Butter Chicken Rice Bowl

A creamy and flavorful butter chicken served over fluffy, fragrant basmati rice, garnished with fresh cilantro and a touch of lime for added zest.

Ingredients

Preparation

1. 1.Rinse the basmati rice under cold water until the water runs clear to remove excess starch, then set aside.
2. 2.Finely chop the garlic cloves and grate the fresh ginger until you have 1 teaspoon of ginger paste.
3. 3.Cut the chicken breast into bite-sized pieces, ensuring they are evenly sized for consistent cooking.
4. 4.Juice the small lime and set aside its juice.
5. 5.Wash and finely chop the fresh cilantro leaves, keeping aside for garnish.

Instructions

1. 1.Heat the vegetable oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add the chopped garlic and grated ginger, sautéing until fragrant, about 1 minute.
2. 2.Add the ground turmeric, ground cumin, ground coriander, garam masala, and salt to the pan. Stir the spices well to bloom their flavors, for around 30 seconds.
3. 3.Add the bite-sized chicken pieces to the pan, coating them thoroughly in the spice mixture. Cook until lightly browned on all sides, approximately 5 minutes.
4. 4.Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the tomato puree, mixing well. Cook the puree for 2-3 minutes to deepen its flavor.
5. 5.Lower the heat further and mix in the double cream and unsalted butter, ensuring they blend smoothly with the tomato mixture. Let this simmer gently for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
6. 6.Meanwhile, bring 300 ml of water to boil in a separate pot. Once boiling, add the rinsed basmati rice and stir briefly. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot with a tight-fitting lid, and let the rice cook for 12 minutes.
7. 7.After the rice has cooked, remove it from the heat but keep the pot covered to allow the rice to steam for an additional 5 minutes.
8. 8.To assemble, fluff the cooked basmati rice with a fork and divide it evenly between two bowls.
9. 9.Spoon the butter chicken mixture over the rice, ensuring a generous serving for each portion. Garnish with the finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves and drizzle with fresh lime juice before serving.