Let’s go above and beyond ordinary butter chicken and sample some of the other wildly popular chicken dishes from this diverse part of the world.
In Indian cuisine, there is a unique type of clarified butter called ghee. And while it isn’t commonly used in many “butter” based dishes here in the West, it is found throughout the Indian subcontinent and in the Middle East. That’s due to the theory that this butter came from Ancient Egypt or Ancient India. Maybe both places? Either way, let’s go above and beyond ordinary butter chicken and sample some of the other wildly popular chicken dishes from this diverse part of the world.
Butter Chicken (Murg Makhani)
First up on our list is, of course, the gateway food many foodies associate with Indian takeout menus. It’s iconic and pairs well with carbs such as basmati rice and naan bread. The chicken itself is drenched in a marinade to allow the flavors to seep in even more deeply; then ginger, garlic, tomato, chicken stock, and spices add to the experience. Don’t forget the mango lassi!
Tandoori Chicken
There’s something indescribably glorious about food that comes out of a clay oven. The tandoor is what makes the magic of tandoori chicken work, but you can also use a conventional oven to prepare it. The spiced yogurt mix is the really important component is the spiced yogurt mix – and you can’t forget about the skewers that you put the chicken chunks on before sticking them in the oven!
Chicken Tikka Masala
Tikka masala is another cousin of butter chicken. Unlike its relative, though, the marinated pieces must be grilled before they go into their rich and flavorful gravy. What does this mean for your culinary experiment? Let the chicken marinate overnight in that mysteriously delicious yogurt spice mix. After that, onions, tomatoes, and cream provide the final flourish. Your pressure cooker can make this process easy as a dream!
Mughlai Chicken and Gravy
This chicken dish makes ghee the core of its gravy. Central Asian cuisine is hugely influential on this wonderful offering. Make it the star of the show for your next gathering since it is loaded with enchanting spices, almond paste, and a dash of cream for good measure.
Mughlai Biryani
Mughlai biryani pushes the envelope that is first set down by its butter chicken counterpart. This exquisite dish is actually easy to make, and it’ll amaze your entire family and any guests you have over for dinner. Meats such as lamb and chicken are protein-based anchors, but it isn’t complete without saffron rice, yogurt, and those ever-present secret spice blends.
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