An Authentic Recipe from India: Butter Chicken
– If you’ve ever visited India, you know it’s one of the most intense, incredible sensory experiences. The sights, smells, and sounds are abundant, unlike anything we have in the Western world. While you can never quite recreate the experience of being there, we love that the cooking classes on our trips arm attendees with tools and techniques to bring those flavors back to life on their own when they return home.
Experiencing authentic Indian cuisine is a culinary gift that we explore alongside local chefs on our Delectable Destinations trips, and we enjoy partnering with Saffron Palate, an authentic Indian cooking experience led by Chef Neha Gupta. This special day is so much more than just a cooking class. Chef Neha takes us on a journey through a local market that is a feast for the senses. The bright colors of this market are something you have to see to believe, and it’s an olfactory journey of the highest order. We learn about these fragrant spices in detail before setting off to cook a delicious meal with them.
Below is a recipe for a delicious Indian Butter chicken that is at once authentically Indian and not too difficult to whip up for dinner after a busy day.
Indian Butter Chicken
This is a scrumptious chicken cooked in tomato sauce with cream and butter. This recipe serves approximately 2-3.
Ingredients (feel free to screenshot for your grocery shopping!):
1 tbsp ghee (or clarified/ unsalted butter)
1/2 tsp of minced garlic & 1/2 tsp of minced ginger
250-gram boneless chicken cubed
2 red onions finely minced
(preferably in a blender)
4 tomatoes pureed
1 tsp of dried fenugreek leaves
1 cup whole milk
2 tsp of cream
1 tsp salt
SPICES
1/2 tsp each of coriander seeds powder, paprika powder, turmeric powder
1 tsp garam masala (put in two parts of 1/2 tsp each time)
METHOD
Heat ghee/butter in a pan and add minced garlic & ginger and fry till aromatic
Add minced onion and fry till translucent
Add the pureed tomato and cook for 2 mins until the mixture bubbles uniformly
Add all the spices & salt (except 1/2 tsp garam masala & 1/2 tsp chicken masala)
Add fenugreek leaves, milk, and cubed chicken & cook covered for 5 mins stirring occasionally
Add the leftover 1/2 tsp garam masala, 1/2 tsp chicken masala and cream
Garnish with cream and serve with Plain rice or Bread
TIP
Shallow fry the chicken in oil till golden with all spices (1/2 TSP each) before adding it to the gravy.
Add paneer (Indian cottage cheese) or tofu as a vegetarian option.
Interested in a cultural cooking trip unlike any other? Join us in Mystical India for a trip led by Delectable Destinations founder Carol Ketelson.
Carol Ketelson is the owner and operator of Delectable Destinations LLC. Dedicated to planning, coordinating and curating customized group tours to hand-picked destinations. As an experienced travel planner, Carol’s customized itineraries, specialized tours and off-the-beaten-path experiences create memorable journeys for her small groups of singles, couples, and solo travelers, seeking exceptional trips into the culture and cuisine of destinations around the world. Spring and Fall bookings invite travelers to taste delectable local cuisine, culturally rich traditions and mesmerizing sights. For over 10 years, Carol’s tours have captured the true essence of Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, Puglia, Burgundy, France, Spain, Ireland and India.
Delectable Destinations…Delivering your dream trip. For more information & 2018 trips log onto delectabledestinations.com
