We’ve teamed up with Chef Romy Gill MBE to share some of our favourite recipes from her latest cookbook, Romy Gill’s India.
In this cookbook, Romy shares over 70 recipes which are inspired by her beloved family, with flavours that define her childhood. From iconic dishes like Butter Chicken, which is a staple in every Indian home, to the delicious simplicity of a Masala Omelette, Romy invites cooks to savour the authentic tastes of India without a fuss! The instructions for each dish are easy to follow along with readily available ingredients. Every dish is designed with the home cook in mind, ensuring that your journey into Indian cuisine is as delightful as it is delicious!
Today, we’re sharing Romy’s delicious Butter Chicken, also known as Mung Makhani.
How to make butter chicken
There are so many different recipes for butter chicken. This is Romy’s take, because there is a lot of spark and dispute going on in India about butter chicken. Romy served so much butter chicken in her restaurant, so she went in search of the very best butter chicken recipe and researched how it all started. She found this gave me a better understanding of this best-loved dish. With its silky smooth, gently spiced tomato, cashew and cream gravy, it’s a comforting, warming dish that feels decadent. It was in 2013 when Romy started to take a closer look at butter chicken and its history. Her mentor, chef Manjit Gill, took her to the first ever Moti Mahal restaurant in Daryagang in Delhi. A restaurant co-founded by Kundan Lal Jaggi, Kundal Lal Gujral and Maggu (also known as Thakur Das) and it was where they created both butter chicken and dal makhani.
- To make the marinade, mix all of the marinade ingredients together in a large bowl. Prick the chicken pieces with a fork to allow the marinade to penetrate the meat. Add the chicken to the bowl and stir well to coat thoroughly. Cover the bowl and set aside in the fridge to marinate for at least a couple of hours.
- When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 180°Cfan/400°F/gas 6.
- Spread the marinated chicken out on a baking tray and cook in the hot oven for 15 minutes.
- While the chicken is cooking, make the sauce. If the chicken finishes cooking before you have finished making the sauce, switch the oven off after the15 minutes and leave the meat to rest in the oven. Blanch the tomatoes in a bowl of boiling water for a few minutes, then remove their skins. Cut into quarters and remove the seeds, then roughly chop and place in a food processor. Blitz to a smooth purée.
- Heat the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat. Once the butter has melted, add the ginger and garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the puréed fresh tomatoes as well as the tomato purée and cook for 8–10 minutes until the tomatoes are cooked through, stirring regularly to avoid them sticking and burning. Add all the spices, chilli powder, Maldon Sea Salt and sugar, mix well and cook for a further 2 minutes until emulsified.
- Lower the heat, then add the ground cashew nuts and cream, and stir well. Add 500–600 ml (20–24 Fl oz/2 1/2 cups–scant 3 cups) water – the quantity you choose to add depends on how runny you want the sauce to be. Bring the mixture to a boil, and when it starts bubbling, add the chicken, lower the heat and cook for a further 8–10 minutes. Sprinkle over the cardamom seeds and dried fenugreek leaves. Stir and leave to rest for at least 10 minutes before serving with rice or any Indian flatbreads.
- Where to buy Romy Gill’s India: Recipes From Home
You can find where to purchase Romy’s NEW cookbook here and start being creative with food and flavours in the comfort of your kitchen.
Make sure you have your Maldon Salt ready for these recipes! If you are running out, please feel free to browse on our Where to Buy Page to find your nearest store in which stocks our beloved Maldon Salt.
Lastly, we LOVE seeing your creations – please tag us on Instagram using the #maldonsalt so we can share your own take on Romy’s recipes!
