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Ingredients
Chicken Marinade
- 1.5 pound chicken thighs - 700 grams
- 1 Tablespoon yogurt
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon ginger garlic paste
- 1/2 teaspoon Kashmiri chili powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Sauce
- 1 Tablespoon ghee or butter
- 1/2 teaspoon Kashmiri chilli powder
- 1 cup tomato passata
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 1/2 tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp kasuri methi
Instructions
- Combine chicken with marinade ingredients and rest 10–20 minutes.
- Heat ghee in a skillet and add chilli powder, and stir for 5 seconds only!
- Add the marinated chicken and cook until lightly browned.
- Add passata and simmer uncovered for 8–10 minutes.
- Adjust salt to taste.
- Stir in heavy cream and simmer 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle garam masala and kasuri methi.
- Serve hot with cauliflower rice, regular rice or naan.
Notes
Note on blooming chili powder:
To get that rich butter chicken color without bitterness, bloom the chili powder briefly in ghee. Keep the heat low and stir for just 5–8 seconds, then immediately add the chicken. Chili powder burns very quickly, so this step should be quick and controlled — you’re extracting color and aroma, not frying it. Note on sweetness:
Restaurant-style butter chicken has a very subtle sweetness that balances the acidity of the tomatoes and rounds out the flavors. If the sauce tastes slightly sharp, add a pinch of sweetener. Start with half a teaspoon and adjust as per taste.
To get that rich butter chicken color without bitterness, bloom the chili powder briefly in ghee. Keep the heat low and stir for just 5–8 seconds, then immediately add the chicken. Chili powder burns very quickly, so this step should be quick and controlled — you’re extracting color and aroma, not frying it. Note on sweetness:
Restaurant-style butter chicken has a very subtle sweetness that balances the acidity of the tomatoes and rounds out the flavors. If the sauce tastes slightly sharp, add a pinch of sweetener. Start with half a teaspoon and adjust as per taste.
Nutrition
Calories: 371kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 205mg | Sodium: 771mg | Potassium: 738mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 950IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 3mg
Disclaimer
Nutrition facts are estimates. Always check with your healthcare provider before making dietary changes.
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