Mehak Kansal’s chicken or paneer makhani recipe

“This is the recipe that put Bindas on the map. It is our best-selling and most sought-after curry: butter chicken,” says food writer and cookery book author, Mehak Kansal. “A truly decadent, creamy, herby, slightly spicy, slightly sweet curry made with cream and tomatoes. I am sure there will be a permanent fold or bookmark kept on this page. You can use chicken or paneer for this recipe.”

Ingredients:

(Serves 4-6)

700g boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces, or 600g paneer, cut into cubes

Handful of coriander, chopped, to serve (optional)

For the marinade:

2tbsp Greek-style yoghurt

2tbsp ghee, melted

1tbsp garlic purée

1tbsp ginger purée

1tsp tomato paste (concentrated purée)

1½tsp ground cumin

1tsp ground turmeric

1tsp garam masala

1tbsp chilli powder

1tsp salt

For the makhani sauce:

3–4tbsp ghee

1 onion, finely chopped

2 green bird’s-eye chillies, finely chopped

2tbsp garlic purée

2tbsp ginger purée

1tsp ground coriander

1½tsp ground turmeric

1tsp chilli powder

1tsp ground green cardamom

1½tsp garam masala

1–2tsp salt, according to taste

200g canned plum tomatoes, puréed

1½tsp caster sugar

300ml double (heavy) cream, plus extra to serve

Method:

1. Combine all the marinade ingredients in a large bowl. Add the chicken or paneer to the marinade and stir to coat. Leave to marinate in the refrigerator for at least two hours, preferably overnight.

2. Preheat the oven to 175°C (330°F/gas mark 3–5). Line a baking tray with foil.

3. Transfer the marinated chicken or paneer to the prepared tray and roast for 25–30 minutes until tender – do not overcook.

4. Meanwhile, prepare the makhani sauce. Heat the ghee in a large, heavy-based saucepan over a medium–high heat. Add the onion, chillies, and garlic and ginger purées, and cook for five to seven minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is brown and caramelised.

5. Add the ground spices and salt, along with the puréed tomatoes, and reduce the heat to medium–low. Cover and cook for 10 minutes, then stir in the sugar and reduce the heat to low. Allow the sauce to gently bubble for two minutes, then take the pan off the heat.

6. Use a hand blender to purée the sauce until nice and smooth, then return it to a medium heat. Cover and cook for five minutes, stirring every minute or so. Once the ghee starts rising to the surface, add in the cream, then crush the kasoori methi in your hands and sprinkle those in too.

Bindas: Comfort Food with an Indian Soul by Mehak Kansal is published in hardback by Murdoch Books, priced £23. Photography by Sam Folan. Available now.