Butter Chicken (Boneless)

Ingredients list for Butter Chicken

• 400 grams boneless chicken, cut into 1½ inch pieces                                    
• 1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chilli powder                                  
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice                                                        
• Salt to taste
• 2 tablespoons butter

Marinade

• ½ cup thick yogurt                             
• 2 teaspoons ginger paste                    
• 2 teaspoons garlic paste                                 
• ½ teaspoon red chilli powder                        
• ½ teaspoon garam masala powder                            
• Salt to taste
• 2 teaspoons mustard oil                     

Makhni gravy                               

• 12 medium tomatoes, roughly chopped
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 4 green cardamoms
• 1 gram mace (javitri)
• 1 teaspoon ginger paste
• 1 teaspoon garlic paste 
• Salt to taste
• 1 teaspoon red chilli (deghi mirch) powder
• ¼ teaspoon roasted and crushed dried fenugreek (kasoori methi)  
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 3½ tablespoons fresh cream

Method

1.   Prick the chicken pieces all over with a fork. Place them in a large bowl and add the salt, red chilli powder and lemon juice and mix well.  Cover the bowl with a cling film and set aside to marinate for thirty minutes in a refrigerator.

2.  For the marinade, mix together yogurt, ginger paste, garlic paste, chilli powder, salt and garam masala powder. Add the mustard oil and mix. Add the chicken and mix well so that all the chicken pieces are well coated with the marinade.  Cover the bowl with cling film and place it in the refrigerator to marinate for about two hours.

3.      For the gravy puree the tomatoes till smooth. 

4.      Heat two tablespoon butter in a deep non stick pan on low heat. Add the green cardamoms and mace and cook till fragrant. Add the ginger paste and garlic paste and sauté for a minute.  Add the pureed tomatoes, salt, red chilli powder and cook, stirring occasionally, for fifteen to twenty minutes.

5.      Preheat the gas tandoor.  Open the lid and lightly grease the platform.  Keep the chicken pieces, cover with the lid and cook till the chicken pieces are done.

6.      Add the roasted and crushed kasuri methi to the gravy and mix.  Add the remaining butter and cook for a few minutes.     

7.      Add the honey and cream and mix well.  Cook for two minutes more. Add the chicken pieces and cook for three minutes.

8.      Serve hot with naan.

Nutrition Info