What is Butter Chicken?
Butter Chicken or murg makhana originated on the Indian subcontinent. It is chicken served in a mild tomato sauce. The flavors are subtle and tantalizing.
To make the dish, marinate pieces of chicken for several hours in a mixture of lemon juice, Yogurt, red chilis, salt, Garam Masala and ginger-garlic paste. Then bake the chicken before incorporating with the sauce. For a truly authentic taste, use a tandoori-oven if you have access to one.
You can prepare the sauce while the chicken marinates. It should contain a generous amount of butter along with tomatoes, onions and a variety of spices. Most cooks use a mixture of cardamom, cumin, cloves, cinnamon, coriander, pepper, garam masala and fenugreek. The sauce is gently simmered until it’s smooth and thick. The mixture is then pushed through a sieve to give it a velvety texture.
At this point, there are several variations depending on your preference. Some cooks like to thicken the sauce with cashew paste. Others add almonds and raisins; and others add cream for a richer flavor.
Finally, combine the sauce and cooked chicken and allow them to simmer together until the dish is nice and hot. Just before serving, garnish with a few sprigs of coriander or a dollop of cream.
Why is Butter Chicken called Butter Chicken?
It is called Butter Chicken because it is prepared in a gravy that contains butter and cream.
Is Butter Chicken the same as Chicken Makhani?
Technically, yes, as the Hindi word for butter is makhani . Both these dishes are served with the same buttery tomato gravy.
Is Butter Chicken the same as Chicken Tikka Masala?
While the two dishes appear similar, Chicken Tikka Masala has a bolder and more complex flavor thanks to its different layers of spices. Butter Chicken has a milder, sweeter and more buttery gravy.
Is Butter Chicken Indian or British?
Butter Chicken originates in North India while Chicken Tikka Masala is a British invention.
Butter Chicken was accidentally invented in 1948 by a man named Kundan Lal Gurjal. He fled the political upheaval occurring around India and relocated to its capitol, Delhi. Here he started a restaurant, the Moti Mahal . The restaurant served many tandoori dishes, which are recipes baked in a circular clay oven, or tandoor .
One day the cooks at the Moti Mahal mixed leftover chicken in a tomato gravy that was rich in butter and cream and Butter Chicken was invented, or so the story goes.
Another version claims that it was at a sweet-shop in Peshawar called Mukhey da Dhaba where the dish first originated. An elderly gentleman named Mokha Singh owned the shop and it was here that his employee, the young Kundan Lal Gujral, first invented Butter Chicken, according to his grandson, Monish Gujral.
According to the younger Gujral, when his grandfather realized that the Tandoori Chicken would dry out if left unsold, he came up with the idea of immersing the pieces in gravy. This helped them to remain moist and palatable.
Whichever version of events is correct, in 1974 the recipe for Butter Chicken was published as “ Murgh Makhani (Tandoori chicken cooked in butter and tomato sauce)”. Since then, Indian cooks have continued to delight their guests with this delicious concoction.
Easy Slow Cooker Butter Chicken | One Pot Chef
Easy Slow Cooker Butter Chicken is a simplified version of the classic curry dish. Succulent chicken pieces are combined with herbs, spices, natural yoghurt, coconut milk and butter, then slow cooked until tender. Serve with rice, noodles or vegetables of your choice, this no-fuss recipe is great for weeknights or as an alternative to expensive takeaway orders – Try it today 🙂
This is the Easiest Slow Cooker Butter Chicken Anyone Can Make
This is our Amazing Slow Cooker Butter Chicken Curry, the sauce is quite dry but the flavour is amazing. The chicken is so soft and full of flavour from the spices, and the best bit is that is a really simple recipe. We used a mild curry powder in this recipe, but if you like an additional kick, use a Hot curry powder or a teaspoon of chili powder.
Slow Cooker Indian Butter Chicken
Expand you and your family’s palettes by conjuring up this Indian dish! Please do not be apprehensive; the level of spice and “curryiness” is completely customizable. The other great thing about Indian dishes is that you can easily take out the chicken and it would be just as food. This is an easy slow cooker meal with very few ingredients. Slow Cooker Indian Butter Chicken (Or Chicken Markhani)
How to Make Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
In this video, you’ll see how to make wonderfully fragrant Indian butter chicken. Chicken thighs, onions, and garlic step into the slow cooker with classic Indian spices, tomato paste, coconut milk, and yogurt. Let everything simmer in the crock pot, and come home to a 5-star Indian meal.
Slow Cooker Butter Chicken
Use your slow cooker to make this version of the Indian classic. It’s also much lower in fat than typical butter chicken recipes.
