* Chicken Butter Masala.........

                  Chicken Butter Masala is  probably the most famous Indian  dish abroad. I  have  been asked  by many of  my co-workers  or friends who have at least once tasted Indian food in restaurants for this recipe,,I  can understand why,Because every Indian  Restaurant you  go in Toronto,,the  silky textured yellowish-red  gravy with boneless chicken tikka pieces is  the most ordered dish. Originally the  chicken tikkas  are done on clay oven which imparts a  great aroma.The oven is a great alternative but that smokey flavor goes missing. It’ also  has got this wonderfully distinct it the rich sauce. The incredible orange color appeals to the eyes and the thick creamy texture is just waiting for warm pieces of naan to be dunked and scooped up.

Here  goes the recipe ...........

This dish  has two  steps :
1. Preparation of the  chicken tikka
2. Preparation of  the gravy.

Preparation the Chicken  Tikka :

These tikkas can be  enjoyed  as  an  appetizer.You can grill or bake or barbecue them.This time  I pan grilled them ,but  any  process is  good enough for the tikkas.

Ingredients for Chicken Tikka:

1. Boneless chicken : 1 lb  (cut in small cubes)

2. Ginger &  garlic  paste  : 1 tb sp

3. Salt : to taste(Always taste the  salt in your marinade  before you add the chicken) 

4. Garam Masala : 1/2  tsp

5. Coriander Powder : 1 tb sp

6. Cumin Powder : 1 tsp

7. Oil : 2 tsp

8. Turmeric : 1/2 tsp

9 .Yugurt : 2 tb sp
10.Lime juice 2 tb sp

Procedure  for Chicken Tikka :

1. Mix all the  marinade except chicken  and  adjust your  salt level.Add chicken  cubes  and  keep it  for at least  1  hour.You can keep it for a  day,if you have time or you plan ahead.Overnight maritation gives the best  result.

2. In a  pan add a  tsp  oil and  pan fry  the  chicken  cubes for  10 -15 minutes or  until done.(Don't  wash the  pan  if you are going to make  butter chicken ,Use  the  same  pan,the flavor  will  be really nice)

                Chicken tikka  is ready.if you are  having as  an  appetizer  then  squeeze some  lemon  juice  on top  and it  tastes awesome.I  always  munch on few  tikkas in the process of  cooking.just can't resist :)

Preparation of  the gravy:

Ingredients for  chicken  Butter masala  gravy :


1. Onion :  1  cup (Chopped)

2. Tomato : 1 cup (chopped, Use the  bright red color  tomato)
3. Dried Fenugreek Leaves (Kasuri Methi) : 1 tb sp
4. Sugar  : 1 tsp
5. Tomato  ketchup - 1-2  tb sp
6. Corriander  powder : 1 tsp
7. Cumin Powder : 1/2  tsp
8. Garam  masala : 1/2  tsp
9. Red chilly Powder : 1/4 - 1/2  tsp or green chillies : 2
10.Cashew : 10 numbers
11. Butter  : 2 tb sp
12. Cream : Optional
13. Red Food Colour : Optional optional,if you  want that resturant like  look then go ahead and  add(I did
     not add colour)

Procedure for  chicken  Butter masala  gravy :

1. In the same  pan heat oil,add chopped onion.When  onions are  transparent add  ginger garlic paste .When  you get  the nice  smell  of  ginger garlic paste, then add the chopped tomato.
2. Saute the tomatos  for  1  minute and  add  coriander powder,cumin powder,garam masala, red chilly 
    powder and cashews. Cook these spices for   3-4 minutes or  until cooked.(yo can add 1-2 tbsp water if 
    you feel it is dry)you will  know  it is cooked by  the texture and  smell.Add some  crushed  Fenugreek   
    leaves and  mix well..It  looks very mushy and  the raw smell of the spices will go away.
3. Cool down this mixture for  some time and  blend  it in a blender to  a fine puree.
4. Don't  wash the  pan yet......we want the full flavor in our  butter chicken.So in the same  pan add 1  
    tsp of  butter and pour in the puree you  just prepared. Bring it to boil.
5. Now time to add the chicken tikkas  to the  boiling gravy.The gravy is  already cooked,so no need to 
    cook for  a very long time now.Just cook for  5-7 minutes.You can see the silky texture of the   
    gravy.Add  the  tomato ketchup and  adjust your  seasoning now.Now is the time to add your  optional 
    ingredients: The red food colour and  and  cream.(I didn't add any).
6. While serving  top it with the rest 1 tb sp  of  butter.


       Serve  with  hot naans or  roti(Indian flat bread) and  you will  be licking your fingers.Enjoy  and  happy cooking.