Ingredients. 😋
Marinade
• ½ cup plain full-fat yoghurt
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp turmeric powder
• 2 tsp garam masala
• ½ tsp chilli powder or cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tbsp freshly grated ginger
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1½ lb (750 g) boneless chicken thigh fillets, cut into bite-sized pieces or breast if you prefer.
Curry Sauce
• 2 tbsp (30 g) ghee, butter, or 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 cup tomato passata (tomato purée)
• 1 cup heavy/thickened cream
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1¼ tsp salt
To Serve
• Basmati rice or pilau rice
• Fresh coriander/cilantro leaves
• Warm naan or blue corn tortillas
Instructions 🧑🍳
1. Marinate the chicken Combine all marinade ingredients (yoghurt, lemon juice, spices, ginger, and garlic) in a bowl. Add the chicken pieces and mix well to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, preferably overnight (up to 24 hours) for maximum flavour.
2. Cook the chicken Heat ghee (or butter/oil) in a large frying pan over high heat. Remove chicken from the marinade, letting excess drip off, but do not wipe it clean. Cook the chicken in a single layer for about 3 minutes until it turns white all over. (It won’t brown much due to the marinade.)
3. Make the sauce Add the tomato passata, cream, sugar, salt, and any remaining marinade from the bowl. Stir well. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer gently for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sauce should thicken slightly and become fragrant.
4. Finish and serve Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt if needed. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves. Serve hot with fluffy basmati or pilau rice and blue corn tortillas.
Tips for Best Results.
• Full-fat yoghurt and cream give the richest, silkiest texture.
• For an extra smooth sauce, you can optionally blend the marinade ingredients (except chicken) in a food processor before mixing with the chicken.
• Leftovers taste even better the next day the flavours continue to develop.
• Adjust chilli powder to your preferred heat level.
Enjoy this comforting, restaurant-style Butter Chicken taco at home!