No Chicken Butter Chicken Recipe · i am a food blog (2024)

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Chicken is swapped out for nutrient and protein packed tofu and paneer for a vegetarian take on butter chicken.

I spent the holiday hanging out wrapped up in blankets binge watching The Final Table– a Netflix cooking competition show featuring top chefs making signature dishes from around the world. I chose it on a whim to have on in the background while I was doodling on my iPad, but it turned out so binge-able that I went ahead and watched all the episodes in about 3 days. That’s not to say that I thought it was agood show, it was one of those trashy I can’t stop watching and maybe it’s really bad but also kinda good shows.

There was lots of cheesy dramatic music and at the same time, no drama. Every chef is completely respectful and talented and there’s no backstabbing or throwing people under the bus. They take criticism well and take losing even better. I felt inspired by the fact that every time someone lost, they took it as learning experience. Plus, there were plates after plates of pretty food. I especially loved when the contestants had to make their versions of a country’s signature dish. Afterwards I totally wanted to make paella, pasta, and most of all, butter chicken.

I’ve made butter chicken quite a few times now and I’m hooked. But I was intrigued by the no chicken butter chicken concept of the show and wanted to try my hand at it. At first I was going to use cauliflower, but then I thought that a little bit of protein goes a long way so I went with firm tofu. Mike also suggested paneer – Indian cheese that’s similar to halloumi so then I thought, “why not both?”

I whipped up a quickmakhani gravy – the sauce that is used in butter chicken, crisped up some tofu and paneer and popped them into the sauce. It was SO GOOD. Served up with a bit of rice and naan and I didn’t even miss the chicken at all. It was maybe even better than butter chicken?! The best part is you can put in anything you like into the sauce. If you’re feeling cauliflower, roast some then pop it in. Or maybe some sautéed kale? Definitely not traditional, but quick, tasty, and perfect for warming up.

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No Chicken Butter Chicken Recipe
serves 4


  • 14-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 5 or 6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon minced ginger
  • 2 teaspoons garam masala, divided
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon ground paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, adjust this to your spice preference
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • oil for the pan
  • 1 package firm tofu
  • 1 package paneer
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup butter (1 stick), cut into cubes
  • 1/4 – 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Note: You don’t have to crisp up the tofu and paneer, but it does add a nice bit of texture to the dish. If you’re short on time, I recommend crisping up the paneer and skipping out on crisping the tofu. Also, feel free to customize and go for just paneer or just tofu or any other vegetable you love.

In a large saucepan, lightly sauté the garlic, ginger,1 teaspoon garam masala, turmeric, paprika, cumin, cayenne, and salt.

Stir in the tomatoes, bring to a boil then lower the heat and simmer gently while you fry the tofu and paneer.

Cut the paneer and tofu into cubes. Heat up a bit of oil in a non-stick pan over medium high heat and fry the tofu and paneer cubes in batches, until golden. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Use an immersion blender and blend the sauce until smooth. Alternately, carefully transfer to a blender and blend until smooth.

When the sauce is smooth, stir in the butter, cream, and the last teaspoon of garam masala. The sauce should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.

Stir in the crispy tofu and paneer. Top with the cilantro and enjoy with rice and naan.

7 Comments

  1. thefolia says:

    January 10, 2019 at 11:29 am

    It’s all about the sauce and naan anyways! Happy feasting!

    Reply

  2. January 10, 2019 at 4:51 pm

    I always order butter paneer instead of chicken! Love the tofu addition, can’t wait to make!

    Reply

  3. Lyndsay says:

    January 15, 2019 at 11:59 am

    Look at your little crispy tofu cubes! Teddy would love those. I am inspired, this dish is perfect for our veggie crew! xo

    Reply

    1. Stephanie says:

      January 16, 2019 at 10:33 am

      ooh yes!!! i think you guys would love it. but tone down the spice LOL

      Reply

  4. Margaret says:

    October 28, 2019 at 6:28 pm

    Made this almost to exact except added onion to the garlic and ginger. The flavour is fantastic and this is hands down the best indian meal I have made to date. Thank you!!! Used paneer only (not a tofu fan). I noticed that in your directions you reference adding tomatoes twice. I added them after I heated up the onions, ginger, garlic and spices. Trust that was correct?

    Reply

    1. Stephanie says:

      October 29, 2019 at 10:35 am

      yes to the tomatoes! so happy you loved it and thanks so much for leaving a comment :)

      Reply

Leave a Reply

No Chicken Butter Chicken Recipe · i am a food blog (2024)

FAQs

What is the dispute over butter chicken? ›

Moti Mahal vs Daryaganj – the battle of the Kundan Lals

There is now bitterness between the two restaurants and the furious feud between the two families has materialised into a 2,752-page lawsuit filed by Moti Mahal, accusing its rival eatery, Daryaganj, of falsely taking credit for inventing butter chicken.

Why is it called butter chicken if there's no butter? ›

Butter chicken is actually the American name for the signature Indian dish. The true name of the dish is murgh makhani, which translates to buttery chicken, hence the common nickname.

Which is healthier, butter chicken or tikka masala? ›

Regarding nutrition, Butter Chicken and Tikka Masala are high in calories, fat, and sodium. Butter Chicken has more fat and calories than Tikka Masala due to the use of cream and butter in the sauce. However, Tikka Masala has more sodium than Butter Chicken due to the use of canned tomato puree.

What thickens butter chicken? ›

Yoghurt or heavy cream:

Stir them in gently, as high heat may cause curdling. These ingredients are ideal for creating a luxurious texture in dishes like butter chicken or tikka masala.

What is unhealthy about butter chicken? ›

Both butter and cream are high in saturated fat. High intakes of saturated fat increase blood cholesterol levels and the chance of heart disease. Relying on your recipe, one serving of butter chicken may include about 28 grams of whole fat and 12 grams of saturated fat.

What is the closest dish to butter chicken? ›

Chicken Tikka Masala – kind of like Butter Chicken on steroids!

Is tikka masala the same as butter chicken? ›

Butter chicken is mildly spiced, whereas tikka masala has more of a kick. Chicken in tikka masala sauce tends to be more tender and juicy than butter chicken due to its marinade-containing yogurt. Butter chicken also tends to have a creamier texture.

What do Indians call butter chicken? ›

Butter chicken, traditionally known as murgh makhani (pronounced [mʊrɣ ˈməkʰaːni]), is an Indian dish originating in Delhi. It is a type of curry made from chicken with a spiced tomato and butter (makhan) sauce. Its sauce is known for its rich texture.

What Indian curry is similar to butter chicken? ›

The sauce and chicken pieces may be coloured orange using foodstuffs such as turmeric, paprika, tomato purée or with food dye. Chicken tikka masala is similar to butter chicken, both in the method of creation and appearance.

What does tikka mean? ›

The word tikka (tike in Turkish, and tikə in Azerbaijani) is a Persian word, meaning "bits" or "pieces". It is also a chicken dish served in Punjabi cuisine.

Is butter chicken healthy or unhealthy? ›

Butter chicken isn't really healthy

Just one bowl of butter chicken can really set you back — as per Livestrong, you'll be consuming around 438 calories, 14 grams of carbs, and a whopping amount of fat: 28 grams. Here's the major problem with butter chicken: the dish has around 12 grams of saturated fat.

Is there another name for butter chicken? ›

Butter chicken, also known as murgh makhani, was invented in the Indian city of Calcutta by chef Kundan Lal Gujral who added tomato puree to his chicken curry after running out of butter one day.

Why add cashews to butter chicken? ›

In many recipes for butter chicken, copious amounts of butter and heavy cream supply richness, but we do as we were taught in India and use cashews pureed with a small amount of water until smooth. The nut puree adds creaminess without making the dish heavy.

What is a substitute for tomato paste in butter chicken? ›

You don't have to dash out to the store if you're out of tomato paste; tomato sauce and tomato puree are both an excellent substitute. For every 1 tablespoon of tomato paste needed, use 3 tablespoons of tomato puree or sauce.

Can you overcook butter chicken? ›

Do not overcook because it will continue to cook in the sauce.

What is the butter chicken fight in India? ›

Now the families of the two Kundan Lals, who have very different accounts of the origins, each claim they invented the butter chicken first. The Moti Mahal chain of restaurants, owned by the family of Kundan Lal Gujral, has sued rival restaurant chain Daryaganj for claiming to be the inventors.

What is the butter chicken dispute in Delhi High Court? ›

The food fight entered the legal arena after the Moti Mahal owners had filed a lawsuit in January claiming that their predecessor Late Kundan Lal Gujral had "invented" butter chicken and dal makhani and accused Daryaganj of "misleading people" on the origin of the two dishes.

Who invented butter chicken Indian judge to rule on dispute over global favorite? ›

Daryaganj - which was established relatively recently in 2019 - counters that its late family member, Kundan Lal Jaggi, had partnered with Gujral to open the Delhi restaurant in 1947, and the dish was invented there. That gives it the right to also lay claim to the creation of the dish, it argues.

Why do people like butter chicken so much? ›

This dish traces its roots back to Northern India in the city of Amritsar. This tasty recipe has become famous among foodies around the world, and one of the main reasons behind this popularity is its simplicity in preparation and pleasing taste when eaten.

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