BUTTER CHICKEN

Restaurant style Butter Chicken recipe is so easy to make at home and tastes awesome. It is said that, the recipe was found in Delhi. Butter chicken is one of the most popular dish in Indian cuisine. This North Indian gravy is rich in tomato, fresh cream and masala. Don't overthink to use much butter in your gravy as it will result in a smooth mouthwatering chicken gravy, perfect to feed the soul. So, find the ingredients and method to cook Butter Chicken in restaurant style -

Ingredients

• Chicken, on bone - 750 gm
• Lemon juice - 2 tsp
• Curd - 1 cup
• Onion, sliced - 1 medium size (optional)
• Ginger- garlic, chopped - 1 tsp
• Ginger-garlic paste - 2 tsp
• Green chillies, chopped - 2 tsp
• Tomatoes, chopped - 7 to 8 medium size
• Tomato puree - 1 cup
• Kashmiri red chilli powder - 3 tsp
• Garam masala powder - 1 and 1/2 tsp
• Kasuri methi - 1 tsp
• Cinnamon stick - 1 inch long
• Green cardamom - 3
• Cloves - 4
• Coriander leaves, chopped - 2 tsp
• Fresh cream - 3 tsp
• Honey - 2 tsp
• Salt - to taste
• Butter - as required
• Charcoal - 1 pc

Method

For making butter chicken in a proper way, we need 2 steps of marination. First, in a mixing bowl, take the chicken pieces. Add lemon juice, 1 tsp kashmiri red chilli powder and some salt. Mix well and keep it in refrigerator for 1 hr. Second, in a mixing bowl, take the curd. Add 1 tsp kashmiri red chilli powder, some salt, 1/2 tsp of garam masala powder and 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste. Mix well. Add the pre-marinated chicken pieces to it. Mix well and keep in refrigerator for 4 hrs.

In a pan, add 2 tsp butter. Add the chopped onion and tomatoes. Fry for 2 to 3 mins. Add the chopped ginger-garlic, green cardamom, cinnamon stick and cloves. Fry till the tomatoes are fully cooked. Take it out and make a fine smooth paste when it comes to the room temperature. Now strain this smooth paste using a sieve. 

Heat 1 tsp butter in a pan. Add the marinated chicken pieces to it. Cover the lid and cook till the chicken is nice and soft and the gravy becomes dry. In between stir well. Switch off the flame. Now place the charcoal piece on fire. Put a small copper bowl in the middle of the pan. When the charcoal is fully heated, put it in the copper bowl, add 1 tsp oil and cover the lid immediately. Let it be covered for 10mins. 

Now in an another pan, heat 2 tsp butter. Add kasuri methi and the premade paste. Add tomato puree and let it boil with covered lid for 10 mins. Add honey and salt to taste. Add the chicken pieces to it. Give it a nice stir. Add some chopped coriander leaves, green chillies and fresh cream. Stir well. Cook for a few mins. And delicious butter chicken is ready to serve. Enjoy with naan or rice.