How to Prepare Tasty Butter Chicken Curry

This butter chicken curry recipe is made with a simple and homemade curry paste and spices. Chicken curry is one of the most popular curries at restaurants around the world. The ideal side dishes for this dish are handmade Naan bread and rice with garlic butter.

Tips for making chicken curry

A chicken curry that contains coconut milk should be made with full-fat stuff. However, if you want a lighter dish, you may cut back on the coconut milk or cream or thin it up with chicken broth.

You can include your preferred vegetables, such as bell peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, squash, or dark leafy greens.

To make this chicken curry recipe, you can opt to use boneless, skinless chicken breasts, but bear in mind that they have less fat than chicken thighs do.

For the Marinade

1 kg boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces

2 tablespoon curry powder

1 cup plain yogurt

1 teaspoon paprika

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

For the Curry Paste

2 cinnamon sticks

3 whole cardamom pods

2 tablespoon oil

1 white onion, minced

5 cloves garlic, roughly chopped

1 3-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and chopped

3 tablespoon tomato paste

1 teaspoon red chili powder

For the Chicken Curry

3 tablespoon oil

1 large white onion - peeled and sliced thick

2 bell peppers - seeded and sliced root to tip

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup water - or broth

5 tablespoon prepared curry paste

2 cans of coconut milk or coconut cream

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

Fresh coriander to garnish

Procedure

In a big bowl, combine the yogurt, salt, paprika, cinnamon powder, curry powder, and chicken pieces.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and transfer to the refrigerator to marinate for 30 minutes to an hour or up to overnight.

Place a large heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat. Add the cinnamon sticks and cardamom pods to the pan and toast over dry heat for 2-3 minutes, or until fragrant, reducing the heat if needed to prevent the spices from burning. Remove from the pan and set aside.

Add 2 tablespoons vegetable oil to the pan and set over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often. Mix in the garlic cloves and ginger and cook for an additional

Return the toasted cinnamon sticks and cardamom pods, plus the red chilis, to the pan, and stir well to combine. Continue to cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often.

Mix the tomato paste and the aromatics while lowering the heat to medium. Cook for 1-2 minutes while stirring often then turn of the heat.

Remove the cardamom pods and cinnamon sticks and set aside. Transfer the remaining ingredients to a small food processor. Process until a thick paste is formed. Set aside.

In the same pan that you cooked the aromatics in, add a tablespoon oil and heat it over high heat. Add the chicken in a single layer and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until it is brown and just beginning to sear. Place the chicken on a fresh dish and place aside.

Repeat the method outlined above until all of the chicken has been cooked, scraping up any charred bits that have formed on the pan's bottom as you go.

Add a tablespoon of oil to the pan and add the onions. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the bell peppers, salt, water, or broth, the prepared curry paste, and the reserved cinnamon sticks and cardamom pods.

Thoroughly mix to combine and cook, stirring often, for 2-3 minutes.

Stir in the coconut milk and mix thoroughly then increase heat to high and bring to a simmer.

Return the browned chicken to the pot and lower the heat to medium. Add the sugar and combine thoroughly. Allow the chicken to simmer for 2-3 minutes, uncovered.

Season with additional salt, sugar, and curry paste, to taste.  Garnish with fresh, chopped coriander leaves and serve immediately.

Conclusion

Butter chicken is so named because it is cooked in a buttery gravy with cream added to give the curry sauce a silky, rich texture.  The cream is added toward the end of cooking to add just the right amount of richness to create an authentic butter chicken curry