How to Make Perfectly Tender Butter Chicken

Looking for a quick yet satisfying dish that can be enjoyed by the entire family? Look no further than butter chicken, a classic favorite in Indian cuisine. Known as Butter Chicken, this dish is beloved for its rich flavors and creamy texture. Whether you're hosting a dinner party or just craving something comforting after a long day, learning how to make this delicious dish at home can be incredibly rewarding.

Ingredients needed for making Butter Chicken include:

• Chicken breast or thighs (2 lbs)
• Tomato puree
• Cream (1/2 cup)
• Milk (1 1/2 cups)
• Ginger-garlic paste
• Butter (1/4 cup)
• Cumin seeds
• Salt and black pepper to taste

For the spice blend, you will need:

• Red chili powder (1 Tbsp)
• Garam masala
• Fresh coriander powder
• Turmeric powder
• Cumin powder
• Coriander powder

Preparation and Cooking Time: 40 minutes; Servings: 6

Begin by marinating the chicken. Cut your chicken into small pieces, about 1-inch chunks. In a bowl, add tomato puree, ginger-garlic paste, red chili powder, turmeric powder, cumin powder, coriander powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix it well to coat all the pieces of chicken evenly.

Heat some oil in a pan or wok over medium heat. Add cumin seeds and let them splutter for about 1-2 minutes. Then add marinated chicken pieces into the pan with spices. Stir-fry until the meat is browned on both sides, taking care not to burn it.

Once done browning, take out from the heat and keep aside. To make the sauce, in a separate pan or pot, combine tomato puree, cumin seeds, coriander powder, red chili powder, garam masala, turmeric powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to ensure all ingredients are combined properly.

Lower heat on your main cooking vessel where you kept the chicken pieces aside earlier. Pour in the sauce from another pot into this pan. Stir in 1 1/2 cups of milk followed by cream. Return the fried chicken back into the same pot and stir to combine everything well together.

Cook this mixture over medium-low heat for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally until the chicken pieces are cooked through and the sauce thickens up nicely. During the last five minutes of cooking time, add butter so that it melts into the sauce. This will give you a much richer flavor and smooth texture to your dish.

Once done cooking, adjust seasoning according to taste preferences before serving hot with naan bread or basmati rice. If desired, garnish with fresh coriander leaves for extra color and freshness.

This easy Butter Chicken recipe will not only satisfy your taste buds but also be a great conversation starter during meals. Serve it as part of a larger Indian meal including dal (lentil soup), roti or paratha breads, raita (cucumber yogurt salad), pickles, and papadums.

Butter Chicken has stood the test of time due to its simplicity yet depth in flavor. It’s versatile enough to be enjoyed with various side dishes making it a perfect choice for any meal occasion – whether casual or formal events. With just these simple steps explained above, you too can recreate this popular dish right at home!

Try adding different spices based on personal preference such as cayenne pepper or garam masala to make your version uniquely yours. You could also experiment by using boneless chicken instead of pieces for a more luxurious texture.

In conclusion, if you’re looking forward to enjoying deliciously tender Butter Chicken made from scratch, then following this simple yet effective guide should help you achieve restaurant-quality results every single time! So go ahead and give it a try in your kitchen today!