DINNER

BUTTER CHICKEN

Butter Chicken, Butter Chicken, Butter Chicken -

Just lately it seems that this dish has just been everywhere I looked. I have never had or made it before. I had most everything on hand, so it was time to dive in.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 ½ cups full-fat Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 ½ tablespoons ground turmeric
• 2 tablespoons garam masala
• 2 tablespoons ground cumin
• 3 pounds chicken thighs, on the bone
• ¼ pound unsalted butter
• 4 teaspoons neutral oil, like vegetable or canola oil
• 2 medium-size yellow onions, peeled and diced
• 4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
• 3 tablespoons fresh ginger, peeled and grated or finely diced
• 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 medium-size tomatoes, diced
• 2 red chiles, like Anaheim, or 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and diced
•  Kosher salt to taste
• ⅔ cup chicken stock, low-sodium or homemade
• 1 ½ cups cream
• 1 ½ teaspoons tomato paste
• 3 tablespoons ground almonds, or finely chopped almonds
• ½ bunch cilantro leaves, stems removed.

 Rare that I have the foresight or patience to get things ahead 24 hours in advance, but this was not all that hard.

PREPARATION

1. Whisk together the yogurt, lemon juice, turmeric, garam masala and cumin in a large bowl. Put the chicken in, and coat with the marinade. Cover, and refrigerate (for up to a day).
2. In a large pan over medium heat, melt the butter in the oil until it starts to foam. Add the onions, and cook, stirring frequently, until translucent. Add the garlic, ginger and cumin seeds, and cook until the onions start to brown.
3. Add the cinnamon stick, tomatoes, chiles and salt, and cook until the chiles are soft, about 10 minutes.
4. Add the chicken and marinade to the pan, and cook for 5 minutes, then add the chicken stock. Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer, uncovered, for approximately 30 minutes.
5. Stir in the cream and tomato paste, and simmer until the chicken is cooked through, approximately 10 to 15 minutes.
6. Add the almonds, cook for an additional 5 minutes and remove from the heat. Garnish with the cilantro leaves.

 Cook your veggies and spices

 dump in chicken and yogurt

 Cream , Nuts, the kitchen sink ....

Not really my favorite!  Not all that Indian or " Curry-ie ". Was a lot of work ...