Description

This Restaurant Style Butter Chicken is as authentic as it gets, without having to hunt down ingredients. Smoky, bursting with flavour – YUM!

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Ingredients

1kgChicken Thighs, skinless and boneless , cut into 1.5 inch pieces (or use bone-in Chicken pieces)

1tablespoonOil

For the Marinade

1/2cupHung Curd, or Greek Yogurt

1tablespoonKashmiri Chilli Powder, sub with 1/2 tbsp paprika + 1/2 tbsp cayenne

1tablespoonCoriander Powder

1/2teaspoonTurmeric

1 1/2tablespoonsGinger Garlic Paste

1teaspoonGaram Masala Powder

1teaspoonSalt

For the Gravy

1tablespoonOil

1tablespoonButter

1inchCinnamon

2Green Cardamom Pods

3Cloves

5Kashmiri Red Chillies, dried chillies

6Garlic Cloves

1Onion, roughly chopped

1/4cupCashew Nuts

7 – 8Tomatoes, approx 500 grams, roughly chopped (or 1 (15-ounce) can canned diced tomatoes)

1/2teaspoonRed Chilli Powder

2tablespoonsKetchup

1tablespoonsKasuri Methi, dried fenugreek leaves

1/2teaspoonSalt, taste and adjust

3-4tablespoonsFresh Cream

Instructions

• Start by mixing all the ingredients under marinade and adding the chicken to it. Mix well, cover and set aside for 15-30 minutes while you make the gravy.

For the gravy, heat 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet or pan. Add cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, whole red chilies and garlic. Saute for a minute or so till fragrant. Add onions and saute on high heat for 2-3 minutes till pink and translucent. Add tomatoes and cashew nuts. Mix once, reduce the flame to a simmer and cover and cook for 10-15 minutes till the tomatoes start breaking down and becoming pulpy.

• Switch off the flame. Cool completely and transfer to a blender or liquidiser, and blend till smooth.

In another pan, heat a tablespoon of oil. Add the chicken pieces and sear them on each side for 2-3 minutes on high heat, till theres a char on them. Remove them from the pan and set aside.

OR

• Pre heat your air fryer and then air fry at 190C for 5 minutes. We want to cook the chicken partially because it will continue to cook in the gravy

Transfer the puree back to the pan, add chilli powder, ketchup, salt and 1/4 cup water. Bring this to a boil. Reduce the flame to low, and cover and cook for 15-20 minutes. You’ll notice the colour of the gravy change to a deep orange.

• Add the chicken pieces and simmer for 10 minutes. Stir in the kasuri methi and fresh cream.

To smoke the chicken, place a small steel bowl (please don’t use plastic) in the middle of the butter chicken while it’s still in the pan. Heat a piece of charcoal or lump coal on an open flame till red hot and then place it in the bowl. Pour a teaspoon of oil or ghee over it, and as soon as it starts smoking, cover the pan with a lid. Smoke for 3-4 minutes. Remove the bowl and serve with naan or rice.