Chicken Makhani (Butter Chicken)

Orange food coloring can be used in place of the red.

Ingredients

• 1/4 pt Yogurt, plain
• 1 ts Ginger, crushed
• 1 ts Salt
• 1/4 ts Red food coloring
• 3 lb Chicken, skinless; cut in pieces
• Oil
• 2 oz Butter
• 1 Cinnamon stick, 1"
• 6 Cloves
• 6 Green cardamoms
• 1 Bay leaf
• 1/4 pt Sour cream
• 1/4 ts Saffron; crushed
• 1/4 pt Cream
• Salt; to taste
• 2 ts Almonds, ground
• 1/4 ts Cornstarch
• 1 T ;Water

Directions

Mix yogurt, ginger, salt and red coloring and rub into chicken. Let it marinate overnight.

Place in an ovenproof dish and brush with oil. Bake in a 375 F. oven for 40 to 50 minutes. Save the liquid, if any.

In a saucepan, melt butter and fry cinnamon, cloves, cardamoms and bay leaf for one minute. Add sour cream and chicken liquid. Add crushed saffron, and cream. Cover and simmer gently for five or six minutes. Add chicken pieces and adjust seasoning. Add ground almonds. Dissolve cornstarch in water and add to the chicken.

Let it thicken. Cover and simmer for three or four minutes. Remove from the heat. Serve with nan.

Submitted 6/13/05.
Source: Indian Cooking by Lalita Ahmed, 1984
Submitted By: Rick Smith
rick@dragons.net
Chicken Makhani (Butter Chicken)