Chicken Makhani

My husband and I both love Indian food, but it tends to be more pricey, and harder to find in our neighborhood. We ended up only being able to go out for indian for really special occasions, and we found ourselves wanting to enjoy one dish more than the others, Butter Makhani, or more commonly known as Butter Chicken.

This dish has a rich and creamy based sauce, with those great indian spices packing it full of flavor. A couple of the ingredients can be harder to find in your local grocery store, so try and find a Indian grocer near you. I will post links to Amazon products incase you still can't find them.  

(Note: I seem to have lost my photos for this meal. I will update with photos in the future.)

The night before you need to marinade 2 Large chicken breast or 3 small ones. Chop the chicken into 1 inch cubes before adding to the marinade.

Marinade:

• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
• 1.5 teaspoons kasuri methi
• 1/2 – 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1.5 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoon ginger garlic paste

In a large skillet start making the sauce. Start by slowly sauteeing your spices to really bring out their flavors.

The sauce/Makhani Masala:

Sautee

• 5 tablespoon melted butter
• 1 tbsp Ginger Garlic Paste
• 2-4 fresh green chili pepper, slit
• 4 green cardamom pods (or 2/3 tsp cardamom powder )
• 1.5 – 2 inch cinnamon sticks (or 1/8-1/2 tsp cinnamon powder)
• 2 cloves
• 1 black cardamom pod
• 1/2 -3/4 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 10 almonds, soaked, peeled and made into a paste
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1 tablespoon kasuri methi

Now that your spices are all in turn down to a low simmer. In another pan cook your chicken with your marinade. Once fully cooked add just the chicken (not the marinade) to your your spices.

Finish the sauce

• 1 Bay leaf
• 1 can Tomato puree
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 1/2 tablespoon honey

Mix in last on reduced heat

• 3/4 cup half and half
• 1/4 cup plain yogurt

Now serve over basmati rice and Enjoy! :D