Butter Chicken and Rice
Creamy, rich, and packed with warm spices, butter chicken is one of those dishes that was made to be served over a good bowl of rice. And don’t be shy with the rice. You’re going to want something to catch all that sauce.
This recipe starts with chicken thighs marinated in yogurt, lemon, ginger, garlic, and spices before they’re cooked in a creamy tomato sauce. Spoon it over Parish Rice, add a little fresh cilantro, and you’ve got a comforting dinner with plenty of flavor in every bite.
Ingredients
Chicken & Marinade
- 1/2 cup plain yoghurt, full fat
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- 2 tsp garam masala
- 1/2 tsp chilli powder or cayenne pepper powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp ginger, freshly grated
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 1.5 lb / 750 g chicken thigh fillets, cut into bite-size pieces
Curry
- 2 tbsp (30 g) ghee or butter, OR 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 cup tomato puree
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 1/4 tsp salt
To Serve
- Parish Rice
- Cilantro/coriander, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Combine the marinade ingredients with the chicken in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight, or up to 24 hours (minimum 3 hours).
- Heat the ghee (butter or oil) over high heat in a large fry pan.
- Take the chicken out of the marinade but do not wipe or shake off the marinade from the chicken. Do not pour the marinade left in the bowl into the fry pan.
- Place chicken in the fry pan and cook for around 3 minutes, or until the chicken is white all over (it doesn't really brown because of the marinade).
- Add the tomato puree, cream, sugar and salt. Also add any remaining marinade left in the bowl.
- Turn down to low and simmer for 20 minutes. Do a taste test to see if it needs more salt.
- Garnish with cilantro/coriander leaves if using. Serve with Parish Rice.
What Rice Goes Best With Butter Chicken?
With a sauce this rich and creamy, the rice is doing more than just filling out the plate. It catches all that sauce and gives you a little bit of everything in each bite.
Parish Rice is a natural fit for a dish like butter chicken. Our long grain white rice cooks up light and fluffy, making it a great base for all of that creamy tomato sauce. It also contains more protein and has a lower glycemic index than standard white rice, so the rice underneath the meal brings a little more to the table too.
What to Serve With Butter Chicken
You really don't need much. A generous serving of Parish Rice and a little fresh cilantro are enough to turn the butter chicken into a full meal.
If you're putting together a bigger spread, naan or a simple vegetable on the side would fit right in. Just make sure there's enough rice on the table for everybody to get some of that sauce.