Butter chicken is one of the most popular Indian dishes around the world. The rich, creamy, tomato-based sauce is what makes this dish so irresistible. But what exactly goes into making authentic butter chicken sauce? In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the origins, ingredients, and methods used to create this iconic sauce.
A Brief History of Butter Chicken
Butter chicken was created in the 1950s at a restaurant called Moti Mahal in Delhi, India. The chef there accidentally created the dish by using leftover tandoori chicken and giving it a creamy tomato gravy. The result was so delicious that butter chicken quickly became a staple on the restaurant’s menu. Its popularity spread through India and around the world soon after.
The dish has evolved over the years, with many variations developing. But the classic butter chicken sauce has remained relatively unchanged – it’s still based on a smooth, rich, slightly tangy tomato gravy flavored with traditional Indian spices. Let’s look at what goes into making traditional butter chicken sauce.
Traditional Ingredients in Butter Chicken Sauce
Butter chicken sauce requires a number of ingredients that each play an important role
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Butter or ghee: This is what gives the sauce its rich, silky texture. Using a generous amount is key.
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Onions: Onions provide an aromatic base and sweetness to the sauce. They’re sautéed before the other ingredients are added.
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Tomatoes: Either fresh, canned crushed tomatoes or tomato puree form the bulk of the sauce and provide tanginess.
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Ginger and garlic: These provide pungency and heat, which nicely cuts through the richness. They’re used generously.
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Spice blend The classic spice blend contains coriander, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, bay leaves, cardamom, cloves, chili powder and garam masala This provides the signature Indian flavor
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Heavy cream or cashew cream: This is stirred in at the end to add extra richness and silkiness.
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Chicken broth: Helps thin out the sauce to the right consistency.
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Kasoori methi: These dried fenugreek leaves add aroma and a slight bitterness that balances the sweetness.
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Fresh cilantro and butter: Stirred in right at the end to finish.
The exact ratio of ingredients varies in each recipe. But these are the key components that go into real-deal butter chicken sauce.
Step-By-Step Method for Creating Authentic Butter Chicken Sauce
Now that we know the ingredients, let’s look at how they come together through the cooking process:
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Sauté aromatics: Onions, garlic, and ginger get sautéed in plenty of butter until softened and browned. This builds great flavor.
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Bloom spices: The dry spice blend gets added next and cooked briefly to release their essential oils in a process called blooming.
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Simmer tomatoes: Tomatoes go in next along with chili powder and salt. The mixture simmers until tomatoes break down into a thick sauce.
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** Finish with cream:** Cream and dried fenugreek leaves get stirred in at this point and cooked briefly to finish the sauce.
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Adjust consistency: Chicken broth can be added to thin out the sauce if needed.
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Stir in cilantro and butter: These get stirred in right at the end without cooking to retain freshness.
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Simmer chicken in sauce: Boneless chicken pieces get added to the completed sauce and simmered until cooked through and infused with flavor.
This method layers flavors and aromas beautifully to create an unforgettable creamy, rich sauce packed with authentic Indian spice flavor.
Innovative Variations on Butter Chicken Sauce
While traditional recipes remain popular, some exciting variations on butter chicken sauce have emerged:
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Using coconut milk and lemon juice instead of dairy to make it vegan.
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Blending in cheese like cheddar or ricotta for extra richness.
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Adding peanut or almond butter for nutty depth.
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Using gourmet ingredients like wine, dried mushrooms, truffle oil or saffron.
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Experimenting with fruit flavors like mango, pineapple or apple.
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Trying with alternative proteins like paneer, chickpeas or lentils for vegetarian versions.
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Serving it with grilled shrimp, fish or lamb instead of chicken.
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Garnishing with fried onions, microgreens or puff pastry for texture.
The possibilities are endless! Part of butter chicken’s ongoing appeal is how well the sauce takes to customizing with different ingredients and global influences.
Nutritional Profile of Butter Chicken Sauce
Like many rich dishes, butter chicken does come with a higher calorie cost. Here is the nutritional breakdown for a standard serving (about 1 cup) of butter chicken sauce:
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Calories: Around 300-350 calories
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Fat: 25-30g, much of it from saturated fat sources like butter and cream.
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Carbs: 15-20g
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Protein: 10-15g
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Sodium: Can be high, around 700-800mg, from salt and spices.
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Sugars: Around 5-10g from the tomatoes and onions.
To lighten it up, using lower fat dairy, minimizing added butter/oil, and increasing veggies can help decrease the calories while keeping the signature flavor. It’s a treat dish, so moderation is key!
Tips for Making Butter Chicken Sauce at Home
Here are some top tips to keep in mind when attempting butter chicken at home:
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Use fresh, high quality ingredients – this makes a big difference in flavor.
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Don’t skimp on the butter – it needs to be generously used for best results.
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Cook the sauce low and slow – high heat will make it splatter and taste raw.
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Use bone-in chicken thighs for more flavor than boneless breasts.
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Add cream at the end only – cooking it too long can cause curdling.
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Adjust spice levels to your taste – add more chili or garam masala as desired.
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Garnish with cilantro and serve hot with warm naan or rice.
With these tips, you’re sure to impress! The aroma alone as it simmers away will make your home smell amazing.
Perfect Pairings to Serve with Butter Chicken
There are many delicious sides and breads that pair beautifully with butter chicken:
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Naan – The rich butteriness of naan soaks up the sauce perfectly. Garlic or cheese versions work too.
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Basmati rice – This aromatic long grain rice complements the flavors beautifully. Biryani rice adds more richness.
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Raita – The cooling yogurt-based dip provides relief from the heat.
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Samosas – These crispy fried pastries with filling are great as an appetizer.
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Gulab jamun – For dessert, these sweet, syrupy dumplings are hard to resist.
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Mango lassi – The refreshing yogurt mango drink helps cut the heat and richness.
With options like these, a butter chicken feast truly covers all the bases deliciously!
So there you have it – everything you need to know about how authentic, irresistible butter chicken sauce comes together. Understanding the origins, essential ingredients, cooking methods and serving suggestions will help you master this famous Indian dish. The next time you enjoy butter chicken, you can appreciate just how much skill and care goes into creating its signature creamy, spicy flavor.
Tips for the Best Chicken Tikka Masala
Authentic tikka masala is usually skewered and cooked in a hot clay tandoor oven that reaches up to 900F! I don’t have one of those and don’t know many people who do. So for ease, I make this dish in a cast iron skillet on the stovetop, while maintaining all the authentic flavors. Here are some tips to get as close to the real deal as possible:
- Don’t skip marinating. Marinating helps tenderize the chicken and is critical for this dish. Chicken thighs require a minimum of 15 minutes, while breasts need at least an hour. The longer the better!
- Use a cast iron skillet. A well seasoned, cast iron skillet will get you the best charred results. If you only have a regular nonstick pan, cook over high heat.
- Pan fry in batches. Cooking the chicken pieces in batches helps prevent over-crowding, which can result in steaming, instead of charring.
- ▢ 1 cup plain yogurt or Greek yogurt
- ▢ 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- ▢ 1 & 1/2 teaspoons cumin
- ▢ 1 teaspoon garam masala
- ▢ 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder, (not cayenne pepper)
- ▢ 1 teaspoon salt
- ▢ 2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
- ▢ 2 teaspoons finely minced garlic
- ▢ 1 & 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, , cut into small bite-sized pieces
- ▢ 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- ▢ 2 tablespoons butter
- ▢ 1 large sweet onion, , finely diced
- ▢ 2 teaspoons grated ginger
- ▢ 2 cloves garlic, , finely minced
- ▢ 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- ▢ 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- ▢ 1 teaspoon cumin
- ▢ 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ▢ 1 teaspoon garam masala
- ▢ 8 ounce can tomato sauce, (unseasoned)
- ▢ 1 & 1/4 cups heavy cream
- ▢ 1/4 cup 1/4 cup water, , only if needed
- ▢ chopped cilantro, , for garnish
- ▢ naan bread
- ▢ cooked basmati rice
- In a bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for the marinade; add the chicken and toss to coat. Let marinate for 1 hour (ideally overnight in the fridge, if time permits.)
- Warm oil in a large skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium-high heat. Once shimmering, add chicken pieces in batches, if necessary, making sure not to crowd the pan. Let them fry, untouched, for 1 minute to develop a crust, then saute until browned for about 5 more minutes. Set aside and keep warm.
- Melt the butter in the same pan. Saute the onions until soft (about 3 minutes) while scraping up any browned bits stuck on the bottom of the pan. Add ginger and garlic; sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add in the brown sugar, coriander, cumin, paprika, garam masala, and salt. Stir occasionally for about 15 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the tomato sauce; let simmer gently for about 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally until sauce thickens and becomes deeper in color.
- Stir in the cream until incorporated.
- Add the partially cooked chicken along with its juices back to the pan; cook for an additional 8-10 minutes until chicken is cooked through and the sauce is thick and bubbling. Pour in the water to thin out the sauce, only if necessary.
- Serve over cooked basmati rice, with Naan bread, and garnish with chopped cilantro.
Nutritional information given is an automatic calculation and can vary based on the exact products you use and any changes you make to the recipe. If these numbers are very important to you, I would recommend calculating them yourself.
What is Chicken Tikka Masala?
Tikka Masala is a traditional Indian dish made up of chicken that’s been marinated in yogurt, charred and simmered in a rich, creamy tomato-based spiced sauce. The gorgeous color comes from Garam Masala, which is blend of cinnamon, black pepper, coriander, cumin, and cardamon. It has a subtle nutty and sweet, unique flavor. Don’t skip any of complex Indian spices or you’ll miss out on the optimal Tikka Masala experience.
The BEST butter chicken in 20 MINUTES #Shorts
FAQ
What does butter chicken sauce consist of?
Water, Tomato, Cream, Unsalted butter, Vegetable oil, Sugar, Modified corn starch, Concentrated tomato purée, Spices, Dried onion, Ginger, Garlic, Salt, Lactic acid (acidulant), Paprika extract, Citric acid (acidulant), Dried fenugreek leaf.
What is butter chicken made up of?
Butter chicken is a type of curry made from chicken cooked in a spiced tomato and butter (makhan)-based gravy. The gravy is typically known for its rich texture. It is similar to chicken tikka masala, which uses a tomato paste. The dish originates in Delhi, India.
Is butter chicken sauce the same as tikka masala?
Butter chicken and Chicken Tikka Masala are similar in that both are made with chicken that is simmered in a spiced tomato curry sauce. But Butter Chicken is both creamier and milder than Chicken Tikka Masala which tends to be less rich and more spicy, and slightly tangier.
What is the key ingredient for butter chicken?
Coriander and cumin powder add mild flavors to your dish, tone down the strong flavors of the garam masala and helps balance the tartness of the tomatoes. Kasuri methi is dried fenugreek leaves and it is the key ingredient used in this dish.