Description
The quintessential Indian restaurant dish featuring tender chicken marinated in yogurt and spices, cooked in a luxuriously creamy tomato-based sauce with aromatic spices and plenty of butter. This recipe delivers authentic flavors with a perfect balance of tangy and rich notes.
Ingredients
Scale
- For the marinade:
- 1.5 lbs (700g) boneless chicken thighs, cut in pieces
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 2 tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp Kashmiri red chili powder
- 1 tsp cumin
- Salt to taste
- For the sauce:
- 4 tbsp butter (divided)
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 2 cups tomato puree (or 4 tomatoes blended)
- 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp Kashmiri red chili powder
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tbsp kasoori methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
- 1 tsp sugar
- Salt to taste
- For garnish:
- 2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
- 1 tbsp cream (optional)
Instructions
- Marinate chicken: Combine all marinade ingredients, coat chicken thoroughly, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (overnight preferred).
- Cook chicken: Grill or bake marinated chicken at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes until slightly charred. Set aside.
- Make sauce: Melt 2 tbsp butter in pan. Sauté onions until golden. Add ginger-garlic paste, cook 1 minute.
- Add tomato puree and cook 10 minutes until oil separates. Add all dry spices and cook 2 more minutes.
- Blend sauce until smooth (optional for restaurant texture).
- Return sauce to pan. Add cooked chicken, remaining butter, cream, kasoori methi, and sugar. Simmer 10 minutes.
- Adjust salt and consistency (add water if too thick). Garnish with cilantro and cream.
- Serve hot with naan or basmati rice.
Notes
- For authentic flavor, don’t skip kasoori methi (available at Indian stores)
- Kashmiri chili provides color without excessive heat
- Marinating overnight yields most flavorful results
- Leftovers taste even better next day
- Prep Time: 20 minutes (+ marinating time)
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling/Simmering
- Cuisine: Indian (Punjabi)
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 185mg