Serves 4 as a main dish

Butter Chicken is probably the most moreish Indian dish. Marinated in Tikka Marinade, cooked in the oven or grill, then added to a sauce with lots of butter and cream, this is a rich and delicious dish that will have you mopping up the last drips with your nan bread.

What you need…
• juice of 1 lemon
• 800g chicken breast or deboned thigh, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 recipe Tikka Marinade
• 150g unsalted butter
• 2 onions, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon garlic paste (or finely chopped)
• 1 teaspoon ginger paste (or finely chopped)
• salt to taste
• 6 fresh tomatoes, chopped
• 1 teaspoon sugar (optional, if you like it sweet)
• small handful fresh coriander (chop up the stems to add to the curry and set aside the leaves for garnish)
• 1–3 fresh green chillies (depending on the heat you prefer)
• 100ml cream

Spice Mix
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1 teaspoon cumin powder

How to make it…
1. Squeeze the lemon over the chicken, rub it in well and leave for 15 minutes. This will degrease the chicken and helps the chicken absorb the marinade.
2. Shake off the excess lemon and coat the pieces in the Tikka Marinade. Leave for at least 15 minutes but preferably 24–48 hours.
3. Place the chicken pieces on a grill tray (you can use skewers if you choose) making sure you do not cram the pieces too closely together. Grill until the chicken is half-cooked and still pink inside (you can check this by cutting through a large piece). This will take approximately 6–10 minutes on a high heat, turning the chicken once during this time. Set aside and cover to keep warm.
4. Heat 100g of the butter on a low-medium heat until melted, add the onion and cook until it starts to brown (about 4–5 minutes).
5. Add the garlic and ginger, and cook for 1 minute.
6. Add the Spice Mix, salt and chillies, stir well and cook for 1 minute.
7. Add the tomatoes and coriander stems cook for 3-4 minutes, then add 250ml water and cook for a further 2–3 minutes.
8. Transfer the ingredients to a blender (or use a hand blender) until smooth.
9. Return the mixture to the pan and reheat for a couple of minutes before adding the chicken (use the juices that will have drained from the chicken for a better taste) and cook gently for 3–4 minutes. You can now add in the optional sugar.
10. Add the cream, the other 50g of butter and and cook on a low-medium heat until the chicken is cooked (about 5 minutes). To check the chicken is cooked, remove and cut through one of the larger pieces.
11. Serve, garnished with the coriander leaves.

If you like this you should try our…
Butter Paneer • Chicken Tikka Masala • Mughlai Malai Kofta • Prawn Korma • Medium Chicken Curry • Chicken Madras • Chicken Vindaloo • Chicken Bhoona • Chicken Tikka Masala

Get rid of margerine and the world will be a butter place.