Butter chicken
Originating in India, Butter Chicken has been a popular dish since the 1950s, attributed to Kundan Lal Gujral. With the curry-style sauce made from tomatoes, butter and cream, coupled with the variety of spices used - such as garam masala, ginger, and mace - it was quickly renowned for its unctuous flavors and mouthwatering aroma.
Like most dishes, the exact ingredients vary depending on the cook, which helps to explain why it can taste so differently depending on where you sample it. Some cooks opt for a more piquant flavor by utilizing more chili and cumin, while others prefer to tone down the spiciness and let the smooth flavour of the buttery tomato shine through.
No matter the cuisine or recipe, the key to a good Butter Chicken is finding the right balance of savory and sweet. Whether you use store-bought or homemade spices and tomato sauce, the addition of the sweetness of condensed milk, honey, or sugar will make all the difference.
This beloved dish is a favorite around the world for its comforting yet complex flavors. Try it over basmati rice or with a side of naan for a truly delicious meal.
Butter chicken recipes
Amazing Butter chicken recipes sourced from the web.
The origin of Butter chicken
Ah, butter chicken. The delectable dish known around the world as an Indian classic, beloved by countless generations of diners. But have you ever stopped to wonder: where did it come from?
The origins of butter chicken can be traced back to the post-colonial era in India, when the country was still finding its footing and experimenting with different cuisines. Butter chicken as we know it today is believed to have been first concocted at Moti Mahal, a restaurant located in Delhi, India.
Founded in 1947 by Kundan Lal Jaggi and Thakur Dass, Moti Mahal was a veritable melting pot of local ingredients, spices, and condiments, providing the perfect venue for culinary creativity. One day, Kundan Lal Jaggi, the master chef at Moti Mahal, is said to have had a culinary epiphany while attempting to cook a tandoori chicken dish that had been made with butter and tomato – the original 'Butter Chicken.'
The dish quickly caught on, becoming a popular menu item at Moti Mahal, with customers raving about its incomparable flavor profile. Since then, the original recipe has been both tinkered with and experimented upon, resulting in countless variations of the beloved dish, each with its own unique spin.
Today, butter chicken is a ubiquitous dish throughout India, and it has become a beloved delicacy all across the globe. From humble beginnings in Delhi, it has since become one of the most popular staples of Indian cuisine, one that will continue to be savored for centuries to come.
Types of Butter chicken
Butter chicken is an incredibly popular dish amongst many cultures and cuisines, but the true origins of this delightful delicacy remain hotly contested and shrouded in mystery. To shed some light on this subject, let's take a closer look at the various types of butter chicken that can be found.
The first kind of butter chicken that comes to mind is Indian-style: chunks of marinated chicken slow cooked in a creamy, tomato-based Makhani sauce, infused with flavorful spices like bay leaf, cardamom, fenugreek and garam masala. This classic preparation is downright delectable - it melts in the mouth and tantalizes the taste buds.
Another type of butter chicken often encountered is the Punjabi version. Here, the chicken is marinated with yogurt, garlic, ginger and aromatic spices before being cooked in a mix of creamy butter and fresh tomato puree. The fiery sounds of chilies and cloves are not to be forgotten either - they really add some zest to the dish. This variation of butter chicken is all about bold flavors which come together in perfect harmony.
Back from north India, we now go to the south, where we find the Chettinad style of butter chicken. This particular treatment of the dish features a unique blend of freshly ground spices that create a rich, velvety sauce. What sets this style apart from the other two is the addition of fragrant pepper corns and grated coconut, which add an interesting twist to an already complex flavor profile.
It should be noted that the aforementioned styles of butter chicken are only a few of the countless different variations that exist in the world. Whether you’re a connoisseur of bold flavors or someone who prefers subtlety in their cuisine, there is undoubtedly a butter chicken recipe out there that can satisfy your cravings.