Chicken Makhani – Indian Cuisine

I love Indian cuisine. I recently visited a Nawab restaurant in Springfield, MO, and tried their Indian cuisine. Delicious food filled my mouth with unique flavors, and those raving Springfield reviews became clear. As soon as I went home, I knew I had to try to make it for myself.

Indian cuisine is full of curries and sauces with no shortage of spices. You must get the right balance of spices, protein, and creaminess in each Indian dish. I found this recipe for chicken Makhani (Indian butter chicken).

My family loved my chicken Makhani. Bold, spicy flavors from garam masala and cumin mixed with the creaminess of yogurt marry perfectly together. Golden chicken stirred into the delicious sauce and served with either rice or naan is our new family favorite.

Check out some of the histories behind Indian cuisine below! You and your family do not want to miss out on this twist to your mundane weekly meal routine!

What Is Indian Cuisine?

When you think of Indian cuisine, there is no doubt spices come to mind. Curry is a staple in Indian cuisine, but the thing about curry is that it can be different in different parts of the country! Each region has its own curry mix.

Some of the most popular ingredients in Indian cuisine are mustard seeds, chilies, coconut, gram flour, and yogurt. Ghee is used in place of butter in many dishes, giving them more of a toasty flavor.

You will not find very much beef in Indian cuisine. In India, cows are a God, so instead of cow, Indian cuisine has a lot of chicken and lamb as the protein. Rice and naan bread accompanies alongside to sop up the tasty sauces!

This butter chicken recipe is an example of Indian cuisine that you can find in Indian food in Winston, Salem, and other local restaurants.

This recipe uses many Indian cuisine ingredients. For the sake of people in the United States cooking it, it uses butter. If you have ghee, use it for a more authentic Indian flavor! The ingredients you will need for this recipe are below.

Chicken Makhani - Indian Cuisine

When you think of Indian cuisine, there is no doubt spices come to mind. Curry is a staple in Indian cuisine, but the thing about curry is that it can be different in different parts of the country! Each region has its own curry mix. I found this recipe for chicken Makhani (Indian butter chicken).

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Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 25 mins

Total Time 35 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine Indian

Servings 4 people

Calories 463 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 1 pound Boneless, skinless chicken thighs cut into bite-size pieces
• 2 Tbsp Peanut oil, divided
• 1 Shallot, finely chopped
• ¼ White onion, chopped
• 2 Tbsp Butter
• 1 Tbsp Ginger garlic paste
• 2 teaspoons Lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons Garam masala divided
• 2 teaspoons Chili powder
• 1 teaspoon Ground cumin
• 1 Bay leaf
• 1 cup Tomato puree
• 1 cup Half-and-half
• ¼ cups Plain yogurt
• Salt and pepper
• ¼ teaspoons Cayenne pepper
• 1 Tbsp Cornstarch
• ¼ cups Water

Instructions

 

• Heat 1 tablespoon of peanut oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Saute the shallot and the onion until translucent, about 5-6 minutes.
• Stir in the butter, ginger-garlic paste, 1 teaspoon garam masala, lemon juice, cumin, chili powder, and bay leaf, stirring for 1 minute.
• Add the tomato sauce and cook for a couple of minutes.
• Stir in the half-and-half. Add the yogurt, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from heat and set aside.
• Next, heat 1 teaspoon of peanut oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry the chicken breasts in oil until golden brown, approximately 5 minutes per side.
• Turn down the heat and season with 1 teaspoon of garam masala and cayenne pepper. Add a few teaspoons of sauce and reduce until the chicken is cooked through.
• Add the cooked chicken to the rest of the sauce and stir it all together. Dissolve the cornstarch in the water and mix it into the sauce.
• Cook for 5-10 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.

Keyword chicken makhani, indian butter chicken

Tips & Tricks for Chicken Makhani – Indian Cuisine

If you do not have all of the ingredients needed for this recipe, you can always substitute ingredients. If you do substitute the peanut oil, it is crucial to use another oil with a high smoke point.

The next tip is to cook your onions for the right amount of time. If you do not give your onions long enough to caramelize, your end product will not have as rich of a flavor.

When using aromatic spices like garam masala, coriander, or cumin, do not add them to a pan on high heat. These spices burn easily. If they are added to a dish too soon or to a pan that is too hot, they add a burnt flavor to your dish.

Nutrition Information of Chicken Makhani – Indian Cuisine

Indian cuisine is known for being a healthy option because it uses whole foods without very many processed foods. Because most of the dishes are made with fresh ingredients, there are not as many preservatives.

This recipe provides a high amount of protein, and the yogurt provides live cultures that are good for your digestive system. Check out the full list of nutritional information per serving below.

• Calories – 463

• Total Fat – 28.8 g

• • Saturated fat – 11.7 g

• Cholesterol – 140 mg

• Sodium – 421 mg

• Total Carbohydrate – 13.7 g

• • Dietary Fiber – 2.2 g
  • Total Sugars – 4.6 g
• Protein – 37.2 g

This recipe makes 4 servings of chicken Makhani. The nutrition information is for only the chicken and sauce. This recipe is great on rice or served with naan bread. If you add these components, the nutritional information will change. 

Conclusion

If you are looking to change things up in your kitchen, look no further! This chicken Makhani recipe is full of flavor and is a great twist to your food routine. Spices like garam masala and cumin will have your house smell like an Indian restaurant!

Indian cuisine is fun to explore. I am already looking into Springfield menus for Indian desserts near me and anticipating the next time I get to eat at an Indian restaurant and find a new favorite. I love trying new foods and then coming home to try my hand at them!

This healthy recipe will satisfy you and your family at dinner time, so give this one a try!