Murgh Makhani – Butter Chicken Curry

This famous dish was created in Old Delhi in the 1950’s by the legendary Moti Mahal restaurant and has been enjoyed by Punjabis for decades. Traditionally the chicken is cooked in a tandoor, but we found the barbecue to be a perfect alternative. The chicken should be cooked two-thirds of the way through and simmered in the luxurious sauce to finish off.

Overview

Method
Grilling
Cooking Time
12 Hours 0 Mins
Serves
6
Suggested Wood
Beech
Ability
Intermediate

Ingredients

  • 800g Free Range Chicken Thighs, boned, skinned and halved|1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 Lemon (juice and zest)|1 tsp ground coriander
  • 6cm fresh ginger, grated
  • 5 cloves of garlic, crushed
  • 2 tsp chilli powder
  • 1 ½ tsp salt
  • 100ml plain Greek yoghurt
  • 40g unsalted cashew nuts
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • Vegetable Oil
  • 800g/2tins whole peeled plum tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 4 cardamom pods
  • 2 whole cloves
  • 1 tbsp chilli powder
  • 1 tsp fenugreek powder
  • 2 fresh green chillies, halved length ways
  • 50g unsalted butter
  • 2cm more ginger, finely chopped (for the sauce)
  • 50ml double cream
  • Fresh coriander to garnish

Method

THE DAY BEFORE

STEP 1

Mix the lemon juice and zest, grated ginger, crushed garlic, chilli powder and salt together in a large bowl and add the chicken. Use your hands to coat well. Set aside in fridge for 1 hour.

STEP 2

Mix the yoghurt with the ground coriander and cumin and pour over the chicken. Mix well and leave overnight in the fridge, covered.

STEP 3

Soak the cashews overnight in 70ml water. When you’re ready to make your sauce, drain the liquid then grind the cashews to a paste in a pestle and mortar (or use a blender), adding a splash of milk to loosen if needed. Set aside.

ON THE DAY

STEP 1

To make your sauce, place a large pan on a medium-high heat with 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. Add the chopped onion and cook for 5 minutes, until softened but not coloured.

STEP 2

Add the tinned tomatoes to the pan with a good pinch of salt, cumin, cardamom pods and cloves. Cook for 15 minutes, breaking them up with the back of a wooden spoon, until soft and cooked right down. Remove from the heat and blend the mixture with a stick blender and finally press through a course sieve set over a clean bowl to make a smooth puree.

STEP 3

Return the puree to the pan and slowly heat. Add the chilli powder and fenugreek. 

STEP 4

Fry the halved green chillies on a medium-high heat with 1 tablespoon of the butter for 2 to 3 minutes, until golden and aromatic, then pour into the tomato sauce. Slowly incorporate the rest of the butter, stirring. Finally, add your cashew nut paste and set sauce aside.

STEP 5

Set your BBQ up for grilling.

STEP 6

Thread your chicken onto skewers and cook on the barbecue for 15-18 minutes, turning after 10 minutes or so. The chicken should be a little blackened in parts but still slightly pink in the middle.

STEP 7

Heat your sauce to a gentle simmer and add chopped ginger and cream. Carefully remove the chicken from the skewers and place into the sauce, simmering for a further 5-10 minutes, or until the chicken is completely cooked through.

STEP 8

Serve your curry garnished with fresh coriander leaves, naan bread, onion pickle and a dollop of mint yoghurt.

CONFIGURATION

Grilling - Kettle Grill

More Info