Chicken Makhani (Butter Chicken Recipe)

A bowl of creamy chicken makhani curry with chunks of meat, served with white rice, salsa, fresh herbs, and two corn tortillas on the side.

Chicken Makhani (Butter Chicken Recipe)

Lauren

Chicken Makhani, better known as Butter Chicken in the UK, is one of the top curry choices for British folk everywhere. And for good reason - the clue is in the name - what dish isn't improved by the addition of a significant amount of butter?

5 from 3 votes

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 1 15

Total Time 1 20

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine Indian

Servings people

Calories 799 kcal

Ingredients

Chicken Marinade

1 tablespoon lemon juice
50 g natural yoghurt
1 teaspoon garlic purée
1 teaspoon ginger purée
½ teaspoon salt
600 g chicken breast chopped into bite sized pieces

Makhani Sauce - Stage 1

50 ml vegetable oil
100 g salted butter
½ coriander seeds slightly crushed - See Notes for any substitutions on spices
3 cardamom pods slightly crushed and outer shells discarded
4 whole cloves
2 bay leaves
1 cinnamon stick
½ teaspoon cumin seeds
2 onion finely chopped
400 g chopped tomatoes

Makhani Sauce - Stage 2

2 teaspoon garam masala
100 ml double cream heavy cream
1 teaspoon sugar
100 g salted butter

Instructions

Chicken Marinade

Mix 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 50 g natural yoghurt, 1 teaspoon garlic purée, 1 teaspoon ginger purée, ½ teaspoon salt for marinade together in a bowl
Mix 600 g chicken breast (chopped into bite sized pieces) through the yoghurt mixture and leave to marinate whilst you get on with the next stage of the curry

Makhani Sauce - Stage 1

Crush ½ coriander seeds and 3 cardamom pods in mortal and pestle - discard cardamom outer shells
Pour 50 ml vegetable oil into a deep sided pan and add all whole spices (crushed coriander seeds and cardamom pods, 4 whole cloves, 2 bay leaves, 1 cinnamon stick, ½ teaspoon cumin seeds)
Fry the whole spices on a medium heat for a few minutes until they're sizzling and popping (ensure not to burn them - so use your senses!)
Finely chop 2 onion and add to pan with 100 g salted butter - simmer on low/medium heat for 30 minutes (checking and stirring every 10 minutes)
Add 400 g chopped tomatoes, and cook for further 15 minutes, stirring throughout (the sauce should be orange/red at this point, if it’s brown then you’ve taken the spices too far).
Remove whole spices (bay leaves, cinnamon stick and cloves) before blending the sauce either in a food processor or a hand blender - place sauce in a separate dish to the side until you complete the next stage

Makhani Sauce - Stage 2

Add marinated chicken breast and 2 teaspoon garam masala to the now empty pan and cook for 10 minutes (until chicken is cooked through)
Add the blended curry sauce back into the pan with the chicken
Finally, add 100 ml double cream, 100 g salted butter and 1 teaspoon sugar to the sauce - allow to simmer for further 5 minutes then serve

Notes

Spices

You can substitute the following whole spices for ground spices:

whole cloves - - ½ teaspoon ground cloves
cardamom pods - ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
bay leaves (omit from recipe)
cinnamon stick - - ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
cumin seeds - ½ teaspoon ground cumin
coriander seeds - ½ teaspoon ground coriander

However, add them to the pan with the oil, butter and onions rather than frying in oil themselves (as there is no need to do this with ground spices).

If you don't have any specific spice from the list above, then simply omit it from the recipe. No need to substitute for something else.

I would urge you to use whole spices when making curries if possible, simply because the depth of flavour you can achieve is significantly better. Your curry will taste better, and you'll be happier as a result.

Nutrition

Calories: 799kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 36gFat: 66gSaturated Fat: 34gPolyunsaturated Fat: 9gMonounsaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 2gCholesterol: 234mgSodium: 940mgPotassium: 1022mgFiber: 4gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 1902IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 120mgIron: 3mg

Keyword butter chicken, butter chicken curry, butter chicken recipe, chicken makhani

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