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Butter Chicken or Chicken Makhani

Chicken Makhani/Butter Chicken

Rich with spices and a creamy sauce, this Chicken Makhani (or Butter Chicken) is an amazing way to introduce your friends and family to Indian cuisine!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Saute Time 17 minutes
Total Time 57 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Indian
Servings 6
Calories 208 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lbs of Boneless chicken cut into 1½ inch pieces

For marinade

  • ½ cup yogurt Recommended: whole fat Greek yogurt but you can use any
  • 2 teaspoons ginger paste Recommended: homemade paste works best
  • 2 teaspoons garlic paste Recommended: homemade paste works best
  • Salt to taste
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon Tandoori spice mix

For sauce

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 4 pods green cardamom
  • 6 Cloves
  • 6 Black peppercorns
  • 1 inch piece cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ginger paste
  • 1 teaspoon garlic paste
  • 6 oz can tomato sauce
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • ½ teaspoon kasoori methi
  • ½ cup fresh cream

Instructions
 

  • Mix marinade ingredients and marinate chicken for at least 3-4 hours in a baking dish. (preferably overnight)
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F
  • Bake chicken in the baking dish for 20-25 minutes, until cooked. Make sure the juices collect in the dish.
  • Set aside.
  • To make the sauce, heat the butter in a heavy bottomed pan. Add the cardamom pods, cloves, peppercorns, and cinnamon. Let bloom gently until you can smell them. About 2 minutes
  • Add the ginger and garlic pastes and sauté for 2 minutes.
  • Add the tomato sauce and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for ten minutes.
  • Remove the peppercorns, cardamom pods, whole cloves, and piece of cinnamon from the sauce.
  • Add the sugar, powdered kasoori methi, salt to taste.
  • Add the cooked tandoori chicken pieces along with the marinade juices and simmer for 5 minutes.
  • Add fresh cream.
  • Serve hot with naan or/and rice.
Keyword butter chicken, chicken makhani, easy butter chicken, easy chicken makhani, indian chicken