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Creamy Butter Chicken with Soft Naan

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A quick and easy creamy butter chicken recipe paired with soft, homemade naan bread. This comforting dish uses simple ingredients and delivers rich, indulgent flavors perfect for weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1/2 cup plain yogurt (preferably whole milk)
  • 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste (or finely minced fresh ginger and garlic)
  • 1 tsp chili powder (adjust to taste)
  • 1 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • Salt to taste
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 2 large tomatoes, pureed
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 cup heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk for dairy-free option
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp instant yeast
  • 3/4 cup warm water
  • 2 tbsp plain yogurt
  • 2 tbsp olive oil or melted butter, plus extra for brushing

Instructions

  1. Marinate the chicken: In a large bowl, combine chicken pieces with yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, chili powder, turmeric, cumin, and salt. Mix well to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 4 hours.
  2. Make the naan dough: Mix warm water, sugar, and yeast in a bowl. Let sit 5-10 minutes until frothy. In another bowl, whisk flour and salt. Add yeast mixture, yogurt, and olive oil to flour. Mix until sticky dough forms. Knead on floured surface 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place dough in oiled bowl, cover, and let rise in warm place about 1 hour until doubled.
  3. Prepare butter chicken sauce: Heat butter in heavy skillet over medium heat. Add chopped onions and cook 6-8 minutes until golden and soft. Add garam masala, coriander, smoked paprika; stir 1 minute. Pour in pureed tomatoes, season with salt, and simmer 10 minutes until thickened.
  4. Cook chicken: Heat oil in separate pan over medium-high heat. Add marinated chicken and cook 5-7 minutes until browned and cooked through. Transfer chicken to sauce, stir, and simmer 8-10 minutes.
  5. Finish sauce: Lower heat and stir in heavy cream slowly. Cook 3-4 minutes without boiling.
  6. Shape and cook naan: Punch down dough and divide into 6 portions. Roll each into oval about 1/4 inch thick. Heat cast iron or non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook naan 1-2 minutes per side until bubbles form and golden spots appear. Brush with melted butter and keep warm.
  7. Serve: Garnish butter chicken with chopped cilantro. Serve hot with soft naan.

Notes

Do not skip marinating the chicken for at least 30 minutes to ensure tenderness. Cook onions slowly to develop sweetness. Avoid boiling after adding cream to prevent curdling. Adjust heat when cooking naan to avoid charring or toughness. For gluten-free naan, substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free blend. For dairy-free, use coconut milk and dairy-free butter.

Nutrition

Keywords: butter chicken, creamy butter chicken, soft naan, homemade naan, easy dinner, weeknight meal, Indian recipe, chicken recipe

Find it online: https://tempotaste.com/creamy-butter-chicken-with-soft-naan-recipe-easy-homemade-dinner/