NYTimes' Butter Chicken

I may have been at this blogging thing for almost eleven (gulp gasp whuut) years, but I have still not figured out how to make gravy look good. In my defense, I swear I wouldn't inflict these photos on you if it wasn't for a good cause, namely your dinner. Maybe even your dinner tonight!

The recipe comes from a "young kitchen hand" at a restaurant in Melbourne called Attica. Amandeep – we are not told his last name, hrmm – made (makes?) it for staff meal. Well, if this is the restaurant's staff meal, I can only imagine the restaurant's actual offerings. It's totally luxurious – chicken bathed in a thick and creamy yogurt marinade, cooked in copious amounts of butter, then finished with heavy cream. Ground almonds thicken the creamy, nicely spiced sauce, which is almost better than the chicken itself. You will want to eat every last drop of it. Luckily, the recipe makes a lot of sauce. (I left out the chiles in the vain hopes that my child would join us in eating this delectable dish, but he was not having it, no sirree, though I will hardly complain about that, because it just meant more butter chicken for me and his father. Next time, ooh, next time, I cannot wait to use the chiles and really let this baby rip.)

The only (other) change I made to the recipe, which really is absolutely perfect as is, was to add frozen peas at the end so that I wouldn't have to also make a vegetable for dinner. Yes, I am lazy! I am also a broken record. Forgive me. (Eleven years, people.)

Butter Chicken

And with that I leave you to your shopping lists and Memorial Day cookouts. But tomorrow, the official cover of Classic German Baking awaits you! See you then.

Amandeep's Butter Chicken
Adapted from the NY Times from a recipe in Eating with the Chefs
Serves 4

1 ½ cups full-fat Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 ½ tablespoons ground turmeric
2 tablespoons garam masala
2 tablespoons ground cumin
3 pounds chicken thighs, on the bone
¼ pound unsalted butter
4 teaspoons neutral oil, like vegetable or canola oil
2 medium-size yellow onions, peeled and diced
4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
3 tablespoons fresh ginger, peeled and grated or finely diced
1 tablespoon cumin seeds
1 cinnamon stick
2 medium-size tomatoes, diced
2 red chiles, like Anaheim, or 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and diced
Kosher salt to taste
cup chicken stock, low-sodium or homemade
1 ½ cups cream
1 ½ teaspoons tomato paste
3 tablespoons ground almonds, or finely chopped almonds
½ bunch cilantro leaves, stems removed

1. Whisk together the yogurt, lemon juice, turmeric, garam masala and cumin in a large bowl. Put the chicken in, and coat with the marinade. Cover, and refrigerate (for up to a day).

2. In a large pan over medium heat, melt the butter in the oil until it starts to foam. Add the onions, and cook, stirring frequently, until translucent. Add the garlic, ginger and cumin seeds, and cook until the onions start to brown.

3. Add the cinnamon stick, tomatoes, chiles and salt, and cook until the chiles are soft, about 10 minutes.

4. Add the chicken and marinade to the pan, and cook for 5 minutes, then add the chicken stock. Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer, uncovered, for approximately 30 minutes.

5. Stir in the cream and tomato paste, and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

6. Add the almonds, cook for an additional 5 minutes and remove from the heat. Garnish with the cilantro leaves.

 

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30 responses to “Amandeep’s Butter Chicken”

  1. Elisa Avatar
    Elisa

    Oh, lady, Attica is only THE best restaurant in Melbourne. For realsies. Like, worth travelling halfway around the world just for dinner. (Don’t do that on a whim, though, the waiting list is loooong.) It’s small and unassuming on a quiet little inner suburban street and it is somehow able to balance technique and accessibility to create actual perfection. (Groupie alert. Sorry.) Long-winded way of saying I’m not surprised Amandeep’s butter chicken is transcendental. And I intend to try it for myself just as soon as it’s dinner time again. God bless you for bestowing this buttery gift upon us!

    Like

  2. Luisa Avatar

    Ah! I am not surprised! (I continue to be chagrined, though, that Amandeep wasn’t even allowed to contribute his last name to the recipe…!)

    Like

  3. Ksenia @ At the Immigrant's Table Avatar

    Anything that is a staff meal at a restaurant is guaranteed to be great, because if those guys would eat it….

    Like

  4. Jennifer Jo Avatar

    I just made my first butter chicken the other week and wrote about it on Friday! My recipe (http://bit.ly/1qWWtUn) is a little less complicated (less authentic, too, perhaps?), but it was out-of-this-world good! I served it with sauteed weeds (lambsquarters) and na’an from a Turkish shop.
    Also, I think the sauce would be good without chicken—perhaps using roasted cauliflower and sweet potatoes in place of the meat.

    Like

  5. Annette Avatar
    Annette

    Louisa, can you find Anaheim chiles in Berlin? Because if you can, I am jealous…

    Like

  6. Luisa Avatar

    Certainly not labeled as such! But Edeka/Reichelt has a pretty good assortment of chiles these days, including jalapeños, by the way. In any case, Anaheim chiles are mild, so whatever you find in a German market will be fine to use. (When I make this again, for what it’s worth, I’ll be using cayenne powder for heat.)

    Like

  7. Sunnycovechef Avatar

    Congratulations on blogging for eleven years. I love your blog. You sold me on this recipe but I have a question, do you remove the skin from the thighs?
    Lol
    Gerlinde

    Like

  8. Luisa Avatar

    I left the skin on throughout, then peeled it off as we ate.

    Like

  9. Diana Avatar
    Diana

    I made this for my family and we gave thanks. And ate. In silence. So good!

    Like

  10. Mary Avatar

    Eleven years? Gah, time flies. I think I’ve been reading here for most of those years. Your posts always feel like gifts to me. (I can’t wait to try this–sounds awesome.)

    Like

  11. Victoria Avatar

    I’ll be making this very soon; I’m still in love with your Nigel Slater chicken curry recipe, known around here as Luisa’s Chicken (along with Luisa’s Ricotta Sauce, Luisa’s Tomato-Bread Soup, Luisa’s Rice-Stuffed Tomatoes, etc., etc., etc.)

    Like

  12. Luisa Avatar

    Aw, that’s just lovely. But this recipe is better – way way better! – than Nigel’s! No disrespect to Nigel… 🙂 xxxx

    Like

  13. Luisa Avatar

    THANK YOU. What a lovey thing to hear. And yes, time flies! Urgh.

    Like

  14. Luisa Avatar

    Yay! So glad you agree.

    Like

  15. Deidre Avatar

    This recipe provides an excellent footprint. Yes, I added fenugreek and additional tomato paste. Yes, I cut the butter and cream in half. This recipe is a keeper. Everyone’s pallet was satisfied!

    Like

  16. Victoria Avatar
    Victoria

    Hi Luisa, I have been reading you for many years, since before Hugo and never even left a comment (don’t know why! not even for the giveaways), but I have always enjoyed it.. I have myself now a 5 month old baby and just bough Parents need to eat too, per your recommendation. Let’s see where it takes us. Will do this for dinner tonight, my husband loves anything with cilantro 🙂
    My baby is just starting with purees, but I can’t wait to have him on the dinner table sharing meals with us.
    Thank you and looking forward to keep reading.

    Like

  17. OCTAVIA Avatar

    This is a great recipe with half the butter and no cream.
    thank for sharing!!!!!!!!!!!!1

    Like

  18. Jeanette Schmidt Avatar

    I have used this recipe a number of times and really enjoy it! I don’t use any butter at all and just enough oil to cook the onions, substitute light cream for full cream and I also add 2 cinnamon sticks right when I start cooking the onions for more sweetness. I feel this cuts out a lot of fat and calories but turns out awesome!! Be sure to marinate at least overnight and don’t be tempted to add any more tomato or tomato paste than the recipe calls for or you will ruin the dish

    Like

  19. Cristina Avatar
    Cristina

    Made this twice already – love the flavor and the texture of the chicken is perfect! Only thing is that I found the sauce to be a bit too thin, and not at all looking as thick as in your pictures. Would it be a bad idea to leave out the stock?

    Like

  20. Luisa Avatar

    Happy to hear it!

    Like

  21. Luisa Avatar

    Congrats on your baby! It’s so much fun to have them start sharing meals with you. All the best!

    Like

  22. Luisa Avatar

    I don’t think it would hurt. It may make the sauce more “intense”, flavorwise, but try it out – if worse comes to worst, you can dial back the spices a bit.

    Like

  23. Kay D. Ellis Avatar

    I have tried it and its perfect. I used to eat butter chicken in Rajinder Ka Dhaba when I was in India and your this recipe gave me the same taste.

    Like

  24. Mary Pisarkiewicz Avatar

    Loved this recipe! So delicious!

    Like

  25. PAULETTE PETERSON Avatar
    PAULETTE PETERSON

    Have followed your blog for years and it is always like receiving a letter from a cherished friend. Thank you.

    Like

  26. Ellen Avatar
    Ellen

    Hi — are you on hiatus now that your book is out, or is this the end? If you blogged a good bye, I missed it — I’ve really looked forward to your posts (and the recipes). I hope you’ll be back.

    Like

  27. Amit Avatar

    Loved this Recipie . Umm

    Like

  28. Amit Avatar

    me too Same.

    Like

  29. Jodi Avatar

    Oh, that sounds divine (I found you from an old post on Smitten Kitchen).
    All I need is the cream (which I can “fake” with butter and milk if necessary).

    Like

  30. Komal Dhillon Avatar
    Komal Dhillon

    Luisa,
    I love your blog & cook your recipes …
    I d just like to clarify .. Amandeep has cooked an “aam”( Hindi for ordinary) chicken curry using butter n cream .. it may taste good ( way WAY too much cumin?) but it is v far from being a “Murg Makhani ” ie Butter Chicken as created & popularised by New Delhi s Moti Mahal resataurant & now justifiably beloved all over the world
    Its the difference between an Amercan commercial -( doughy , deep junk filled ) “pizza ” & the simple but unutterly delicious “real” pizza in Naples
    As a Delhiwala based in Paris since 30 years have made n served “real” Butter Chicken” to my friends of all Nationalities , which they ask for again & again.
    There shld be Absolutely NO chillies in Murg Makhani, any baby that can eat solids can Enjoy Butter Chicken.Its the first spicy dish v young kids are given in N India,.
    Strictly speaking no cumin either .. the confusion arises from Caraway , being called Kala Cumin or Shahi Cumin in Hindi, when in fact Caraway is not cumin at all & has a v different flavor.
    No tumeric either- the flavors of murgh makhani wld be slaughter by the pungence of tumeric & cumin..
    The golden orange color shld come from Saffron & from tomatoes in the sauce.
    The most basic “aam” indian curry is delicious, because indian food is v v flavorful,glad you enjoyed it
    Ciao
    Komal

    Like

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