Avatar photo

By Citizen Reporter

Journalist


Recipe of the day: Easy Butter Chicken

This recipe is hearty, filling and totally delicious.


For the love of curry! This butter chicken recipe will warm your heart. With all the traditional Indian flavours to make a perfect curry. Get the kids involved too as it’s so easy and delicious to make and can be served with rice or roti.

Butter Chicken recipe

Ingredients

  • 3 Tablespoons of Ghee or Vegetable Oil
  • 6 Chicken Breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces and seasoned)
  • 1 Tablespoon of Mustard Seeds
  • 1 Large Onion (finely chopped)
  • 1 Tablespoon of finely chopped fresh Ginger
  • 1 Tablespoon of crushed Garlic
  • 1 teaspoon of Garam Masala
  • 1 teaspoon of ground Cumin
  • 1 Teaspoon of ground Coriander
  • ½ teaspoon Chilli Powder (or more if you like it hot)
  • Pinch of Sugar
  • Salt and Pepper
  • 8 Cardamom Pods (toasted and seeds ground)
  • 400 g Large Juicy Tomatoes (peeled and grated)
  • 2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste
  • ½ Cup Chicken Stock
  • 1 Cup Fresh Cream
  • 100 g Cold Butter (cut into small pieces)

To garnish off the ambrosial Chicken dish you will need:

4 Tablespoons Cashew Nuts (lightly toasted and chopped)
Fresh Coriander

Method

  1. Heat 2 tablespoons of Ghee or Oil in a saucepan, and gently sauté the chicken pieces in batches till half cooked.
  2. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside till late.
  3. Add the remaining Ghee to the saucepan and heat, now add the Mustard Seeds and fry for a few minutes until it pops.
  4. Add the Onion, Ginger and Garlic, and cook for a few minutes till fragrant. Stir in the Garam Masala, Cumin, Coriander and Chilli Powder – do not let the spices burn! Add a little more Ghee and cook for a few minutes.
  5. Now add the Sugar, Salt, Pepper, Cardamom, Tomatoes, Tomato Paste and Chicken Stock. Bring to a boil and cook till the sauce has become fragrant.
  6. Pour the sauce into a food processor and blend till smooth. Return to the saucepan and add the cream. Bring the sauce to a simmer, adjust the seasoning, and return the chicken to the pot. Warm through.
  7. Just before you are ready to serve, stir in the chopped Butter a few pieces at a time. Spoon the Butter Chicken into a bowl, and garnish with chopped Coriander and Chopped Cashew Nuts.
  8. Serve with steaming hot Basmati Rice.

READ NEXT: Butter it up with this roast chicken recipe

Read more on these topics

Father's Day recipe

Access premium news and stories

Access to the top content, vouchers and other member only benefits