Butter Chicken

Ingredients

• •2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
• •1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• •1 teaspoon red (Kashmiri) chile powder
• •1 cup plain yogurt
• •1 teaspoon ground turmeric
• •1 teaspoon garam masala
• •3 cloves garlic cloves
• •1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
• •1 tablespoon sunflower oil
• •2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• •1 teaspoon sea salt
• •2 tablespoons butter
• •4 tablespoons butter
• •2 whole cloves
• •4 pods green cardamom
• •1 pod black cardamom
• •1 piece cinnamon stick
• •8 cloves garlic cloves
• •1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
• •½ teaspoon fenugreek seeds
• •1 red chiles
• •¼ cup tomato paste
• •1 can crushed tomatoes
• •1 teaspoon red (Kashmiri) chile powder
• •3 cups chicken stock
• •1 teaspoon sea salt
• •1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
• •1 tablespoon crushed dried fenugreek leaves
• •1 cup heavy cream
• •1 tablespoon garam masala
• •2 tablespoons heavy cream
• •¼ cup fresh cilantro
• •2 red chiles
• •6 servings rice or naan

Cooking Instructions

1. 1.

   Cut the chicken into 1-inch chunks and toss them with the lemon juice and chile powder. Transfer to a container and refrigerate for 20 minutes.

   20 min

2. 2.

   In a small dish, combine the yogurt, turmeric, garam masala, garlic, ginger, sunflower oil, and salt. Stir well. Massage the chicken with the yogurt marinade, cover the container, and refrigerate overnight or for at least 12 hours. Dream about delicious curry all night long.

   720 min

3. 3.

   Preheat the oven to 400°F. Soak 10 to 12 bamboo skewers in cold water for about 20 minutes.

   20 min

4. 4.

   Thread the chicken onto the skewers and transfer to a rack set on a baking sheet. Bake the chicken skewers, turning halfway through, for 12 minutes, or until the juices run clear and the chicken is cooked through. Brush the chicken all over with the melted butter and set aside.

   12 min

5. 5.

   In a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the cloves, cardamom pods, and cinnamon stick and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until fragrant. Stir in the garlic, ginger, fenugreek seeds, chiles, and tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes, stirring often. Stir in the tomatoes and chile powder and cook, stirring often to keep the sauce from sticking to the pot, for 20 minutes.

   25 min

6. 6.

   Turn off the heat and purée the sauce directly in the pot with an immersion blender. (Alternatively, carefully transfer the sauce to a regular blender and purée-be careful when blending hot liquids.) Turn the heat to medium and stir in the stock and sea salt. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes, or until the sauce has started to thicken beautifully.

   15 min

7. 7.

   Remove the chicken pieces from the skewers and stir them into the curry, along with the maple syrup and dried fenugreek leaves. Cover and cook for 8 minutes. Turn the heat to medium- low and stir in the cream and garam masala. Simmer the sauce for a final 5 minutes.

   13 min

8. 8.

   Top each bowl of curry with a drizzle of cream, fresh cilantro, and sliced red chiles, if you like it spicy. Serve with rice or naan. Immediately enter comfort food heaven.

   5 min