All About Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani) | 5 Amazing Facts
Butter chicken, or Murgh Makhani, is a classic Indian dish known for its tantalizing flavor and creamy texture. It’s one of the most popular dishes served in Indian restaurants around the world, and for good reason. The combination of spices and tender chicken, served in a rich tomato-butter sauce, is enough to make anyone’s mouth water.
Butter chicken or Murgh makhani is a dish, originating in the Indian subcontinent of chicken in a mildly spiced tomato sauce. Butter Chicken is one of the most popular curries at any Indian restaurant around the world. Butter chicken will often look very similar to chicken tikka masala. The only difference is that tikka masala has more of a complex, layered flavor from the spices, while butter chicken tastes like, well, butter, with a milder, sweeter gravy.
Butter chicken is prepared with marinated chicken that’s first grilled and then cooked in a rich gravy (curry) made with tomato, butter, and a special spice blend as a base, unlike most Indian curries where the preparation of the base starts with a blend of onion and a ginger garlic paste cooked in oil, butter chicken uses tomato as a base and is cooked in butter, giving it a slightly sweet flavor. Cashews and almonds add to the sweetness and richness of the dish.
Why is it called butter chicken?
Butter chicken originated from Northern India in 1947. Created by Kundan Lal Gujral, you may notice that Butter Chicken is known as murgh makhani, chicken with butter is similar to British tikka masala. Prepared in a buttery gravy with the addition of cream, cashew, and almonds give the curry sauce a silky smooth rich texture.
Butter chicken is typically made with boneless chicken pieces that are marinated in yogurt, spices, and lemon juice. The marinated chicken is then cooked in a rich and creamy tomato-butter sauce. The sauce is usually made with tomatoes, butter, cream, and a variety of spices such as garam masala, ginger, garlic, and cumin. The sauce is usually served over basmati rice or naan bread, making it a complete and satisfying meal.
Chicken is marinated for several hours in a mixture of dahi(yogurt), lemon juice, Kashmiri red chili, garam masala, ginger-garlic paste, and salt. The chicken is usually cooked in a tandoor (traditional clay oven) , sometimes grilled, pan-fried, or roasted. It is served in a mild curry sauce that includes butter.
The sauce is a tomato and onion based sauce that is simmered until smooth and much of the water has evaporated and is sieved so that it is finally velvety smooth. Spices may include coriander, cinnamon, cardamom, cumin, fenugreek (Kasuri methi), cloves, pepper, garam masala. Cashew paste may be used as a thickener and the cream is used in the sauce or as a garnish and is finally garnished with coriander.
Who invented this mouth-watering dish
Butter chicken has a long and interesting history. The dish is said to have been invented in the 1947s by Kundan Lal Gujral, the owner of a restaurant in Delhi, India. He wanted to create a dish that would be both flavorful and easy to prepare, and thus the classic butter chicken was born. The dish quickly grew in popularity, and it has since become a staple of Indian cuisine.
The dish was made accidentally by mixing the leftover chicken in a tomato gravy, rich in butter and cream, by the chef of the famous restaurant Moti Mahal in Delhi, the capital of India. In 1974, a recipe was published for “Murgh Makhani” (Tandoori chicken cooked in butter and tomato sauce)”. In 1975, the English phrase “butter chicken” first appeared in print, as a specialty of the house at Gaylord Indian restaurant in Manhattan. In Australia and New Zealand, it is also eaten as a pie filling.
Butter chicken is a great dish for people who are new to Indian cuisine. It’s a mild dish that can be easily customized to suit individual tastes. For those who like a little extra spice, you can add some extra garam masala or chili powder to the sauce. For those who prefer a creamier sauce, you can add a bit more cream or butter. No matter how you customize it, butter chicken is sure to be a hit with everyone.
5 Amazing Facts
- The dish originated in Delhi, India. It was created in the 1950s by the Moti Mahal Delux restaurant.
- The dish is made with a rich tomato sauce base and flavored with a blend of spices that can include cardamom, garam masala, cumin, coriander, and ginger.
- The signature creaminess of Butter Chicken is achieved by adding cream and butter to the sauce.
- The dish is popular among vegetarians, too. It can be made with paneer (Indian cheese) or vegetables in place of chicken.
- The dish is now a popular dish around the world and can be found on menus of Indian restaurants in many countries.
So, if you’re looking for a delicious and easy-to-prepare Indian dish, look no further than butter chicken. The combination of flavors and textures is sure to have everyone asking for seconds!