Saturday, 17 March 2012

Butter Chicken

This recipe is a winner. It is THE best Australian-Indian Restaurant clone out there, mainly because it was taught to me by an Indian restaurant chef.

Serves 6-8 as a main.

For the Chicken Tikka:
1.2 5Kg chicken thigh fillets
250 g Greek style yoghurt
2 T minced garlic
1/8 c dried fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi)
1 and 1/2 t coriander powder
1 t chilli powder
1 and 1/2 t cumin powder
1 and 1/2 t salt
1T vegetable oil
1T red tandoori colouring powder

For the Butter Sauce
2 T vegetable oil
2 t crushed garlic
2 t crushede ginger
1/4 c tomato paste
1/2 c water
1/4 t finely ground black pepper
1/4 t cumin powder
1/4 t coriander powder
1/4 t tumeric powder
2 x 440 g cans of tomato puree
1 t salt
1 c water
1/8 c dried fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi)
600 mL thickened cream
1 to 2 t red tandoori colouring powder
2 T sugar

  • Wash and drain chicken fillets.
  • Mix all tikka ingredients. Ensure fenugreek leaves are crushed and rolled between the hands.
  • Coat fillets in mixture. Sit overnight in fridge.
  • Preheat oven to 220 C.
  • Place fillets onto lined baking trays. Roast for 20 minutes. Turn fillets over. Roast 10 minutes more.
  • Some parts of each fillet should be slightly charred.
  • Remove from oven.

Fillets can be served now, sprinkled with a SMALL amount of chat masala, coriander and lemon wedges. This is called Chicken Tikka - great with a salad and raita.

To continue making butter chicken:

  • Slice each chicken fillet into bite sized pieces.
  • Heat oil in saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and ginger, stir for 1 minute.
  • Add tomato puree and water, stir for 1 minute.
  • Add spices (pepper, coriander, cumin, tumeric) and salt, stir for 1 minute.
  • Add tomato puree, crushed methi leaves and water, simmer covered for 20 minutes.
  • Add cream and tandoori colouring, simmer uncovered for 5 minutes.
  • Add chicken and reheat. Adjust flavour by adding salt. Then add sugar to slightly sweeten sauce. Simmer 5 minutes.

t = teaspoon (5 mL)
T = tablespoon (15 mL)
c = cup (250 mL)