BUTTER CHICKEN/HOW TO MAKE AUTHENTIC PUNJABI BUTTER CHICKEN/MAKHANI MURG

Butter chicken or Murg Makhanai or Chicken Makhani it is known by so many names. There are many theories as well as who originated it initially. But let's not get into this and let's talk about the taste and texture.
There is no body in the world who would not like Butter chicken, in fact it is the most sough-ted and demanded recipe.It is basically a Indian dish of chicken with mildly spiced gravy.This dish is easily available in India and abroad.The dish has its roots in Punjabi Cuisine and was developed by the Moti Mahal restaurant in Daryaganj Delhi, India as I have heard.This rich, buttery, creamy chicken needs no introduction. Most probably the best known of all Indian dishes, it has already claimed the fame that it deserves.A heart warming favorite at home, a staple at most Indian restaurants, this north Indian dish has made its place in every corner of the world. And here I am, finally posting the recipe of this favorite dish.

INGREDIENTS

• 700 gms chicken( I have used chicken legs only)
• 1 teaspoon red chili powder
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• salt
• ghee to baste while grilling

For marinade:

• 3/4 cup plain yogurt(hung curd)
• 1.5 teaspoons kasuri methi/dried fenugreek leaves
• 1/2 – 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1.5 tablespoon mustard oil, or any other cooking oil to substitute
• 1.5 tablespoon garlic paste
• 1/2 tablespoon ginger paste

For the sauce/Makhani Masala:

• 2.5 inch fresh ginger
• 8-10 cloves of garlic
• 2-4 fresh green chili pepper, slit
• 4 tablespoon melted butter
• 4 green cardamoms
• 1.5 – 2 inch cinnamon sticks
• 2 cloves
• 3-3.5 cups tomato puree (fresh tomatoes) 
• 1 tsp red chili powder(Degi Mirch)
• 10 almonds, soaked, peeled and made into a paste
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1 tablespoon kasuri methi/dried fenugreek leaves
• 1/2 tablespoon sugar or honey
• 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoon heavy cream

PROCEDURE

• Start with the first marination and add all the ingredients except ghee in that list. This is our first marination. Keep it aside for 30 mins.
• Now combine all the ingredients in the 2 marinade and keep it for minimum 3-4 hrs or best is overnight.
• Now bake the Chicken in Oven at 200'C for 20-30 mins and keep it buttering in between.
• Now our grilled chicken is ready.
• Now we will be making the gravy or the makhani gravy.
• Take a frying pan or karahi.
• Add butter to it and add the whole Garam masala to it and saute it
• Now add the ginger garlic paste to it when it is browned add the tomato puree to it.
• Now wait till the gravy is reduced to a thick paste and leaves the oil on the corners.
• Add 2-2.5 cups of water and make a gravy of it.
• Add the almond paste to it and let it simmer for few minutes.
• Finally add sugar and Fenugreek to it.
• Now add the grilled chicken pieces to it and let it simmer on low heat.
• Finally add cream to it and cook for 3-4 mins, don't over cook.
• Our Butter Chicken is ready.
• Garnish it with Coriander and serve it.

NUTRITIONAL FACTS

Butter Chicken (Murg Makhani)

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1.        Servings:     

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Calories	484	Sodium	860 mg
Total Fat	29 g	Potassium	300 mg
Saturated	10 g	Total Carbs	8 g
Polyunsaturated	0 g	Dietary Fiber	2 g
Monounsaturated	0 g	Sugars	2 g
Trans	4 g	Protein	30 g
Cholesterol	102 mg
Vitamin A	17%	Calcium	5%
Vitamin C	13%	Iron	11%

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

• Butter chicken contains lots of butter, and heavy cream, making it a high-fat meal choice. Depending on your recipe, one serving of butter chicken may contain about 29 g of total fat, 10- 12 g of saturated fat. Both butter and cream are high in saturated fat. High intakes of saturated fat increase blood cholesterol levels and risk of heart disease. Keep your daily saturated fat intake to less than 10 percent of calories, or about 22 g per day on a 2,000 calorie diet.
• Butter chicken is a high-protein meal, with one serving containing about 30 g of protein. A healthy diet should contain 10 to 35 percent of its calories from protein.. One serving of butter chicken can meet more than half of your daily protein needs.
• Helps build muscles: Chicken is one of the best non-vegetarian sources of protein. It is lean meat, which means that it contains more amount of proteins and less amount of fat.If prepared in a healthy way.
• Boosts immunity: Chicken Soup has long been used as a home remedy for relieving cold, flu and other common respiratory infections. The hot steam of Chicken soup helps clear nasal congestion and throat while the thick fluid coats the throat to prevent invasion of respiratory linings by microbes to cause infection.