How to Make Authentic Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani) from Scratch | Bon Appétit

Authentic Butter Chicken Preparation

• 🧈 The dish, known as Murgh Makhani in India, emphasizes butter and cream, with tomatoes forming the crucial base of the sauce.
• 🍗 Chicken thighs are recommended for their flavor and juiciness, with options for both boneless and bone-in preparations.

Double Marination Technique

• 🌶️ The first marination involves ginger-garlic paste, red chili powder, and salt to break down proteins and infuse initial flavors, followed by draining excess moisture.
• 🥣 The second, yogurt-based marination includes heated mustard oil (to reduce pungency), garam masala, ginger-garlic paste, and salt, ensuring the chicken is well-coated.
• ⏳ Marination should ideally last overnight or a minimum of 2 hours for optimal flavor infusion.

Crafting the Makhani Sauce

• 🍅 Ripe, sweet tomatoes are the foundation, blended with ginger-garlic paste, garlic, red chili powder, butter, cardamom seeds, cilantro stems, and green chilies.
• 🌰 Cashew nuts are optionally added for richness, and the mixture is boiled until cooked.
• 🫙 After boiling, the mixture is blended and strained to achieve a smooth, velvety, and creamy sauce, a critical step for elevating the dish.

Grilling and Finishing the Chicken

• 🔥 Chicken is grilled or baked to achieve a smoky flavor and char, which is considered essential for the best butter chicken.
• 🍳 The grilled chicken is then finished in the sauce, allowing it to cook through and absorb the flavors.

Assembly and Serving

• 🥄 The sauce is simmered with butter, ginger-garlic paste, red chili powder, and then the cooked chicken is added.
• 🌿 Kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves) and cream are added towards the end for balance and a velvety texture, finished with fresh cilantro.
• 🍚 Butter chicken can be served with basmati rice, garlic naan, or paratha.
• ❤️ The dish is described as a comfort food, enjoyed for both happy and sad occasions, highlighting its significant personal importance.