Butter chicken is one of the most popular Indian dishes around the world. It consists of chicken pieces simmered in a mildly spiced tomato, butter and cream sauce. The dish is known for its rich, buttery and creamy gravy that is delicious when eaten with naan or rice. But there has been some debate over whether butter chicken originated in India or was invented outside the country to suit foreign tastes. Let’s take a closer look at the history and origins of butter chicken to determine if it’s a real Indian dish or not.
What is Butter Chicken?
Butter chicken, also known as murgh makhani, is a dish made of chicken simmers in a gravy made of tomato, butter and cream. Whole chicken pieces are marinated in yogurt and spices like ginger, garlic, chili, garam masala, turmeric and cumin. The chicken is then cooked until tender and later simmered in a tomato based gravy along with butter and cream. The gravy has a distinct red orange color from the tomato puree and is known for its rich, silky and creamy texture. Fresh cream is added towards the end to give it a luxurious finish. The dish is commonly served with rice or naan bread.
Butter chicken originated in Delhi, India. The gravy has a good balance between the tartness of tomato and the sweetness of cream. Butter chicken gravy usually has butter as a key ingredient, but variations can also be made using cream or coconut milk. The spice level can range from very mild to moderately spicy based on personal preferences. Whole spices like cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and bay leaf are used to add aroma. Onion, garlic and ginger provide the base flavor.
History and Origins of Butter Chicken
There are several accounts of the origins of butter chicken and how it was invented in India:
Invention in Delhi
According to one story, butter chicken was created by Kundan Lal Gujral, the owner of Moti Mahal restaurant in Delhi. He accidently created the dish in the 1950s when a shipment of tandoori chicken arrived late at night at his restaurant. To avoid wasting the chicken, he experimented by cooking the chicken pieces in a tomato gravy enriched with butter and cream. This gave rise to the signature butter chicken gravy. He went on to perfect the recipe and it became one of the most popular dishes at his restaurant.
Adaptation of British cooking techniques
Some accounts also suggest that butter chicken was invented when Indian cooks tried to adapt British cooking techniques like using butter and cream to suit Indian tastes. Indians did not traditionally use dairy products like butter and cream much in cooking. The innovative use of these ingredients helped create the distinctive taste of butter chicken.
Inspired by tikka masala
Another origin story credits butter chicken as being inspired by chicken tikka masala – a popular Indian restaurant dish in Britain. The theory suggests that the recipe for butter chicken was created when chefs replaced the spicy tomato gravy in chicken tikka masala with a milder, butter and cream based gravy. This provided the luxurious taste associated with butter chicken.
Invented as an independent dish
There are also accounts that butter chicken was developed as an independent dish by Moti Mahal or other Delhi restaurants to create a creamy, butter-laden gravy that was different from the usual curries and tandoori dishes being served at the time. The inventive combination of flavorful chicken pieces in a rich gravy made it a hit.
So while different stories exist, most food historians agree that the dish traces its origins back to innovative Indian chefs in Delhi in the 1950s and 1960s. The various accounts show how recipes can often evolve by accident or by adapting cooking techniques from other cultures.
How Popular is Butter Chicken in India?
Despite the debatable origins, butter chicken is today undoubtedly one of the most popular Indian chicken dishes. It is loved across the sub-continent and abroad.
Here are some facts about the popularity of butter chicken in India:
- Butter chicken is served in almost every Indian restaurant, street food stall and dining establishment across the country. It is a staple menu item.
- It is especially popular in Delhi where it originated. The city is still considered to have some of the best butter chicken recipes.
- Specialty restaurants in India like Moti Mahal Delux in Delhi that claim to serve original versions of the dish draw large crowds.
- The dish is a regular feature at Indian weddings, parties, family meals and other celebrations.
- Innovative versions like butter chicken pizza, wraps, biryani etc. have also become popular, showing its versatility.
- It is the second most ordered dish on Indian restaurant menus after biryani, as per surveys.
- India accounts for nearly half of the Google searches for butter chicken originating worldwide.
The widespread popularity and demand for butter chicken in India today is an indicator that it has become completely embraced as an Indian dish, despite debates over its exact origins.
Is Butter Chicken Popular Outside India?
Butter chicken is also one of the most popular Indian dishes internationally. It features on the menu of almost every Indian restaurant abroad. Some indicators of its global popularity include:
| Country | Popularity Indicators |
|---|---|
| United Kingdom |
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| United States |
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| Canada |
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| Australia |
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The popularity of butter chicken around the world shows how it has become an iconic Indian dish that aptly represents the cuisine internationally. While regional differences exist, the core recipe remains much the same.
How Authentic is Butter Chicken?
When it comes to Indian food, there are always debates over authenticity and whether a dish is truly Indian. The origins of butter chicken may be fuzzy, but a look at its ingredients and cooking methods shows that it is very much an authentic preparation:
Spices and Ingredients
The blend of spices like garam masala, ginger, garlic, coriander etc. used to flavor butter chicken is very typical of Indian cuisine. Tomatoes, onion, yogurt and cream are also ingredients native to the subcontinent and commonly used in various dishes. The cooking down of tomatoes to make a curry-like sauce or gravy is an authentic Indian technique evident in dishes like dal makhani.
Cooking Techniques
Methods used in butter chicken like marinating chicken pieces in spice mix, grilling them and then braising in gravy are traditional ways of cooking meat in India. The use of a tandoor or clay oven is also very common in North Indian cuisine, especially for meats. Simmering meat or vegetables in a tomato gravy till tender is found across various curries and restaurant dishes like murgh makhani.
Flavor Profile
The interplay between the creamy, buttery gravy and spices like ginger and garam masala create a mouthfeel and taste that is typical of rich North Indian dishes. The finish with fresh cream or malai makes it decadent. The overall flavor strikes the balance between rich and tangy that Indian cuisine is known for.
Thus while butter chicken may have some innovative touches, at its core, it uses authentic Indian elements making it a bonafide Indian dish.
Is Butter Chicken Healthy?
With its liberal use of butter, cream and oil, butter chicken is undoubtedly a rich and heavy dish. Like most restaurant or celebratory foods, it is not meant to be everyday fare. Here is a look at its nutrition profile:
Calories and Fat
A typical restaurant portion of butter chicken provides around 500 calories and up to 35g of fat, which is over half the recommended daily intake. The dish derives the bulk of its calories from fat.
Good Quality Protein
On the plus side, butter chicken provides 25-30g of protein per serving which is half your daily requirement. Chicken is a high quality source of protein that provides amino acids essential for building muscles.
Some Carbs from Rice
Since it is served with rice or naan, the meal also provides carbohydrates. A cup of rice adds over 40g of carbs. Opt for brown rice for more fiber.
Low in Nutrients
There are no significant sources of vitamins, minerals or fiber. The quantities of veggies are also low. Tomatoes provide some lycopene and Vitamin C though.
Overall, while butter chicken should not be a daily meal choice, it can be occasionally enjoyed as part of an otherwise balanced diet. Having modest portions along with sides like salad is a good way to make it healthier.
Conclusion
Butter chicken has become one of the most iconic Indian dishes due its scrumptious taste, rich creamy gravy and versatility. While its exact origins may be disputed, the ingredients, cooking methods and flavor profile that go into the dish are distinctly Indian. It brings together the best of Indian cuisine – complex aromas from spices, well-balanced sauces and the decadent use of cream. The widespread popularity of butter chicken in India and around the world is proof that it can rightly be considered as a real Indian dish.
There is no denying the fact that the dish is heavy and high in calories and fat. But consumed occasionally and in moderation, butter chicken can be one of the pleasures of Indian food that is worth relishing.