The best homemade Chicken Tikka Masala recipe like you get at your favorite Indian restaurant! With tender, juicy pieces of charred chicken, swimming in an unbelievable luscious, flavor-packed creamy tomato sauce, it will make your taste buds sing with every bite. Pair this with our homemade Naan bread to mop up the amazing sauce!.
I adore Indian cuisine, but since we don’t live close to any Indian restaurants anymore, I have learned to recreate my favorites at home. Chicken Tikka Masala is right at the top of that list. Every time I make it, I get antsy and tense the next morning while I wait for lunch to come around so I can eat the leftovers. If you’re unsure about Indian food, I am 1000% certain this dish will convert you.
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.
Many different versions of the dish have been made over the years. But the basic recipe for butter chicken sauce hasn’t changed much. It’s still made from a smooth, rich, slightly sour tomato gravy that’s flavored with Indian spices. Take a look at what goes into making butter chicken sauce the old-fashioned way.
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 makes the sauce smooth and rich. 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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Classic spice blend: This has coriander, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, bay leaves, cardamom, cloves, chili powder, and garam masala in it. It gives food its unique Indian flavor.
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Heavy cream, also called cashew cream, is added at the end to make it richer and smoother.
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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 the chicken makes it more tender, which is very important for this dish. It takes at least 15 minutes for chicken thighs and at least an hour for chicken breasts. The longer the better!.
- Use a cast iron skillet. The best charred results will come from a cast iron skillet that has been used for a while. If you only have a regular nonstick pan, heat it up high.
- Pan fry in batches. By cooking the chicken pieces in batches, you can avoid crowding the pan too much, which can cause the chicken to steam instead of char.
- ▢ 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
- ▢ 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
- Take a bowl and mix all the marinade ingredients together with a whisk. Then add the chicken and toss it to coat it. Let it sit for an hour (or overnight in the fridge if you have time). ).
- Warm the oil in a big skillet (cast iron is best) over medium-high heat. Once it starts to shimmer, add the chicken pieces one at a time, if needed, making sure not to crowd the pan. Let them fry for one minute without touching them to make a crust. Then, sauté for five more minutes until they are brown. Set aside and keep warm.
- Melt the butter in the same pan. If there are any brown bits stuck on the bottom of the pan, scrape them up and cook the onions for about three minutes, until they are soft. Add ginger and garlic; sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Salt, coriander, cumin, paprika, garam masala, and brown sugar should all be added now. Stir occasionally for about 15 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the tomato sauce and let it simmer slowly for three to five minutes, stirring every now and then, until the sauce gets thicker and darker.
- Stir in the cream until incorporated.
- Return the partially cooked chicken and its juices to the pan. Cook for another 8 to 10 minutes, until the chicken is fully cooked and the sauce is thick and bubbling. Only if you need to, add the water to thin out the sauce.
- Serve with Naan bread and cooked basmati rice. Top 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. Chicken Tikka Masala, on the other hand, is less creamy and more spicy, and Butter Chicken is both milder and creamier.
What is the key ingredient for butter chicken?
Adding coriander and cumin powder to your food makes it taste milder. They balance out the strong flavors of the garam masala and make the tomatoes taste less sour. Kasuri methi is dried fenugreek leaves and it is the key ingredient used in this dish.