Butter Chicken Recipe is a dish designed to be eaten with naan and basmati rice. The Indian plate is also often eaten with a side of raita. The word can have a variety of spellings due to being a regional dish (butter chicken, murgh makhani, butter chicken curry, and makhani murgh).
The butter Chicken Recipe has been around since the 1950s but is known today as a favorite in North America. It is very popular in restaurants, and some say it can be found at almost any Indian restaurant, but that isn’t entirely true.
How To Make Butter Chicken Recipe?
Ingredients
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 lbs. boneless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces (cut it down to 1 pound if your family is too big.)
- 1/4 cup of ghee or butter
- 4 tablespoons of Curry powder (optional)
- 1 tsp. of cumin powder
- 1 tsp. of turmeric
- 1/2 cup of tomato sauce (I use the kind that comes in a jar)
- 2 tablespoons of butter
- 2 servings of Basmati rice (4-5 cups)
- A few tablespoons of sugar to taste (if needed)
Directions
Step 1: Heat your ghee or butter in a deep saucepan and add your onions, curry powder, and cumin. Sauté for about 3 minutes on medium heat.
Step 2: Add your chicken and cook for about 3-4 minutes.
Step 3: Add the turmeric and tomato sauce, mix it all well, then bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and allow to cook for 20 minutes.
Step 4: While your chicken is simmering, make the rice. Follow the directions on the package, but it will likely take 17-20 minutes (including making the tea. There is not a lot of water in the rice!)
Step 5: Remove the chicken from the pan and allow it to cool some. When cool enough to handle, shred your chicken using two forks.
Step 6: In a skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter and add your chicken. To make sure it cooks evenly, use two skillets. Place one skillet in the middle of your stove and turn it on high heat. Place your shredded chicken in the pan and allow to cook for about 3-4 minutes.
Step 7: Remove the chicken from the skillet and transfer it to a bowl. Add about 1-2 tablespoons of butter to the skillet, add your sugar, stir it around for about 30 seconds (or until melted). Add your shredded chicken and mix it with your butter.
Step 8: Serve over rice and enjoy!
Nutritional Value Of Butter Chicken Recipe
| Nutrition | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 1264 (32% from fat) |
| Fat | 91.8g |
| Carbohydrates | 51.7g |
| Protein | 77.2g |
| Cholesterol | 553mg |
| Sodium | 2128mg |
| Potassium | 1455mg |
| Fiber | 1.8g |
| Sugar | 6.8g |
6 Attractive Serving Ideas of Butter Chicken Recipe
1. Butter Chicken Recipe With Naan Bread
Of course, the easiest way to serve butter chicken is with naan bread. This is because butter chicken uses a lot of oil, and it’s hard not to burn it by putting it on regular white or brown bread.
With naan, you can make sure your butter chicken is well oiled for the outside and not burned on the inside.
2. Butter Chicken Recipe With Basmati Rice
Another great way to serve butter chicken is with basmati rice. With dish like this, it’s hard to overcook a dish like this even if you add the chicken a little too early.
If you have an older pan, ensure that your rice doesn’t stick on the bottom of your pan, as that will burn and ruin the dish.
3. Butter Chicken Recipe With A Side Of Raita
Raita is a yogurt sauce often served with rice but can also be filled with meats and vegetables. Raita sauce has a lot of flavors, so you want to make sure to taste it!
If you want your butter chicken to be extra garlicky, topping it off with a bit of raita will help tame the garlic and make it much more palatable.
4. Butter Chicken Recipe With Rice Pilaf
If you want to try something a little different, why not serve your butter chicken with rice pilaf. Rice pilaf is very light, so that it will go well with your butter chicken. It’s soft and fluffy, so you’ll get a mix of the savory butter chicken and the more delicate rice pilaf.
5. Butter Chicken Recipe With Tomatoes
This is a great idea if you want to take your butter chicken from the traditional Indian dish to something that tastes more similar to the American version. There are two ways to make this simple recipe.
You can make it a traditional butter chicken dish, add it with your cooked chicken, and mix it before serving. If you want to go even further and create a truly American word, serve your butter chicken with mashed potatoes or baked potatoes.
6. Butter Chicken Recipe With A Side Of Potatoes
I love mashed potatoes, so I thought it would be a great idea to make butter chicken that way. The best part is that mash potatoes only take a few minutes to make, so it’s perfect for an easy meal.
You don’t have to worry about flavors being out of balance because with mashed potatoes, you can use whatever cheese your family loves or whatever butter you want in the mashed potatoes.
What Is So Special About Butter Chicken Recipe?
On top of being an easy recipe, butter chicken is an incredibly popular dish. It is made with a lot of spices and a lot of oil. A large amount of fat gives the word its incredible flavor, but it also means it is not very nutritious.
On top of being unhealthy, butter chicken may be high in fat and sodium. Many people are unaware that this dish can be made healthy by replacing all or some oil with ghee or butter (the recommended recipes all have them).
Why Is It Called Butter Chicken?
In a traditional recipe, butter chicken uses a lot of oil. Because of this, it is not friendly to your health. The way around this is to use ghee or butter as the main source of fat in the dish (you recommend the natural type rather than margarine).
You will enjoy this dish without worrying about negative side effects by using less oil. The way to know if you are using the correct amount of ghee or butter is by its color.
How To Store Butter Chicken Recipe?
This is a question that many people ask, but the truth is that you do not need to store this dish at all.
It will last up to 24 hours if left out at room temperature, so you can make it as you need. To preserve it for much longer than 24 hours, you can store it in the refrigerator and eat it periodically.
The Ending Line
This delicious dish is a must-try for any meal. It’s easy to make, and it’s very flavorful. Eat it with naan bread or rice. Either way, you can’t get any easier than that! It also serves as a recipe to break your vegetarian or vegan fast.
Without Butter Chicken Recipe, cooking would not be as fun and pleasurable as it should be because this recipe is so delicious and tempting that you would want to eat it all the time.
