Butter Chicken (Dairy Free)
It may not be the traditional recipe, but this dairy free version of Butter Chicken is absolutely delicious. Rich and creamy with fragrant spices, bursting with flavour!
Servings: 6
Ingredients
Butter Chicken:
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 3 large chicken breasts cubed
- sea salt to taste
- fresh ground pepper to taste
- 1 onion, finely diced for a super smooth sauce you can puree it in a food processor or bullet
- 1 bell pepper, finely diced optional
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp red chili flakes
- 1 1/2 tsp Garam Masala storebought or use recipe below
- 1 tsp Better than Bouillon Organic Chicken Base
- 1 796ml/28oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1 160ml/5.5oz can full fat coconut milk (or 3/4 cup)
- 1 tbsp ketchup optional
- 3 tbsp Ghee or butter if not dairy free
- 1 handful fresh chopped cilantro, parley, and/or chives optional garnish
Garam Masala (optional)
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 1 1/2 tsp ground coriander
- 1 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
Instructions
For the Butter Chicken:
- Melt the coconut oil in a large pan over medium low heat until pan is nicely preheated.
- Add the chicken to the in pan a single layer, season generously with salt and pepper. Let it sear for 2 minutes on one side, then turn and let it sear on the other side for 2 minutes until nicely browned. It will not be cooked through, that is fine.
- Add the onions and saute a few minutes until translucent. Add the bell pepper (if using), garlic, and spices and saute for a minute or two to bring out the flavours.
- Add the crushed tomatoes and chicken bouillon and scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon.
- Add the coconut milk and 1/2 tsp of salt and stir to combine. Simmer on low for 20 minutes, cover if sauce is reducing too much.
- Stir in the ketchup. Taste sauce and adust seasoning as needed. Add more ketchup if you would like it a touch sweeter, more Garam Masala if you would like more depth of flavour, more chili flakes for heat, more coconut milk to make it creamier, or more salt and pepper to taste.
- Remove from heat and stir in the Ghee/Butter until sauce is silky smooth.
- Garnish with fresh herbs if desired. Serve with rice and/or roasted cauliflower and naan bread.
Garam Masala:
- Combine all ingredients and keep stored in an airtight container.
