Butter Chicken Recipe (2024)

For Marinating the Chicken:

• 1 tablespoon kasuri methi (fenugreek leaves) or, alternatively, 2 teaspoons fenugreek seeds (see note)

• 1/4 cup (60ml) plain Greek yogurt,store-boughtorhomemade

• 1 tablespoon garam masala, store-bought orhomemade

• 2 teaspoons Diamond Crystal kosher salt (if using table salt, use half as much)

• 1 teaspoon kala namak (black salt) (optional, see note)

• One 1-inch piece fresh ginger (1/2 ounce; 14g), peeled and finely grated

• 2 pounds (900g) boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 4), cut into bite-size, 1-inch pieces

For the Makhani Sauce:

• 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons kasuri methi (fenugreek leaves) or, alternatively, 1 tablespoon fenugreek seeds (see note)

• 2 whole dried chiles de arbol (see note)

• 1 pod brown cardamom or, alternatively, 1 pod green cardamom (see note)

• 1 whole clove

• 1 tablespoon garam masala, store-bought orhomemade

• 1 tablespoon Diamond Crystal kosher salt (if using table salt, use half as much by volume or the same by weight)

• One 28-ounce (800g) can whole fire-roasted tomatoes with their juices (see note)

• 1 ounce (28g) raw cashews (about 12 to 15)

• 1 1/4 cups water (295ml), divided

• 2 tablespoons (30ml) canola oil or other neutral-flavored oil

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• 1 medium white onion, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch dice

• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

• One 1-inch piece of ginger (1/2 ounce; 14g), peeled and thinly sliced

• 4 medium cloves garlic, smashed and roughly chopped

• 1/2 cup (120ml) heavy cream, plus more for drizzling

• 4 tablespoons (60g) unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces

• Warm long-grain rice, for serving

1. To Marinate the Chicken: In a small skillet, toast fenugreek leaves (or fenugreek seeds, if using) over medium heat, tossing them constantly, until quite fragrant, about 30 seconds. Transfer toasted leaves to spice grinder or mortar and pestle and grind to fine powder. Set aside.

2. In the center of a rimmed baking sheet, create a roughly 9- by 13-inch aluminum-foil boat with 1-inch sides, and set aside. (Alternatively, if you have a 1/4 rimmed baking sheet, use that instead, omitting foil.) In a medium mixing bowl, stir together yogurt, garam masala, salt, black salt, grated ginger, and ground fenugreek leaves.

   

3. Add chicken thigh pieces to bowl and, using clean hands, toss with marinade until evenly coated. Transfer chicken to prepared baking sheet, arranging pieces in a single, even layer in the aluminum-foil boat.

   

4. For the Makhani Sauce: Add fenugreek leaves (or seeds, if using), chiles de arbol, brown cardamon (or green cardamom, if using), and clove to small skillet and place it over medium heat. Toast, tossing frequently, until spices are quite fragrant, about 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer spices to spice grinder or mortar and pestle along with garam masala and salt and grind to a fine powder. Set aside. (See the note section for instructions on a shortcut spice mix using pre-ground spices.)

5. In a small, microwave-safe bowl, combine cashew nuts and 1/4 cup (60ml) water. Microwave on high until cashews look plump and have softened slightly, about 1 minute. Set aside.

   

6. In a Dutch oven, heat canola oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add onions and baking soda and, using a wooden spoon, stir to coat onions in oil and distribute baking soda. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onions have completely broken down, most of their moisture has cooked off, and they begin to brown, 14 to 17 minutes. If at any point onions seem to be browning too quickly or unevenly, add a tablespoon (15ml) of water and scrape up any brown bits that form on the bottom of the pot.

7. Reduce heat to medium low. Add ginger and garlic to pot and cook, stirring constantly, until quite fragrant, about 1 minute. Using a wooden spoon, push onions into center of pot to form a mound. Add ground spice mixture to the mounded onions to prevent spices from scorching. Cook, stirring constantly, until onions are coated in spices and mixture is very fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add cashews and their soaking liquid, scraping up any bits stuck to the bottom of the pot. Add tomatoes and their juices plus 1 cup (240ml) water and, using the back of wooden spoon, crush tomatoes.

   

8. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to maintain gentle simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes are completely broken down and liquid has reduced, about 40 minutes.

9. Meanwhile, adjust oven rack to about 3 inches below broiler element and preheat broiler on high. Transfer chicken to broiler. Cook, checking the chicken frequently to ensure it's not burning, until chicken is charred in spots and is fully cooked through, about 14 minutes (time will vary depending on the strength of the broiler). Remove chicken from broiler and set aside.

   

10. Using an immersion blender and off the heat, blend contents of Dutch oven until completely smooth, about 2 minutes. Alternatively, transfer contents of pot to blender and blend until completely smooth, about 2 minutes. Add butter and cream, and blend until completely smooth and emulsified, about 2 minutes. At this point, you may remove 1 1/2 (360ml) cups of sauce and reserve it for another use.

    

11. To Finish: Add reserved broiled chicken along with any juices in the sheet pan to sauce and stir until chicken is well incorporated and warmed through. Ladle chicken and sauce into serving bowl and drizzle with additional heavy cream. Serve immediately with rice alongside.

    

Special Equipment

Dutch oven; spice grinder; immersion blender or blender.

Notes

If you cannot find kala namak, or black salt, you can substitute a 1/2 teaspoon of Diamond Crystal kosher salt. (Read more about black salt in our guide to salt).

If you'd prefer to forego toasting and grinding the spices yourself, you can use pre-ground spices. You can substitute 1 tablespoon of ground fenugreek for the 2 teaspoons of fenugreek called for in the marinade, and 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon of ground fenugreek for the 1 tablespoon of fenugreek seeds called for in the sauce; you can substitute 1/4 teaspoon of ground cardamom for the 1 green cardamom pod called for in the sauce; you can substitute 1/8 teaspoon of ground clove for the 1 clove called for in the sauce; you can substitute 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper for the chile de arbol (more, if you like it spicier).

Brown cardamom is sometimes called black cardamom, but note that it's not the same as Chinese black cardamom (also sometimes called red cardamom).

Fire-roasted whole canned tomatoes are preferred, but plain whole canned tomatoes can be used as well.

Make-Ahead and Storage

Sealed in an airtight container, butter chicken will keep for up to a week in the refrigerator.

Read More

• Floyd Cardoz's Butter Chicken (Chicken Tikka Makhani)
• The Best Chicken Tikka Masala
• Indian Village (Gavthi) Chicken Curry
• Kerala-Style Chicken (Nadan Khozi Curry)
• Grilled Naan