Chicken Makhani Or Butter Chicken Recipes

CHICKEN MAKHANI (INDIAN BUTTER CHICKEN)

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large saucepan over medium high heat. Saute shallot and onion until soft and translucent. Stir in butter, lemon juice, ginger-garlic paste, 1 teaspoon garam masala, chili powder, cumin and bay leaf. Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add tomato sauce, and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in half-and-half and yogurt. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Season with salt pepper. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Reduce heat, and season with 1 teaspoon garam masala and cayenne. Stir in a few spoonfuls of sauce, and simmer until liquid has reduced, and chicken is no longer pink. Stir cooked chicken into sauce.
• Mix together cornstarch and water, then stir into the sauce. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes, or until thickened.

BUTTER CHICKEN - (MURGH MAKHANI)

Steps:

• Perforate the chicken pieces with either fork tines or with little knife cuts. (The idea is to allow the marinade to penetrate the pieces somewhat and have more surface areas to cling to.) Mix well the ingredients for the marinade and rub into the chicken pieces. Let it marinate for a few hours in the refrigerator, overnight if possible for best results.
• Heat half the butter on medium in a heavy-bottomed pan and put in the chicken along with the marinade. Cover and cook for about 25 minutes or till the chicken is fully cooked. After the liquids have evaporated, stir fry the chicken for some time in the residual fat.
• Heat the remaining butter in a saucepan and add the red chilli powder, coriander, cumin and black pepper. (See TIP at bottom) Fry for a few seconds. (See Step 6 Tip.).
• Add the chopped tomatoes, sugar and salt and cook uncovered on medium for about 7 minutes until the puree thickens and the fat separates. Stir in the whisked cream and reduce the heat to low.
• Add the chicken, chopped ginger and green chillies to the simmering gravy. Sprinkle salt to taste if needed. Mix well. Cover and simmer on low heat for about 10 minutes or till the curry is thoroughly heated through.
• Just before serving pour melted butter over the curry. Garnish with a swirl of fresh cream and finely chopped coriander leaves.
• TIP: For a thicker and richer gravy cashewnut paste (soak cashews in water for an hour or so and grind them) can be added while making the gravy in step 3 -- fry it along with the spice powders and then proceed as above.

AUTHENTIC CHICKEN MAKHANI (INDIAN BUTTER CHICKEN)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, add chicken, Ginger-garlic paste, Red chilli powder, Salt to taste, Turmeric powder, Coriander powder, Cumin Powder, Garam masala, Chicken masala powder, and Yogurt.
• Stir mixture well, and marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
• In a large pan or wok, medium-high heat the oil and butter and fry the chicken pieces (set aside the marinate) just until slightly under-done, then add the marinate to the pan and cook for 2 more minutes, or until hot. When done, pour mixture into a different bowl, covered, and set aside.
• In the same pan add 1 tablespoon oil, 1 tablespoon butter, onion, and once the onions are starting to soften, add tomatoes and cashew nuts. Let this cook for about 3 minutes more.
• Add garlic paste, salt to taste, malt vinegar, sugar, garam masala powder and chilli powder, and just enough water for desired consistency. Evenly mix, turn the heat on low, and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes, adding more water if needed, and stirring on occassion.
• Pour this hot mixture into a blender or food processor, and blend into a fine puree (please be careful not to burn yourself). If you have an immersion blender, then you can instead blend it in the pan, otherwise, pour the puree back into the original hot pan when done.
• Add remainder of butter, cream, chicken mixture, and fenugreek leaves and let it simmer for at least 5-7 minutes.
• Pour mixture onto a large serving plate, perhaps over rice, garnish it with cream and fenugreek leaves.
• Butter Chicken is ready to be served!

CHICKEN MAKHANI (INDIAN BUTTER CHICKEN)

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large saucepan over medium high heat.
• Saute shallot and onion until soft and translucent.
• Stir in butter, lemon juice, ginger garlic paste, 1 teaspoon garam masala, chili powder, cumin and bay leaf.
• Cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
• Add tomato puree and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Stir in half-and-half and yogurt.
• Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
• Season with salt, pepper and cayenne.
• Remove from heat and set aside.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large heavy skillt over medium heat.
• Cook chicken until lightly browned, about 10 minutes.
• Reduce heat and season with 1 teaspoon garam masala and cayenne.
• Stir in about 1/3 of the sauce and simmer until liquid has reduced and chicken is no longer pink, about 5 minutes.
• Pour the rest of the sauce into the chicken.
• Mix together cornstarch and water, then stir into the sauce.
• Cook for 5 to 10 minutes, or until thickened.

MAKHANI CHICKEN (INDIAN BUTTER CHICKEN)

Steps:

• To Marinate: Place chicken in a nonporous glass dish or bowl with lemon juice, 1 tablespoon chili powder and salt. Toss to coat; cover dish and refrigerate to marinate for 1 hour.
• Drain yogurt in a cloth for 15 to 20 minutes. Place in a medium bowl; mix in salt, garlic paste, garam masala, butter, chili powder, ginger paste, lemon juice and oil. Pour yogurt mixture over chicken, replace cover and refrigerate to marinate for another 3 to 4 hours.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Place chicken on skewers. Place skewers in a 9x13 inch baking dish and bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until almost cooked through.
• To Make Sauce: Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in garam masala. When masala begins to crackle, mix in ginger paste, chopped garlic and green chile peppers. Saute until tender, then stir in tomato puree, chili powder, salt and water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring in honey and fenugreek.
• Place chicken in sauce mixture. Continue cooking for another 5 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink inside. Stir in fresh cream.

INDIAN BUTTER CHICKEN (CHICKEN MAKHANI)

Steps:

• Mix garam masala, tandoori masala, curry, cumin, cardamom, cayenne, salt, and black pepper together in a small bowl to make spice mixture.
• Place chicken in a large bowl and add 1/2 the spice mixture; turn to coat evenly.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken; cook and stir until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; cook and stir until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in remainder of the spice mixture, lemon juice, garlic, and ginger; cook and stir until combined, about 1 minute.
• Stir tomato puree into onion mixture and cook, stirring frequently, about 2 minutes. Pour in half-and-half and yogurt. Reduce heat to low and simmer sauce, stirring frequently, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Blend cashews in a blender until finely ground. Add sauce to the blender; puree until smooth.
• Pour blended sauce over chicken in the skillet. Simmer until thickened, 10 to 15 minutes. Garnish with cilantro.