Tag: Indian

  • Butter Chicken (murgh makhani)

    Butter Chicken (murgh makhani)

    Butter Chicken

    We were in Uganda with friends at the Speke hotel restaurant and they specialized in Indian Cuisine when I first tried this great dish.  It is wonderful.  So many flavors,in it’s like a party in your mouth. 

    I have loved it every since.  One of my boys is improving his backyard and lay pavers.  I whipped them up some lunch and delivered it since I knew they would be hungry.  I made it spicy, because the boys like it that way.

    Awesome bite! Butter Chicken

    2 pounds cut up chicken (I like chicken thighs)

    Marinade:

    2 cups yogurt, drained or sour cream

    6 cloves garlic, puree

    ½ in fresh ginger, puree

    2/3 tsp red chile powder or paprika

    ½ tsp cumin powder

    ½ tsp garam masala powder

    A tiny pinch of red tandoori coloring (optional)

    ½ tsp salt

    2 tsp lime juice

    (Marinade the chicken at least 1 hour but best overnight)

     Makhani Sauce:

    1 ½ pounds tomatoes, skinned, mashed

    ½ tsp kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves)

    3 oz chilled butter

    Few drops of vinegar

    ½ tsp garam masala

    Salt

    1 ½ ounces light cream

    When ready to cook, heat oil in cast iron or heavy braising pot, add chicken with marinade and cook over low heat turning chicken until it is done.  

    For sauce, in saucepan cook tomato pulp about  5 minutes until liquid has evaporated. Add chilled butter, paprika; after butter has melted cook for just 1 minute.

    Taste, if it is not sour add a couple of drops of vinegar.  Add the kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves), garam masala, salt to taste.  After 30 seconds, add the cream.  The sauce is ready. 

    Pour  into the skillet and  mix with the chicken. 

    (You can prepare and cook the chicken ahead of time.  The Makhani sauce takes only 5-6 minutes to make, so wait until the last bit and serve immediately with rice.)

    So good. Yum!
    Plating with Tumeric Rice
  • Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)

    2 T peanut oil

    2 pounds chicken thighs (boned and quartered)

    2 oz butter or ghee

    2 tsp garam masala

    2 tsp paprika

    2 tsp coriander

    1 T chopped fresh ginger

    1/4 tsp chili powder

    6 cardamon pods bruised

    1/2 tsp ground cinammon or 1 cinnamon stick

    11 oz pureed tomatoes

    1 T sugar

    3/4 cup sour cream  OR 1/4 cup yogurt, 1/2 cup cream, and 1 T lemon juice

    Brown thighs in oil in batches, set aside.

    Combine butter and spices and stirfry for 1 minute. Add chicken to spices and stir to coat.

    Add tomato, sugar and simmer for 15 minutes until sauce is thick.  Add yogurt, cream and lemon and simmer for 5 minutes.

    Serve with rice and poppedoms.