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Arvinda’s Creamy Butter Chicken

Ingredients

  • By far this is the most requested dish in our cooking classes!
  • Butter Chicken does not have to contain butter in it. You can stir some in right before serving but we find this dish just as delicious without the added fat.
  • Marinade:
  • 1 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breast, cubed
  • ¼ cup thick plain yogurt
  • 2 tsp. Arvinda’s Butter Chicken Masala
  • 1 tsp. fresh lime or lemon juice
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • Sauce:
  • 1 large onion (OR 2-3 medium sized OR 4-5 small onions)
  • 2 tbsp. oil
  • 2-3 each cardamom pods, star anise, cloves, cinnamon sticks and black peppercorns from
  • Arvinda’s Whole Spices
  • 2 bay leaves
  • ½ cup crushed or ground tomatoes
  • 1 ½ tbsp. Arvinda’s Butter Chicken Masala (use 1 tbsp. for milder flavour, 2 tbsp. for
  • hotter)
  • 2 tsp. sugar (use 1 tbsp. for sweeter)
  • ½ tsp. salt or salt to taste
  • ¾ cup light cream
  • ¼ cup ground almonds or cashews
  • ½ cup water + extra
  • ½ tsp. Arvinda’s Garam Masala, to garnish
  • ¼ cup cilantro, finely chopped, to garnish

Instructions 

  • Marinade: In a large bowl, mix marinade ingredients together. Add chicken and coat well.
  • Cover and refrigerate for 2-4 hours or overnight.
  • Preheat oven to 400F. Put chicken on baking sheet and cook for 10 minutes until chicken is cooked. {Option: Grill on BBQ}. Set aside.
  • Quarter onion. Boil in water until softened and cooked. Drain and puree in a food processor until onion is fine and smooth.
  • In a large pan, heat oil on medium-high. Add Arvinda’s Whole Spices. Gently fry for one minute until they sizzle. Add bay leaves.
  • Add pureed onions. Cook for 10 minutes until onion is reduced and becomes a thick paste.
  • Add ground tomatoes. Mix. Stir in Arvinda’s Butter Chicken Masala and blend to make a masala paste. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
  • Add cream, sugar and salt and mix into a sauce. Add cooked chicken. Simmer for 10 minutes.
  • Fold in ground nuts. Add water and mix. Cook for a few more minutes.
  • Garnish with a sprinkle of Arvinda’s Garam Masala and cilantro.
  • Vegetarian Option:
  • Substitute chicken for paneer
  • (Indian cheese) for a vegetarian
  • www.arvindas.com, Oakville