Blogger Tries Butter Chicken For The First Time - 6 Million Views 

Blogger Tries Butter Chicken For The First Time - 6 Million Views 

Butter chicken, also known as murgh makhani in India, is an easy to prepare and highly-flavored curry. Juicy pieces of chicken are cooked in a creamy tomato sauce that adds depth and complexity to this delectable dish.

Last month, food blogger Urvashi Pitre shared a video of herself making butter chicken using an Instant Pot cooker that quickly went viral.

Origins

Butter chicken, a favorite among Punjabis, is one of India's most beloved dishes. But its exact origins remain a mystery to this day.

Kundan Lal Gujral was working at Moti Mahal restaurant in Peshawar (now Pakistan), which specialized in tandoori chicken. Unfortunately, without refrigeration at that time, cooked tandoori would dry out and spoil quickly. To solve this problem, Gujral created a thick gravy made from butter, cream and tomatoes to keep the dish moist.

Butter chicken has become a worldwide favorite, often served with naan bread and featured in pizzas, pasta dishes and pies.

Gautam Chaudhry of Deseez believes the secret to making an excellent butter chicken lies in finding the perfect balance of tanginess and velvety texture. According to Ayurveda, any rich preparation should be balanced with bitter fenugreek and garlic to control acidity; this guarantees the dish has just enough sweetness without being overwhelming."

In 1947, Kundan Lal Gujral fled to Delhi following the Indian partition and opened Moti Mahal - renowned for its Tandoori Chicken and Butter Chicken dishes. This eatery quickly became a landmark in Old Delhi and became frequented by famous diners from all over.

After the partition, Gujral opened Moti Mahal's first outlet in Delhi without knowing it would become a nationwide chain of restaurants. His restaurant proved successful and today Gujral's grandson Monish runs it.

The butter chicken story is an inspiring illustration of how good things can come to those who wait.

Kundan Lal Gujral, owner of Moti Mahal shop in Peshawar, decided to try something unique with their leftover dried chicken: instead of throwing it back in the refrigerator, they used it for creating a delectable gravy with tomato, butter and spices.

Since then, the recipe for butter chicken has grown in popularity. It now ranks among one of the most searched for Indian dishes online and has been adapted into various cuisines around the world - from Canada to New Zealand! With such a devoted following around the globe, butter chicken has become an irresistible flavor that everyone enjoys!

Ingredients

If you're searching for an Indian-inspired meal that everyone will enjoy, butter chicken is the perfect choice. This creamy curry features tender pieces of chicken in a deliciously spiced sauce and has become a beloved favorite of diners around the world.

This dish is delicious and comforting - ideal for weeknight dinners. But the best part? It's freezer friendly!

With just a bit of preparation ahead of time, this recipe can be made in no time. You could even marinate the chicken overnight and then just reheat in your Instant Pot before serving it!

The secret to delicious butter chicken lies in a yogurt-based marinade made with garlic, ginger and spices. Not only will the marinade tenderize your chicken but it will also enhance its flavor!

Once the chicken has marinated, it's simple to prepare. Make sure all of the marinade has fully absorbed into the meat before beginning the cooking process; this way, all of the flavors can blend together and truly shine in your final product.

You can purchase pre-made marinades, but for the most authentic flavor and results I suggest making your own. In addition to yogurt and fresh lemon juice you'll need several other ingredients as well.

For the sauce, you'll need tomato paste, fresh garlic, onions, butter and various spices. These add a smoky, complex taste to the dish.

While the sauce simmers, you can prepare other ingredients. Onions take the longest to cook, so start this step first.

Once your sauce has come to a simmer, add the chicken and continue simmering for several more minutes. Doing this allows the chicken to absorb even more of the flavors from the sauce.

Finally, you can add butter at the end of cooking for a creamy finish to the dish. Just be sure not to overcook it or else your chicken may lose its crispiness.

Preparation

If you haven't had butter chicken yet, you might be wondering what makes this dish so unique. Commonly served in restaurants, butter chicken is a creamy and rich dish made with marinated and grilled chicken cooked in tomato-based gravy with lots of butter.

Indian cuisine lovers have long enjoyed this dish, which originated with Kundan Lal Gujral and Kundan Lal Jaggi at their restaurant Moti Mahal in Delhi in the 1930s.

The original recipe calls for marinated tandoori chicken that's cooked in a traditional clay oven called the tandoor, then simmered in an aromatic tomato-based gravy that's rich with cream and butter. The end result is an incredibly wholesome and satisfying meal.

Butter chicken sauce is made with crushed tomatoes that have been simmered until they've become a pulp, along with garlic and ginger. After being blended into a smooth paste with various spices and cream, the sauce is served warm.

Once the sauce is prepared, you can add your grilled chicken and simmer to further blend flavors. Let simmer until reduced and thickened.

When making this recipe, we suggest using boneless, skinless chicken thighs. They cook faster and absorb the marinade better than breasts or other types of chicken do.

Before you start cooking the chicken, marinate it in a mixture of yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, ginger, Kashmiri red chili powder, garam masala and turmeric. This will give your poultry an attractive texture as well as plenty of flavor.

Next, cook the chicken in a pan over medium-high heat until golden brown on both sides, approximately 10 minutes. Transfer the cooked chicken to a plate and set aside.

Although butter chicken can be easily prepared at home, making it properly will guarantee that your dish is flavorful and delicious. To do so, simply follow a few simple steps, making sure each step is completed correctly.

Cooking

Check Out This Blogger As She Tryes Butter Chicken For The First Time | 6 Million Views!

Dallas-based Urvashi Pitre, better known as the "butter chicken lady," uploaded a video onto an Instant Pot Community Facebook group that has been viewed more than six million times. It quickly became one of the most popular posts and earned Pitre an endorsement deal with Penguin Random House.

She's not the first YouTuber to try out this beloved Indian dish. In fact, restaurants around the globe have adapted it for their menus; however, its traditional recipe remains a special occasion favorite in Indian households.

The key to this recipe's tenderness and flavor lies in a spice-infused yogurt marinade. Yogurt contains both lactic acid and bacteria (the good kind), which help break down proteins to make meat more tender.

For optimal tenderness, let your chicken marinate in yogurt for at least an hour. An overnight soak will yield even better results.

If you don't have time to marinate your chicken overnight, a couple of hours in the fridge will still produce great results.

Once your sauce has simmered for some time, you can add the other ingredients to make butter chicken. Traditionally, chicken is cooked in a tandoor before being added to the sauce, helping to seal in all of its flavors.

The chicken is then simmered in the sauce until it is fully cooked and tender, seasoned with ground spices such as garam masala, coriander, cloves, and kashmiri chili powder. Finally, tomatoes are added to the mixture and cooked over low heat until the sauce thickens significantly.

Your sauce will be smooth and creamy if you add full-fat coconut milk or half & half instead of cream for a richer taste.

Though cooking a classic dish like butter chicken may seem daunting, the recipe is actually quite straightforward. With some preparation ahead of time, you'll have no trouble whipping together an easy dinner that's sure to please everyone in your family.