> Butter Chicken Recipe (Indian Chicken Makhani)

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

• 1/2 kg (1.1 lbs) boneless chicken ( (cut to 1 inch pieces))
• 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder ( (or paprika adjust to taste, reduce for kids))
• 1/4 to 1/3 teaspoon salt ( (adjust to taste))
• 3/4 to 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/3 cup Greek yogurt ((hung curd/thick curd, refer notes))
• 3/4 tablespoon ginger garlic paste ((or 1/2 tbsp fine grated ginger + 1/2 tbsp fine grated garlic))
• 1/8 teaspoon turmeric ((haldi, optional))
• 3/4 to 1 teaspoon garam masala ((adjust to taste))
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder ((optional))
• 1 teaspoon coriander powder ((optional))
• 1 teaspoon kasuri methi ((optional, dried fenugreek leaves))
• 3/4 to 1 tablespoon oil
• 2 to 3 tablespoons butter (or ghee (divided))
• 2 inch cinnamon (piece (optional, for extra flavor))
• 2 to 4 green cardamoms ((optional, for added flavor))
• 2 to 4 cloves ((optional))
• 11/2 cups (130 grams) onions (sliced (optional, *updated, cuts down acidity from tomatoes))
• 600 grams (1.3 lbs.) fresh tomatoes ((or 1 cup passata/canned tomato puree or 1/3 cup double concentrate tomato paste - for 1x))
• 3/4 tablespoon ginger garlic paste ((or 1/2 tbsp each fine grated ginger and garlic))
• 1 to 2 green chilies ( (optional, deseed, slit or chop))
• 28 (42 grams,1/3 cup) whole raw cashews ( (soaked in hot water, sub with 1/4 to 1/3 cup heavy cream))
• 1/2 cup water (to blend (more if required))
• 1 to 2 teaspoons Kashmiri chili powder ((reduce for kids, adjust to taste))
• 1 to 11/2 teaspoons garam masala ((divided, adjust to taste))
• 1 to 11/2 teaspoon coriander powder ((optional, adjust to taste))
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder ( (optional, adjust to taste))
• 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon salt ( (adjust to taste))
• 1 teaspoon sugar ( (to balance the flavors))
• 1/2 tablespoon Kasuri methi ((dried fenugreek leaves))
• 11/2 cups hot water (to make gravy (cut down to 1 cup if omitting cashews))
• 1/3 cup (80 to 100 ml) heavy cream ( or whipping cream (divided))
• 2 tablespoons coriander leaves ((fine chopped to garnish))

> steps

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. Marinate and rest for a minimum of 30 minutes, or overnight for best results. Cover and refrigerate.
3. Optional – If using onion, sauté in 1 tablespoon oil until lightly golden, for 7 minutes. Cool down.
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. Make the sauce
6. Grill or roast chicken
7. How to make Butter Chicken