Indian Butter Chicken Curry (Print)

Tender chicken in buttery tomato sauce with Indian spices, finished with cream and fresh cilantro garnish.

# Ingredients:

→ Marinade

01 - 225 g boneless, skinless chicken thighs
02 - 120 ml plain yogurt
03 - 15 ml lemon juice
04 - 10 ml garam masala
05 - 2 g ground turmeric
06 - 2 g ground cumin
07 - 2 g ground coriander
08 - 1 g cayenne pepper
09 - 2 g salt
10 - 1 g ground black pepper

→ Sauce

11 - 30 g unsalted butter
12 - 1 large onion, chopped
13 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
14 - 10 g grated ginger
15 - 397 g tomato sauce
16 - 120 ml heavy cream
17 - Fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish

# Steps:

01 - Set the oven to 200°C. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
02 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together plain yogurt, lemon juice, garam masala, ground turmeric, ground cumin, ground coriander, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper until fully combined.
03 - Add chicken thighs to the marinade and turn to coat thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
04 - Arrange marinated chicken pieces on the prepared tray. Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.
05 - In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add chopped onion and sauté until softened and translucent.
06 - Stir in minced garlic and grated ginger, cooking for 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
07 - Pour in the tomato sauce and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
08 - Incorporate the heavy cream, stirring gently. Simmer for another 5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
09 - Cut the cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces and add them to the sauce. Stir well to coat.
10 - Allow the mixture to simmer for a few more minutes to meld the flavors.
11 - Sprinkle chopped fresh cilantro over the dish. Serve hot with steamed rice or naan.

# Additional Notes:

01 - For enhanced flavor, substitute bone-in chicken thighs and increase baking time as needed.
02 - Opt for plain yogurt only; flavored options may alter the final taste.
03 - Adjust cayenne pepper to your spice preference.
04 - For a dairy-free version, replace heavy cream with coconut cream.
05 - To save time, use pre-cooked or leftover chicken, heating it through in the sauce.
06 - Simmer longer for a thicker, richer sauce.
07 - Bell peppers or peas can be included for additional texture and flavor.
08 - This preparation freezes well for convenient future meals.