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Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)

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Butter Chicken, also known as Murgh Makhani, is a rich and creamy Indian dish made with marinated grilled chicken pieces simmered in a spiced tomato and butter sauce. It’s a restaurant favorite that’s easy to recreate at home.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 lbs (700g) boneless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into chunks
  • 1 cup plain yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • Salt to taste
  • 2 tablespoons butter (for cooking chicken)
  • 2 tablespoons butter (for sauce)
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 2 teaspoons ginger-garlic paste
  • 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon sugar (optional)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • Fresh cilantro for garnish

Instructions

  1. In a bowl, combine yogurt, lemon juice, ginger-garlic paste, turmeric, garam masala, cumin, and salt. Add chicken and marinate for at least 1 hour, preferably overnight.
  2. Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a pan over medium-high heat. Cook marinated chicken until browned and cooked through. Set aside.
  3. In the same pan, add 2 tablespoons butter. Sauté chopped onion until golden brown.
  4. Add ginger-garlic paste and cook for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
  5. Stir in crushed tomatoes, chili powder, coriander, and sugar. Simmer for 10 minutes until thickened.
  6. Blend the sauce with an immersion blender or in a regular blender until smooth (optional).
  7. Return the sauce to the pan, add cream, and simmer for 5 minutes.
  8. Add the cooked chicken and simmer for another 5–10 minutes. Adjust salt and seasoning as needed.
  9. Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve hot with naan or rice.

Notes

  • For smoky flavor, grill or broil the chicken before adding to the sauce.
  • You can adjust spice levels by modifying chili powder amount.
  • Use cashew paste instead of cream for a richer, nutty flavor.
  • Butter chicken freezes well for meal prep.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://tastyera.com/butter-chicken-murgh-makhani/