Entrees Indian

Butter Chicken Bhangra

Butter chicken is by far one of the more aromatic and bolder tastes from India. A great meal idea for any fancier of ethnic cuisine. Prepare these with many variations from mild to spicy. Rich Indian butter chicken with enough spice to make plain chicken file a complaint.

Butter Chicken Bhangra

What It Is

Butter chicken is by far one of the more aromatic and bolder tastes from India. A great meal idea for any fancier of ethnic cuisine. Prepare these with many variations from mild to spicy. Rich Indian butter chicken with enough spice to make plain chicken file a complaint.

Origin

The Dinner by the Minute source lists the origin as: India (New Delhi).

Fun Fact

Butter chicken was reportedly invented at Delhi's Moti Mahal restaurant in the 1950s as a way to use up leftover tandoori chicken, simmered in a butter-tomato gravy so it wouldn't dry out. A happy accident that's been reheating gloriously ever since.

Prep
25 min
Cook
35 min
Temp
Stovetop simmer
Total
1 hr
Servings
6 bowl with rices
(assuming no one present is secretly a moose)
Difficulty
moderate
Gluten-Free Nut-Free High-Protein
Diet
Gluten-Free, Nut-Free, High-Protein
Away Mission
130 min walk
(roughly one away mission's worth of running from something that wants you dead)

Ingredients

  • 2.2 lb (1 kg) boneless skinless chicken breast
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp garam masala
  • 1 tsp kosher salt
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • 2½ cups chopped onion
  • 2 tbsp coarsely chopped garlic
  • 2 tbsp garam masala
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • ¼ tsp cinnamon
  • 2 tsp kosher salt, or to taste
  • 2 cups diced no-salt-added canned tomatoes
  • ¾ cup heavy cream
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • Chopped cilantro, optional

Steps

  1. 2 lbs (1 kg) boneless, skinless chicken breast 2 tbsp lemon juice 2 cloves garlic minced 1 tbsp garam masala 1 tsp kosher salt *optional you can use chicken wings, thighs, breasts and even drumsticks. Add some Sriracha to the sauce to add some authentic spice. For sauce: ¼ cup vegetable oil 2 ½ cups chopped onion about 2 medium-large 2 tbsp coarsely chopped garlic 2 tbsp garam masala 2 tsp paprika ¼ tsp cinnamon 2 tsp kosher salt or to taste 2 cups diced no-salt-added canned tomatoes ¾ cup heavy 35% or whipping cream 2 tbsp butter Chopped cilantro to garnish (optional)
  2. Combine all ingredients in a zip-top bag or shallow baking dish, massaging the marinade into the chicken. Let stand at room temperature while you prepare the sauce, or marinate in the fridge overnight. For sauce
  3. Heat oil over medium heat in a large saucepan or dutch oven. Add onions and slowly cook until golden, about 20 minutes, reducing heat if they are getting crispy or browning quickly. East Indian Affairs Indian cuisine comprises a wide variety of regional and traditional cuisines native to the Indian subcontinent. Given the range of diversity in soil type, climate, culture, ethnic groups, and occupations, these cuisines vary substantially from each other and use locally available spices, herbs, vegetables, and fruits. Tandoori is the main spice in many dishes. 113
  4. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in garam masala, paprika, cinnamon and salt; cook 1 minute more. Add tomatoes; cook 2 minutes, then add cream and carefully puree using an immersion blender (or standing blender, but do it in batches or the steam will blow the top off).
  5. Return sauce to saucepan and bring to a simmer. Add chicken to the sauce, cover, and simmer over medium-low heat until cooked through, about 12 minutes (remove a couple of pieces to make sure they are no longer pink inside). A gentle simmer is required to gently cook the breasts so they don't become tough, and you don't want to overcook them.
  6. Stir in butter, taste and add more salt to taste. Serve sprinkled with cilantro, if desired.

Notes

This tastes even better the next day, once the spices have had time to fully settle into the sauce. Worth making ahead if you can.

Nutrition Facts
Per 1 bowl with rice
Calories 590
Burning this off: one Tragically Hip song, played loud, on a treadmill.
% Daily Value*
Fat 32.0 g 43%
Saturated + Trans 12 g 60%
Cholesterol 180 mg
Sodium 1310 mg 57%
Carbohydrate 21.0 g
Fibre 6.0 g 21%
Sugars 8.0 g 8%
Protein 56.0 g
Potassium 1040 mg 22%
Calcium 120 mg 9%
Iron 4.0 mg 22%
*5% or less is a little, 15% or more is a lot. Sodium levels calculated in a country with universal healthcare — and it's free, so don't worry about it too much.
A genuinely respectable nutrition profile. No red flags here — go ahead and feel a little smug about it.

Substitutions

Chicken thighs stay juicier than breast if you don't mind the extra fat. Garam masala can be approximated with a mix of cumin, coriander and cinnamon if you're out. Plain yogurt can thin the sauce if it's gone too thick.

Storage

Refrigerate in a covered container for up to 4 days. Like most curries, this one tastes even better the next day once the spices have had time to settle in.

Freezing

Not stated in the cookbook. Most cooked bases can be frozen in airtight meal-sized portions, but dairy sauces, potatoes and fresh garnishes may change texture after thawing.