Butter Chicken: The Ultimate Indian Comfort Food

Butter chicken, also known as murgh makhani, is a popular Indian dish made with tender pieces of chicken in a creamy tomato-based sauce. It's the perfect balance of savory and slightly sweet, and it's sure to become a new family favorite. Serve it over rice or with some naan bread for dipping.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 medium onion, finely diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon ginger, grated
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional for extra heat)
• 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions:

1. In a medium bowl, mix together the yogurt, lemon juice, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Add the chicken to the bowl and toss to coat. Marinate the chicken in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours.
2. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until it is soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
3. Add the garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander, turmeric, paprika, and cayenne pepper (if using) to the saucepan and stir to coat the onions. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Stir in the diced tomatoes and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
5. Add the marinated chicken to the saucepan and continue to simmer for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce has thickened. Stir in the heavy cream and butter, and season with salt and black pepper to taste.
6. Stir in the chopped cilantro and serve the butter chicken hot over rice or with naan bread.

Tips:

• For a spicier dish, increase the amount of cayenne pepper or add some chopped fresh chilies to the sauce.
• You can also add some vegetables to the dish, such as bell peppers, carrots, or peas. Just add them along with the onions in step 2.
• If you prefer a thicker sauce, you can mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water and stir it into the sauce in step 4. This will help to thicken it up.
• To make this dish a little healthier, you can use Greek yogurt in place of the regular yogurt and reduce the amount of butter used in the recipe.

Butter chicken is a classic Indian dish that is loved by people all around the world. Its creamy tomato sauce and tender chicken pieces make it the ultimate comfort food. Give this recipe a try and let us know what you think in the comments! We hope you enjoy it as much as we do.