Easy Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)
Yield: 3–4 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes + marinating
Cook Time: 25–30 minutes
Total Active Time: About 40 minutes
A mild, creamy North Indian curry featuring tender, spiced chicken simmered in a rich tomato and cream sauce.
Ingredients
Chicken Marinade
750 g boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
½ cup full-fat plain yogurt
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 tsp garam masala
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp turmeric
½ tsp chili powder or cayenne pepper
Butter Chicken Sauce
2 tbsp ghee or butter
1 cup tomato passata
1 cup heavy or thickened cream
1 tbsp sugar
1¼ tsp salt, or to taste
To Serve
Cooked basmati rice
Naan or flatbread
Fresh coriander, chopped
Method
Marinate the chicken: Combine the yogurt, lemon juice, ginger, garlic, garam masala, cumin, turmeric, and chili powder. Add the chicken and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, preferably overnight.
Cook the chicken: Heat the ghee or butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the marinated chicken, allowing excess marinade to remain behind. Cook for about 3–4 minutes, turning occasionally.
Make the sauce: Add the tomato passata, cream, sugar, and salt. Stir well to combine.
Simmer: Reduce the heat to low, cover partially, and simmer for 15–20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is fully cooked and the sauce has thickened.
Finish: Taste and adjust the seasoning. For a richer finish, stir in an additional small knob of butter.
Serve: Garnish with fresh coriander and serve hot with basmati rice and naan or flatbread
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