This butter chicken variant is very gentle, showcasing the wonderfully fragrant spices and the deliciously spicy sauce. The yogurt and butter strengthen the curry while the almonds give a nutty flavor and help thicken the gravy.
Ingredients
1.5kg boneless, skinless chicken thighs, each cut in half
10 black peppercorns
5 cardamom pods, seeds only
2 cinnamon sticks
2 brown onions, finely sliced
10 cloves garlic, finely chopped
5cm piece ginger, finely chopped
2 tbsp tomato paste
1.5 litres chicken stock (gluten-free if required)
2 long red chillies, split
3 tbsp butter, soft but not melted
coriander leaves, to garnish
STEP 1 In a large bowl, combine the lime juice, salt and chilli powder. Add the chicken, and mix well to marinate. Cover and place aside.
STEP 2
Heat a dry frypan over medium heat and toast the almonds, bay leaves, cloves, peppercorns, cardamom seeds and cinnamon, constantly tossing or shaking the pan, until the spices are fragrant and the almonds start browning. Turn off the heat, add the coriander, cumin, and turmeric to the ground and toss briefly. Put the all spices in a grinder and grind to a powder.
STEP 3
Combine half the yoghurt with grinder spice powder and add to the chicken. Mix in and set aside for an hour to marinate.
STEP 4
Heat up the oil over medium heat in a large pot. Stir in the onion, garlic , ginger and remaining spice and fry until golden brown.
STEP 5
Add the chicken and marinade to the pot, and cook, stirring occasionally for a few minutes. Add the tomato puree, tomato paste, stock, fenugreek and chilies and cook gently for 40 to 50 minutes until the chicken is tender and the sauce is halved.
STEP 6
In a small saucepan, melt the butter and cook some grounded nuts till they turn brown. Pour over the chicken, garnish with leaves of coriander and serve with rice and (optional) naan bread.