Sunday, January 17, 2021

Indian Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)

This was a serious winner, the whole family, kids included, loved it! If you're short on time, substituting rotisserie chicken (skip broiling in the oven) would work well. 

I always double the sauce for our family of six. You could even quadruple the sauce to freeze for later!

Recipe found here



4 Tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces and chilled, divided
1 onion, chopped fine
5 garlic cloves, minced
4 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
1 serrano chili pepper, stemmed, seeded, and minced (for more spice reserve, mince, and add ribs/seeds)
1 Tablespoon garam masala 
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin 
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper 
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 cup tomato paste
1 Tablespoon sugar
1 cup heavy cream
2 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed (Can substitute chicken breasts, sliced in strips)
1/2 cup plain Greek yoghurt
3 Tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, divided (optional) 

Serve with Basmati Rice and/or Naan bread 

Melt 2 Tablespoons butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, ginger, and serrano and cook, stirring frequently, until mixture is softened, and onion begins to brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Add garam masala, coriander, cumin, and pepper and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add water and tomato paste and whisk until no lumps of tomato paste remain. Add sugar and 1 teaspoon salt and bring to boil. Off heat, stir in cream. Using immersion blender or blender, process until smooth, 30 to 60 seconds. Return sauce to simmer over medium heat and whisk in remaining 2 Tablespoons butter. Remove saucepan from heat and cover to keep warm. (Sauce can be refrigerated for up to 4 days; gently reheat sauce before adding chicken.) 

Adjust oven rack 6 inches from broiler element and heat broiler. Combine chicken, yogurt, and remaining 1 teaspoon salt in bowl and toss well to coat. Using tongs, transfer chicken to wire rack set in aluminum foil - lined rimmed baking sheet. Broil until chicken is evenly charred on both sides and registers 175 degrees, 16 to 20 minutes, flipping chicken halfway through broiling. 

Let chicken rest for 5 minutes. While chicken rests, warm sauce over medium-low heat. Cut chicken into 3/4 inch chunks (or strips if you prefer) and stir into sauce. Stir in 2 Tablespoons cilantro and season with salt to taste. Transfer to serving dish, sprinkle with remaining 1 Tablespoon cilantro, and serve.