Butter Chicken

Butter chicken, also known as chicken makhani, is more like a treat than an entrée—and quite possibly the most popular dish at any Indian restaurant. This heavenly, creamy curry highlights the robust flavors of Kashmiri chile, dried fenugreek leaves, and garam masala. Served with classic basmati rice and naan, this dish evokes excitement on any menu.

Garam masala literally translates to “warm spice mix,” and it is the quintessential Indian spice blend. It gives warmth and depth to dishes and pairs perfectly with red or green chile for a hearty, aromatic flavor. Every region (and family) across India has its own version. My mom’s recipe calls for twenty-one whole roasted spices, some of which are hard to find, and it takes days to make. Here is a simplified version with a similar authentic flavor.

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian
Difficulty: Medium
Category: Kid-Friendly, Poultry, Seven Ingredients or Less
Duration: 30-60 min
Diet: Gluten Free, Paleo
Cooking Technique: Pressure Cook, Sauté
Main Ingredients: Basmati Rice, Chicken, Garam Masala, Onion
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4 -6 servings

INGREDIENTS

2 tbsp ghee
1 large yellow onion finely diced
2 lbs chicken thighs boneless, skinless, halved and patted dry
1 cup tomato puree canned
1/2 cup Water
1 tbsp Ginger fresh, grated
1 tbsp garlic minced
2 tsp kashmiri red chile powder or another mild red chile powder
2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp tumeric ground
1/2 cup coconut cream canned (see notes)
2 tbsp tomato paste
2 tbsp fenugreek leaves dried
2 tsp sugar
1/2 cup cilantro fresh
1 tsp garam masala (recipe below)

Garam masala

2 tbsp black peppercorns
2 tbsp cloves
1 tbsp cinnamon sticks crushed
2-5 green cardamom pods (about 2 teaspoons)
1 tbsp black cumin seed or cumin seeds

Rice

1 cup Basmati rice
1 1/2 cups Water
1 tsp kosher salt

INSTRUCTIONS

Garam masala

Select the normal Sauté setting on the Instant Pot. Lightly toast each spice, one at a time, by adding it to the pot and stirring continuously until aromatic, about 1 minute each. Make sure not to burn them. The goal is to remove any residual moisture so they are easy to grind.
As the spices are toasted, transfer them to a plate and let cool completely. Grind the spices in a spice grinder to make a fine powder.
Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight for up to 6 months.

Butter chicken

Select the high Sauté setting on the Instant Pot and heat the ghee. Add the onion and cook until translucent, 4 to 5 minutes. Press the Cancel button to turn off the Instant Pot. Add the chicken, tomato puree, water, ginger, garlic, chile powder, salt, garam masala, and turmeric and stir to combine.
To make the rice: In a 1 1/2-quart stainless-steel bowl that will fit in the Instant Pot, stir together the rice, water, and salt. Place a tall steam rack in the pot, making sure its legs are resting on the bottom. Place the bowl of rice on the rack.
Secure the lid and set the Pressure Release to Sealing. Select the Pressure Cook or Manual setting and set the cooking time for 5 minutes at high pressure.
Let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes, then move the Pressure Release to Venting to release any remaining steam. Open the pot. Using heat-resistant mitts, place the bowl of rice on a trivet and remove the tall steam rack. Add to the pot the coconut cream, tomato paste, fenugreek, and sugar and stir to combine. Select the high Sauté setting and cook until the curry comes to a boil and is heated through, about 2 minutes. Press the Cancel button to turn off the Instant Pot.
Spoon the rice onto plates and ladle the curry over the top. Sprinkle with the cilantro and serve.

RECIPE NOTES

The unsweetened coconut cream used in the recipe (not to be confused with the sweetened coconut cream used primarily in cocktails) can be found canned in grocery stores. It can be replaced with the cream from a can of regular full-fat coconut milk. Put the can of coconut milk in the refrigerator for 4 to 5 hours or in the freezer for 5 minutes to separate the cream from the water, then open the can and scoop off the cream from the top of the coconut water.

The Essential Indian Instant Pot Cookbook by Archana Mundhe

This authorized collection of 75 simplified Indian classics for the immensely popular electric pressure cooker, the Instant Pot, is a beautifully photographed, easy-to-follow source for flavorful weekday meals.
The Essential Indian Instant Pot Cookbook is your source for quick, flavorful Indian favorites and contemporary weekday meals. With 75 well-tested recipes authorized by Instant Pot covering every meal of the day, this is a go-to resource for classic chicken, lamb, and vegetarian curries; daals, soups, and seafood like fennel and saffron spiced mussels; breakfast delights like spicy frittata and ginger almond oatmeal; and sweet treats like rose milk cake and fig and walnut halwa.
ARCHANA MUNDHE is a software engineer turned recipe developer, cooking instructor, and food blogger who writes at Ministry of Curry. Born and raised in western India, Mundhe now cooks and writes in New Jersey, where she lives with her husband and their two sons.