BUTTER CHICKEN

I remember the precise moment that I first tried this saucy minx of a dish. I was on the road with my band, thoroughly enjoying an evening off in Old Montreal. My bandmate Marc and I headed out on the town for some deliciously exciting, non-Maritime cuisine and stumbled into a completely unassuming Indian restaurant. The smell: intoxicating. The food: to die for. An explosion of flavor! Entirely life-changing. From that day onward I’ve been romanced by the bold flavors of India. So damn good. This recipe requires a little extra prep time and an overnight marinade, essential in developing those rich, full-bodied curry flavors that we love so much. Plan ahead, get prepped, enter a world of next-level tastiness.

INGREDIENTS

1. Chicken:
   • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
   • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
   • 1 teaspoon red (Kashmiri) chile powder
   • 1 cup plain yogurt
   • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
   • 1 teaspoon garam masala
   • 3 garlic cloves, minced
   • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
   • 1 tablespoon sunflower or
   • Vegetable oil
   • 1 teaspoon sea salt
   • 2 tablespoons butter, melted
2. Curry:
   • 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter
   • 2 whole cloves
   • 4 green cardamom pods
   • 1 black cardamom pod
   • 1 (2-inch) piece cinnamon stick
   • 8 garlic cloves, minced
   • 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
   • 1/2 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
   • 1 or 2 red chiles, diced
   • 1/4 cup tomato paste
   • 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
   • 1 teaspoon red (Kashmiri) chile powder
   • 3 cups chicken stock
   • 1 teaspoon sea salt
   • 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
   • 1 tablespoon crushed dried fenugreek leaves (find these at a specialty grocer or online)
   • 1 cup heavy cream
   • 1 tablespoon garam masala
3. To serve:
   • Heavy cream
   • Fresh cilantro
   • Sliced red chiles
   • Rice or naan

PREPARATION

1. Make the chicken:
   1. Cut the chicken into 1-inch chunks and toss them with the lemon juice and chile powder. Transfer to a container and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
   2. In a small dish, combine the yogurt, turmeric, garam masala, garlic, ginger, sunflower oil, and salt. Stir well. Massage the chicken with the yogurt marinade, cover the container, and refrigerate overnight or for at least 12 hours. Dream about delicious curry all night long.
   3. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Soak 10 to 12 bamboo skewers in cold water for about 20 minutes.
   4. Thread the chicken onto the skewers and transfer to a rack set on a baking sheet. Bake the chicken skewers, turning halfway through, for 12 minutes, or until the juices run clear and the chicken is cooked through. Brush the chicken all over with the melted butter and set aside.
2. While the chicken is baking, crack on with the curry:
   1. In a large heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the cloves, cardamom pods, and cinnamon stick and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until fragrant. Stir in the garlic, ginger, fenugreek seeds, chiles, and tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes, stirring often. Stir in the tomatoes and chile powder and cook, stirring often to keep the sauce from sticking to the pot, for 20 minutes.
   2. Turn off the heat and purée the sauce directly in the pot with an immersion blender. (Alternatively, carefully transfer the sauce to a regular blender and purée—be careful when blending hot liquids.) Turn the heat to medium and stir in the stock and sea salt. Bring to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes, or until the sauce has started to thicken beautifully.
   3. Remove the chicken pieces from the skewers and stir them into the curry, along with the maple syrup and dried fenugreek leaves. Cover and cook for 8 minutes. Turn the heat to medium- low and stir in the cream and garam masala. Simmer the sauce for a final 5 minutes.
   4. Top each bowl of curry with a drizzle of cream, fresh cilantro, and sliced red chiles, if you like it spicy. Serve with rice or naan. Immediately enter comfort food heaven.