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    You are Here: Masala Herb » Recipes » Lunch and Dinner

    Indian Butter Chicken Recipe (Murgh Makhani)

    December 6, 2013 by Helene Dsouza 40 Comments

    175 shares
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    • Bluesky
    Helene Dsouza
    I invite you to try this easy butter chicken recipe, a classic flavorful and comforting Indian dish.
    Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    2 -3
    RECIPE
    Easy Butter Chicken Recipe - Murgh Makhani www.masalaherb.com

    Butter Chicken is definitely the most known and popular North Indian dish in the world.

    Most probably you will have come across this dish abroad and if you are in India then of course you couldn't have missed it.

    Easy Butter Chicken Recipe - Murgh Makhani www.masalaherb.com
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    I, personally, don't remember when I tasted my first easy Butter Chicken recipe but one thing is sure, it must have been in this marvelous big colorful country called India.

    Jump to:
    • 📕 Butter Chicken boneless or on the bone?
    • 📜 Tandoori Chicken Leftovers
    • 🍗 Anything and everything Tandoori
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    📕 Butter Chicken boneless or on the bone?

    There are countless versions of this dish and I think so it must be the most modified Indian dish ever and everybody, of course, claims theirs is the best - just like the middle eastern shakshuka.

    Some folks prefer the butter chicken with the bones, some claim that it is not a butter chicken if certain ingredients are not included.

    Honestly, I do not know the real version and I am not going to tell you either that my easy butter chicken is the best.

    But I am standing behind my easy butter chicken recipe and I assure you I can eat it every single day in my life and so does my Indian husband.

    I remember how our tandoori chef would cook butter chicken occasionally.

    You see, butter chicken is a typical north Indian dish and so is the Chicken Tandoori and Tikka from Punjab.

    I am not going to go into the details of the butter chicken history since it seems to be rather blurred (and even the Wikipedia entry has changed in the past year, which is suspicious).

    Anyway, so our chef would prepare, cook and serve his fabulous and famous chicken tandoori and if some were left, he would not resell it the next day, no, he would turn it into a gorgeous butter chicken lunch for us all.

    📜 Tandoori Chicken Leftovers

    The cool part in reusing tandoori chicken and turning it into a delicious butter chicken dish is...

    1. leftovers are turned into something even better

    2. Time management - you don't have to marinate the chicken again

    and finally...

    3. anything cooked previously in the Indian Tandoori oven develops a crunchy outside and perfectly cooked inside.

    Because I had gained this knowledge in the past years I was reluctant to cook a butter chicken without using tandoori baked chicken.

    The way our chef would prepare his food was beyond perfection, although he was a humble cook, and he was the controller of the mighty tandoori oven.

    I, the white western girl, couldn't possibly recreate something so majestic in the foodie world or so I thought...

    Easy Butter Chicken Recipe - Murgh Makhani www.masalaherb.com

    🍗 Anything and everything Tandoori

    After the tandoori dream crumbled and I was officially a big-time tandoori fan I was stumped.

    I was missing the fresh naans and tandoori dishes and guess what, one fine day I simply started to prepare them at home.

    You can imagine that I had a couple of faux pas but all those mistakes helped me in understanding the mughlai concept of North Indian cuisine.

    Finally, I have come to a point where I can say that this easy butter chicken recipe is all I will ever need.

    Trust me I  have tried different approaches but I enjoyed the flavors in this self-developed recipe the most.

    Not many people own a tandoori oven in their back yards, so an easy butter chicken recipe was required.

    I have taken the trouble to make this dish perfect because it doesn't deserve anything less so that you can get to enjoy it in your own four walls with the simplest means.

    I invite you to try this easy butter chicken if you love Indian food or if you want to learn about Indian food.

    Once you have done that, leave us a comment so that others can enjoy as well.

    I am of course always eager to read your comments and questions.

    Do you like Indian curries?

    I may recommend my quick and easy chicken curry, goan meatball curry, easy and quick paneer korma, mushroom masala, aloo gobi masala, as well as a collection of 18 fantastic chicken curry recipes from India.

    Easy Butter Chicken Recipe - Murgh Makhani www.masalaherb.com
    Easy Butter Chicken Recipe - Murgh Makhani with creamy spiced curry and easily prepared with spice blends, masalas, www.MasalaHerb.com #curry #indian #chicken #masalaherb

    📖 Recipe

    Easy Butter Chicken Recipe - Murgh Makhani www.masalaherb.com

    Easy Butter Chicken Recipe - Murgh Makhani

    I invite you to try this easy butter chicken recipe, a classic flavorful and comforting Indian dish.
    4.88 from 8 votes
    Print Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Indian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 2 -3
    Recipe by: Helene Dsouza

    Ingredients

    • 20 Almonds
    • 400 grams Chicken Boneless
    • 2 Teaspoon Ginger and Garlic Paste
    • ¼ Cup Yogurt
    • 1 ½ Teaspoon Garam Masala
    • 1 Teaspoon Red Chili Pepper Ground or less if you don't want it too hot
    • ½ Teaspoon Turmeric Ground
    • ½ Teaspoon Chaat Masala
    • ½ Teaspoon Kitchen King Masala
    • pinch Red Food Coloring optional
    • Salt according to your taste
    • Black Pepper Ground
    • 3 Tablespoon Tomato Sauce
    • ½ Lime
    • 4 Tablespoon Butter
    • ½ Tablespoon Olive Oil
    • 1 medium Onion sliced
    • 1 small bay leaf
    • 1 ½ Tablespoon Cilantro Fresh cilantro (half for the cooking, half to garnish)
    • 2 Tablespoon Table Cream
    US - Metric

    Instructions

    • First toast your almonds in a dry pan by shaking the pan frequently so that they don't burn. We need to do that so that we can blitz the almonds in the blender into fine almond flour. Keep the almond flour at the side for later.
      Easy Butter Chicken Recipe - Murgh Makhani www.masalaherb.com
    • Then rinse the chicken, tap dry with a kitchen towel and cut into bite size cubes. Place into a bowl.
      Easy Butter Chicken Recipe - Murgh Makhani www.masalaherb.com
    • Add to the bowl all at once the ginger garlic paste, yogurt, garam masala, chili powder, turmeric powder, chaat masala, kitchen king masala, food coloring, salt, pepper, the tomato paste, ½ lime and the previously ground almond flour. Mix the whole content well and keep aside to marinate for 20 minutes (the longer the better).
      Easy Butter Chicken Recipe - Murgh Makhani www.masalaherb.com
    • Easy Butter Chicken Recipe - Murgh Makhani www.masalaherb.com
    • Add the butter and olive oil to a shallow pan and allow to melt on slow heat and add the chopped onion. Cook until the onion is turning translucent, stir frequently, then add in the bay leaf.
      Easy Butter Chicken Recipe - Murgh Makhani www.masalaherb.com
    • Continue to add in now the chicken yogurt masala mixture and stir fry for 9 minutes before adding half amount of the chopped coriander (¾ Tablespoon) and the cream.
      Easy Butter Chicken Recipe - Murgh Makhani www.masalaherb.com
    • Easy Butter Chicken Recipe - Murgh Makhani www.masalaherb.com
    • Let it cook for 1-2 more minutes. Take from the heat, garnish with the remaining chopped coriander and serve with Indian flat breads such as nan, chapati, roti.
    175 shares
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    I am Helene, and I created Masala Herb in 2011. Here you will learn to cook with spices and herbs. I share from scratch, international food recipes and my mission is to teach you to cook flavorful food at home. Read More…

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    Comments

      4.88 from 8 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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    1. Rewari says

      June 25, 2019 at 3:08 am

      5 stars
      I tried this last week and came out so delicious!

      Reply
    2. Amelia Keily says

      September 01, 2018 at 4:13 pm

      5 stars
      I consistently refer to this recipe on every family curry night. That is saying something, considering my father owned a curry takeout shop in Cabo Verde. This butter chicken is rich, delicious and restaurant style, which I miss dearly after moving to the US from England.

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        September 01, 2018 at 7:26 pm

        Hi Amelie, Thank you for taking the time and sharing your experience with me and the other reader. I appreciate your kind words, your high praise and the fact that you enjoy this butter chicken as much as I do! 🙂

        Reply
    3. Mary Mendonca says

      April 11, 2017 at 11:51 am

      Dear Helene

      I really enjoy going thru your receipes, have not yet made any but
      I will, and am sure it wont turn out like yours.
      I came across a mango cake, and decided to make it, but lost the
      receipe. Is it possible to send me the receipe if you can.
      Warm regards.

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        April 11, 2017 at 12:35 pm

        Hi Mary,
        The dishes will turn out fine you will see. 😉
        A Mango cake... well I haven't posted one yet but I was going to, however once we have our mango harvest going on which should be in the next 2 weeks I will post a mango cake. If you can wait until that and in the meanwhile you can subscribe to the newsletter and once I publish the recipe you will get it straight into your email inbox.

        Reply
    4. Marcy says

      October 31, 2016 at 5:59 am

      4 stars
      Lemons (yellow), limes (green). Your picture shows a yellow lemon. Their tastes are quite distinctly different. Your recipe says lime. I guess you could use either, but which do you mean? The picture (lemon) or the written instruction (lime)? Or does it really matter? Any way I can't wait to try!

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        November 09, 2016 at 9:00 pm

        Hi there thanks for your question. It's a green lime that turned yellow. In India you get mostly limes, although people might call them lemon in English, or just nimbu which is the common name for lime and lemon in India. Use a smaller lime or lemon type which is stronger in taste with more acidity or bitterness. Italian lemons or so to say Lemons which you get in Europe are for example much bigger in size and are in that distinctive lemon shape (not round), those are much milder and not suited for the dish. Get a Lime or lemon with character! =)

        Reply
    5. Linda says

      December 04, 2015 at 3:29 am

      Spent 5 weeks going from the northern, Easter, souther, western regions eating my way around India. I love the people and food. Brought home some spices but they are long gone. I wanted to fix this recipe this evening but did not have the Chaat or Kitchen King Masala. Where do I find it or can you give me the re pie for each of the masalas? Recipe sound delicious and relatively easy. Awaiting your reply and thanks for the recipe. I'm already signed up for your news letter.
      Thanks, Linda

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        December 09, 2015 at 9:31 pm

        Hi Linda,
        Sorry for the late reply. You can buy these masala mixtures online on amazon or in your nearest Asian grocery store. Otherwise you could make them from scratch at home too by blending the spices too a fine powder. I personally haven't had time to post my recipes for garam masala and kitchen king but you might find a few recipes online if you search for it online.
        Hope this helps.

        Reply
    6. lex says

      March 30, 2015 at 9:04 am

      Should I be able to find all these ingredients at the local grocery store? Also can I double this recipe?

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        April 07, 2015 at 10:27 am

        Hi,
        You might find the spice blends (masalas) in a Asian store in your near or online. Also you can make those spice blends from scratch at home. Masalas are an easy quick way to add some flavor to your dishes, so they do come handy.

        Reply
    7. Payton says

      November 11, 2014 at 1:22 am

      I want to make this, but I cannot find Kitchen King masala. I have been to 3 specialty stores that I was able to get all of the other ingredients at, but I cannot find this. Do you have any suggestions?

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        November 11, 2014 at 8:44 am

        Hi Payton, you can make the kitchen king masala from scratch by mixing a few ingredients together such as in this recipe -> http://www.indiankhana.net/2013/03/Homemade-Kitchen-King-Masala-Powder-Recipe.html
        I haven't posted a kitchen king masala yet. Anyway, have you checked online too if you can buy it there?
        I hope the tips can help you, let me know if you have more questions.

        Reply
    8. Shaheen says

      October 25, 2014 at 1:11 am

      The one dish that blew me off long ago was the Dum Biryani. I ate it again and again to master the taste. Then cooked for 10 days every single day to perfect each flavour and learn it's blending. I now have my magic Dum Biryani which I can cook in my sleep and it is still mind blowing as ever. My family's favourite. I am now going to do this with butter chicken starting tomoro. Will perfect it for sure coz your recipe looks awesome. I am sure it tastes like a dream too.

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        October 25, 2014 at 8:30 pm

        Hi,
        Dum Biryani rarely crossed my way but you inspired me and I am going to the same as you did and create a perfect recipe.
        That's my favorite butter chicken recipe, hands down. I hope you will enjoy it as much as we do. =)

        Reply
    9. notyet100 says

      January 06, 2014 at 9:06 pm

      Curry looks delicious,l.its one of my fav,
      Wish ya great yr ahead

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        January 07, 2014 at 6:56 pm

        Thank you, wish you the same! =)

        Reply
    10. mjskit says

      December 11, 2013 at 10:27 am

      Oh I want to take a piece of Nan and dip into that sauce! What a gorgeous color and I bet that this dish is absolutely delicious! With more time over the holidays this sounds like a great challenge! We love Indian food, so even if it doesn't come out as perfect as yours I'm sure we'll enjoy it. Thanks!

      Reply
    11. Tom @ Waegook Tom says

      December 10, 2013 at 3:23 am

      This looks absolutely amazing. I've been addicted to Indian food lately, and have been eating lots and lots of delicious curry since I've been back home. I'll give this recipe a try and see how it turns out!

      Reply
    12. Laura @ Family Spice says

      December 09, 2013 at 9:30 pm

      I love the beautiful color of this dish! Oh yes, when I first started cooking Persian food, I was struggling. The one dish my husband loved, basmati rice with tomatoes and string beans, would turn to mush on me. I made a lot of mistakes and then was jumping up and down when I finally got it. Now, I can make this dish in my sleep!

      Reply
    13. easyfoodsmith says

      December 09, 2013 at 3:26 pm

      The curry looks very enticing and you rightly said that it is the most popular among the north Indians.

      Reply
    14. wok with ray says

      December 09, 2013 at 12:16 am

      What a beautiful and vibrant looking dish. Looks rich and delicious. 🙂

      Reply
    15. GourmetGetaways says

      December 08, 2013 at 2:50 am

      This is a favourite dish of my husband and children.
      I am going to try to make it tonight... I hope I can find the Chaat Masala and Kitchen King Masala... I have never seen these before :0

      Reply
    16. SuperCutePetContest says

      December 07, 2013 at 8:35 am

      I tried to make butter chicken once before, but it didn't come out very good. I will try again though, using this recipe. It's such a delicious dish that I really NEED to master it!

      Reply
    17. Betsy @ Desserts Required says

      December 07, 2013 at 7:20 am

      When I first read the recipe, I was a tad intimidated. But your pictures put my mind at ease and I know that I can actually make this. It looks delicious and I hope to have time over winter break to give it a try.

      Thanks for the inspiration!

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        December 07, 2013 at 10:08 am

        Hi Betsy! I know how you must feel, I went through the same thing when I learned Indian cooking. The amount of ingredients can be daunting and confusing but at the end it's a cake walk compared to european dishes for example. Here it's all about the harmony of spices and ingredients in one dish. I will be sharing the different masala (spice mixtures) in the near future such as garam, chaat, kitchen king and tandoori masala.

        Reply
    18. minnie@thelady8home says

      December 07, 2013 at 6:56 am

      Your take on Butter chicken looks delicious Helene, and use of almonds is new.....most people use cashew paste. I can imagine almonds adding that smokey nutty flavor to the dish. Wonderful!!

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        December 07, 2013 at 10:10 am

        Oh yes most of the folks use cashew nuts but I always preferred it with almonds and besides almonds are easier available all over the world compared to cashew nuts. 🙂 thank you!

        Reply
    19. Ramona says

      December 07, 2013 at 2:29 am

      The color of this dish is so fantastic!! Really stunning recipe. 🙂

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        December 07, 2013 at 10:12 am

        Thank you Ramona. I like the colour too looks more presentable and appetising but if somebody doesn't want to add the food colouring, it's not a must in the recipe.

        Reply
    20. Maureen | Orgasmic Chef says

      December 06, 2013 at 11:58 pm

      You beauty! This looks fantastic, Helene. I can't wait to try your recipe. I often eat this at the local Indian restaurant but I've never made it at home other than with a spice packet.

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        December 07, 2013 at 10:13 am

        I can imagine ^.^
        Spice packet?

        Reply
    21. John@Kitchen Riffs says

      December 06, 2013 at 10:25 pm

      This looks wonderful! I've had this dish in restaurants, but never made it. I gotta try it! Thanks so much for this.

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        December 07, 2013 at 10:14 am

        Thanks John, happy to read that you feel inspired! 🙂

        Reply
    22. Rosa says

      December 06, 2013 at 9:14 pm

      That dish looks ever so good. I have never made butter chicken, but I'm willing to try...

      Cheers,

      Rosa

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        December 07, 2013 at 10:16 am

        I think so you will enjoy it as much as we do. The flavours are so very comforting!

        Reply
    23. Shannon | JustAsDelish says

      December 06, 2013 at 9:12 pm

      5 stars
      I love butter chicken, didn't know the trick is using tandoori chicken. must try this easy recipe. and also need to try tandoori chicken.

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        December 07, 2013 at 10:21 am

        I am working on a tandoori chicken recipe but it's tricky without a tandoori oven. I am getting the spice/yogurt/lime/coriander flavours right but the texture outside and inside the meat is just not the same. You know what I mean, the smoked charcoal flavour is missing. This butter chicken is without tandoori chicken, it's the easier version with the comforting flavours. 🙂

        Reply
    24. A Cook Not Mad (Nat) says

      December 06, 2013 at 7:30 pm

      5 stars
      Butter chicken is definitely one of our favourites. Great photos!

      Reply
      • Helene Dsouza says

        December 07, 2013 at 10:21 am

        Thank you for the compliment Nat! 🙂

        Reply

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