Do you love going out for Indian food, but the tab puts a considerable strain on your pocketbook? Thanks to the unique combination of spices, Indian food has a distinctive flavor that many people find addictive. The good news is that there are simple Indian recipes you can make at home for a fraction of the cost and minimal work. One very popular Indian dish is butter chicken.
Butter chicken is a culinary creation of Kundan Lal Gujral, an employee at a sweet shop in Peshawar, India, called Mukhey da Dhaba. He originally came up with the
idea for tandoori chicken but found that it tended to dry out if not eaten right away. He experimented with adding a sauce comprised of tomatoes, butter, cream, and of course, spice to retain moisture. The result was butter chicken.
Ingredients:
Note: You may have to visit an international market to locate some ethnic ingredients.
- 1 pound TBS boneless, skinless chicken thighs cut into 1” cubes and with excess fat removed.
- 2 tablespoons tandoori paste
- 1 teaspoon ginger, grated or minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Spices, combined into a small dish:
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon coriander powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon garam masala
- ½ cup plain greek yogurt
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 sweet onion, thinly sliced
- 1 14.5 ounce can of crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup heavy cream
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
- Jasmine rice, cooked according to directions on the label
- Naan
Directions:
- Prepare the marinade. Mix the tandoori paste, ginger, garlic, and spices in a bowl.
- Marinade the chicken. Put the chicken and the marinade in an airtight plastic bag and mix well, so the marinade fully coats all of the chicken. Place the bag in the refrigerator overnight.
- Saute the onions. Use a deep pan because all of the cooking will happen here. Start by melting the butter. Once melted, add the onions and saute until the onions begin turning translucent.
- Cook the chicken. In the same pan, add in the chicken with the marinade getting as much of the marinade from the plastic bag as possible. Pour in the can of crushed tomatoes. Stir to combine with the onions. Heat until the chicken is cooked through (about 10-15 minutes).
- Cream the sauce. Add the heavy cream and salt and pepper to taste. If you prefer your food to be a bit spicy, add just a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Serve your meal. Serve immediately by dishing the chicken onto plates with the prepared rice and pieces of naan.
Stop by The Butcher Shop for the Freshest Meats and Local Produce
Why purchase meat and produce from a grocery store that comes from who knows where? We have such excellent, fresh meat and produce available to us locally! The Butcher Shop is your one-stop shop for locally sourced meats and produce from farms right here in Southern Oregon. At TBS, you’ll find the perfect cut of meat for your meal, plus fresh-baked loaves of bread, fresh fruit and vegetables, local wine and beers, and even quality food specifically for your canine. Stop by today or call ahead to pre-order your ingredients.