender.

Pour the pureed sauce back into the pan. Stir the cream, sugar and crushed kasoori methi (or fenugreek leaves) through the sauce. Add the chicken with juices back into the pan and cook for an additional 8-10 minutes until chicken is cooked through and the sauce is thick and bubbling.

Garnish with chopped coriander and serve with fresh, hot rice or naan.