Butter Hen – A Stunning Mess

We order take out perhaps as soon as every week at our home. And our primary, go-to is Indian meals. Considered one of my targets for the yr is to work on home made variations of a few of our favourite take-out meals. This butter hen recipe is a type of. It’s tremendous flavorful, wholesome, straightforward to make and scrumptious!

What’s butter hen? Butter hen is a basic Indian curry made with marinated hen and a creamy tomato sauce. We normally serve it with steamed rice, however Naan is a superb addition as effectively. I additionally assume this butter hen recipe makes nice leftovers as you’ll be able to simply reheat it on the stovetop, very similar to leftover soup.

Associated: Subsequent up strive a home made chai latte or iced chai latte.

Elements

• Hen
• Kashmiri chili powder
• Salt
• Lemon juice
• Greek yogurt
• Garam masala
• Cumin
• Butter
• Cinnamon stick
• Inexperienced cardamom pods
• Cloves
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Onion – yellow or white
• Tomato sauce
• Tomato paste
• Granulated white sugar
• Dried fenugreek leaves
• Heavy whipping cream
• Cilantro

Sure, it is a lot of substances. However don’t get intimidated! Most of those are shelf secure dried spices or canned items. Plus, that’s what makes Indian meals good—all the flavour!

How you can make Butter Hen

First marinate the hen. Begin by slicing the hen into small, chew measurement items. Attempt to get all of the items comparable measurement so they are going to cook dinner for a similar period of time. Place in a mixing bowl and toss / stir with the kashmiri chili powder, salt, lemon juice, greek yogurt, garam masala and cumin. Cowl and refrigerate for half-hour.

Whereas the hen marinates begin the rice. I like to make use of a rice cooker.

Subsequent make the gravy / curry. Finely chop the onions, mince the garlic, peel and mince the ginger. In a big pot or dutch oven soften the butter. Prepare dinner the onions over medium / excessive warmth for 3-4 minutes till very mushy and brown. Toss within the cinnamon stick and cardamom pods. Then add the garlic and ginger and cook dinner for an additional minute. Cut back the warmth to low and stir within the tomato sauce, tomato paste, kashmiri chili powder, garam masala, cumin, slat and sugar. Cowl and permit to simmer whilst you cook dinner the hen.

Add the remaining butter to a big skillet and cook dinner the hen till it reaches 160°F internally (cooked via). In the event you don’t have a meat thermometer, I like to recommend it, however you too can reduce open the most important/thickest piece to test it’s completed. It must be white in coloration with no pink remaining.

Returning to the gravy / curry. Take away the cinnamon stick and cardamom pods. Add the dried fenugreek leaves. Use an immersion blender (or you’ll be able to pour right into a blender after which return to the pot) puree the sauce. Then stir within the cream and cooked hen. I normally add 1/3 to 1/2 cup of water as effectively, as we like our sauce extra on the skinny aspect. However that is as much as you. Prime with a chopped cilantro when serving.

Ideas and Substitutions

• I sometimes use boneless skinless hen breasts on this recipe however different cuts of hen can work simply as effectively.
• Kashmiri chili powder is value searching for out and may be simply purchased on-line. However, if you happen to don’t have it you’ll be able to substitute it for paprika and small quantity of cayenne.
• Inexperienced cardamom pods are usually not at all times simply discovered on the grocery shops I sometimes store at, however they’re simply discovered on-line. I LOVE the scent of those and can add a pair to the rice whereas it cooks. However, if you happen to can’t discover them you’ll be able to merely omit them from this recipe.
• Dried fenugreek leaves can simply be discovered on-line if you happen to can’t discover them in shops. If wanted you’ll be able to substitute celery leaves or just omit them.

Extra Selfmade Curry Recipes

In case you are serious about studying extra about conventional Indian delicacies I like to recommend Julie Sahni’s Introdution to Indian Cooking or Basic Indian Cooking.