Butter chicken explained

Butter chicken
Associated Cuisine:Indian
Alternate Name:Chicken makhani, Murgh makhani
Region:Delhi[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
National Cuisine:Indian, Pakistani
Creator:Kundan Lal Gujral and Kundan Lal Jaggi
Course:Curry
Main Ingredient:Butter, tomatoes, chicken

Butter chicken, traditionally known as murgh makhani (pronounced as /mʊrɣ ˈməkʰaːni/), is an Indian dish originating in Delhi. It is a type of curry made from chicken with a spiced tomato and butter (makhan) sauce. Its sauce is known for its rich texture. It is similar to chicken tikka masala, which uses a tomato paste.[6]

History

The curry was developed at the Moti Mahal restaurant in the Daryaganj neighbourhood of Old Delhi in the 1950s, after the Partition of India[7] by Kundan Lal Jaggi and Kundan Lal Gujral,[8] who were both Punjabi refugees from Peshawar, British India.[9] [10] [2] The curry was made "by chance" by mixing leftover tandoori chicken in a tomato gravy, rich in butter (makhan).[11] In 1974, a recipe was published for "Murgh makhanii (Tandoori chicken cooked in butter and tomato sauce)".

In 1975, the English phrase "butter chicken" curry first appeared in print, as a specialty of the house at Gaylord Indian restaurant in Manhattan.[12] In Toronto and the Caribbean, it can be found as a filling in pizza, poutine, wraps, roti, or rolls, while in Australia and New Zealand, it is also eaten as a pie filling.[13] [14] [15] [16] The curry is common in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and many other countries where a South Asian diaspora is present.[17] [18] [19] [20] [21] Due to its popularity outside of India, it is sometimes mistakenly believed to be of Western origin (like chicken tikka masala, which it is also sometimes confused with).[22]

In 2024, the family of Gujral (who run Moti Mahal) sued the family of Jaggi (who run a rival restaurant) in a dispute over credit for inventing the dish.[23]

Preparation

Chicken is marinated for several hours in a mixture of lemon juice, dahi (yogurt), Kashmiri red chilli, salt, garam masala, ginger paste, and garlic paste.

The marinated chicken is cooked in a tandoor (traditional clay oven), but may be grilled, oven-roasted, or pan-fried. It is served in a mild curry sauce that includes butter. The sauce is a tomato, garlic, and ginger-based sauce that is simmered until smooth and much of the water has evaporated. There are many variations on the composition and spicing of the sauce, which is sieved so that it is velvety smooth. Spices may include cardamom, cumin, cloves, cinnamon, coriander, pepper, garam masala, and fenugreek (Punjabi/Hindi: kasuri methi). Cashew paste may be used as a thickener and it is finally garnished with coriander.

See also

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 10 August 2017 . Balasubramaniam . Chitra . A palatial offering . live . 9 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201112013042/https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/food/a-palatial-offering/article19463307.ece . 12 November 2020 . Go back in time to the place where butter chicken and dal makhni originated at Moti Mahal in Delhi’s Daryaganj . . en-IN .
  2. Web site: Partition brought Moti Mahal, a landmark in India's culinary history, to central Delhi. www.sunday-guardian.com. 16 July 2018. 11 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150611000137/http://www.sunday-guardian.com/investigation/partition-brought-moti-mahal-a-landmark-in-indias-culinary-history-to-central-delhi. dead.
  3. Book: Gujral. Monish. On the Butter Chicken Trail: A Delhi Darbar Cookbook. 7 March 2013. Penguin India. Delhi, India. 9780143419860. 1.0.
  4. Book: Hosking. Richard. Authenticity in the kitchen : proceedings of the Oxford Symposium on food and cookery 2005. 8 August 2006. Prospect Books. Blackawton. 9781903018477. 393. 1.
  5. Web site: Hospitality Biz India :: ICC 2017 by IFCA - Showcasing the culinary spirit of IndiaKundan. www.hospitalitybizindia.com. 10 February 2018. 2 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201202130625/http://www.hospitalitybizindia.com/detailNews.aspx?aid=27842&sid=44. live.
  6. Web site: Irwin. Heather. A Butter Chicken Vs. Tikka Masala Showdown at Cumin in Santa Rosa. Sonoma Magazine. SMI Media. September 2019. 11 April 2021. 12 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210412002751/https://www.sonomamag.com/a-butter-chicken-vs-tikka-masala-showdown-at-cumin-in-santa-rosa/. live.
  7. Web site: Butter chicken: A brief history. 11 April 2019. 7 February 2021. 14 February 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210214083245/https://www.menumag.ca/2019/04/11/butter-chicken-a-brief-history/. live.
  8. Web site: Kundan Lal Gujral: Father of butter chicken. 7 October 2021. India Today. en. 7 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211007162111/https://www.indiatoday.in/amp/magazine/independence-day-special/story/20210830-kundan-lal-gujral-father-of-butter-chicken-1843143-2021-08-21. live.
  9. News: 'Vadiya Khao': Refugees taught Delhi how to eat out in style. Hindustan Times. 14 August 2017. 10 February 2018. 15 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190715101053/https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi-news/vadiya-khao-refugees-taught-delhi-how-to-eat-out-in-style/story-Y5sG96AYWu7gQ9e5V6TXxN.html. live.
  10. Web site: ICC 2017 by IFCA – Showcasing the culinary spirit of IndiaKundan . Hospitality Biz India . 11 October 2017 . 10 February 2018 . 2 December 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201202130625/http://www.hospitalitybizindia.com/detailNews.aspx?aid=27842&sid=44 . live .
  11. Web site: What If Kundan Lal Hadn't Hit Upon Butter Chicken? . Outlook India . 14 August 2004 . 16 July 2018 . 2 December 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201202130220/https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/what-if-kundan-lal-hadnt-hit-upon-butter-chicken/224774 . live .
  12. Web site: Manhattan Menus. Shelhart. John D.. Cobleigh. Ira U.. Bacon. Norman. 1975.
  13. News: The best pies in Sydney and regional NSW revealed. Angela. Saurine. 26 May 2015. The Daily Telegraph. 6 April 2019. 12 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171112152704/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/lifestyle/food/sydney-taste/the-best-pies-in-sydney-and-regional-nsw-revealed/news-story/02610ef0ef6c25b6056e055247965434. live.
  14. News: Rob Broadfield: Taste testing Mrs Mac's new Perth Stadium range of pies. Rob. Broadfield. 18 November 2017. The West Australian. 27 July 2018. 9 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201109021559/https://thewest.com.au/lifestyle/rob-broadfield/rob-broadfield-taste-testing-mrs-macs-new-perth-stadium-range-of-pies-ng-b88659062z. live.
  15. News: New vegan pie awards and the changing taste of a Kiwi classic. 28 September 2018. New Zealand Herald. 25 November 2019. 25 August 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190825061340/https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=12133349. live.
  16. News: Kiwi as, bro! The NZ food mashups that would disgust (or surprise) the world . 2022-09-13 . New Zealand Herald .
  17. Web site: Celjo . Farah . Hegarty . Siobhan . 22 August 2018 . India's most popular curry: Butter chicken . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230206090605/https://www.sbs.com.au/food/article/2017/05/15/indias-most-popular-curry-butter-chicken . 6 February 2023 . 15 April 2019 . SBS.
  18. Web site: How Did Butter Chicken Become Synonymous With Delhi?. HuffPost India. 30 May 2017. 15 April 2019. 15 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190415202414/https://www.huffingtonpost.in/2017/05/24/tracing-the-roots-of-arguably-delhis-most-popular-food-butte_a_22107131/. live.
  19. News: Karon . Liu . How butter chicken roti became a Toronto classic . 4 January 2020 . The Toronto Star . 13 August 2019 . 8 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201108024809/https://www.thestar.com/life/food_wine/2019/08/13/how-butter-chicken-roti-became-a-toronto-classic.html . live .
  20. Web site: Laurie . Wilson . What Is the Difference Between Authentic and American Indian Food? . Chowhound . 4 January 2020 . 11 August 2018 . 30 October 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201030084428/https://www.chowhound.com/food-news/206018/what-is-the-difference-between-authentic-and-american-indian-food/ . live .
  21. News: Anjum . Anand . Sweet and murky: the British curry . 4 January 2020 . The Guardian . 21 April 2010 . 11 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201111204850/https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2010/apr/21/british-curry-india-tikka-masala . live .
  22. Web site: Reinfrank . Alkira . 26 May 2020 . What is butter chicken? Isn't it curry? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230321215019/https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3086104/story-butter-chicken-one-most-popular-indian-restaurant-dishes . 21 March 2023 . 24 May 2023 . .
  23. News: Ellis-Petersen . Hannah . 2024-01-25 . India's courts to rule on who invented butter chicken . 2024-02-02 . . en-GB . 0261-3077.

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