The Bombay Chef Season 1 Episode 3 How To Make Butter Chicken At Home

The Bombay Chef season 1 episode 3, titled "How To Make Butter Chicken At Home," is a cooking show dedicated to sharing the flavors of India with viewers across the globe. In this episode, the host, Varun Inamdar, demonstrates how to make the classic Indian dish, butter chicken, from scratch.

The episode begins with Varun introducing the ingredients needed for butter chicken. He explains that the dish is made with boneless chicken, a tomato-based gravy, and a blend of aromatic spices. He encourages viewers to use fresh ingredients wherever possible and shares tips for sourcing them locally.

Next, Varun starts working on the marinade for the chicken. He combines yogurt, red chili powder, ginger paste, garlic paste, and lemon juice in a bowl, stirring it together until the mixture is smooth. He then adds the chicken to the bowl and coats it evenly with the marinade.

While the chicken is marinating, Varun starts preparing the gravy for the butter chicken. He heats some oil in a large skillet and adds whole spices like cinnamon, bay leaves, and cumin seeds to it. Once the spices release their fragrance, he adds chopped onion to the skillet and sautés it until it turns golden brown. He then adds chopped tomatoes to the skillet and lets them cook until they turn mushy.

Varun then adds the dry spices like turmeric, coriander powder, cumin powder, and garam masala to the skillet and stirs them in. He lets the mixture cook for a few more minutes until the oil starts separating from the masala. He then transfers the contents of the skillet to a blender and purees the mixture until it turns into a smooth paste.

Once the chicken has marinated for at least an hour, Varun starts cooking it. He heats some butter in a large skillet and adds the chicken to it. He lets the chicken cook until it turns golden brown on both sides. He then removes the chicken from the skillet and keeps it aside.

In the same skillet, Varun adds the gravy he had prepared earlier and some cream to it. He stirs the mixture together until it is well combined and lets it cook for a few more minutes. Once the gravy is ready, Varun adds the cooked chicken to it and tosses it together until the chicken is coated with the creamy, tomato-based gravy.

The episode ends with Varun plating the butter chicken and garnishing it with some fresh cilantro leaves. He points out that the dish can be enjoyed with some rice or Indian bread like naan or roti.

Overall, the episode is an excellent guide for home cooks who want to try their hand at cooking butter chicken from scratch. Varun's step-by-step instructions and tips make the process seem accessible to even those who are new to Indian cooking. The episode's focus on using fresh ingredients and cooking them with care underscores the importance of taking the time to prepare an authentic, flavorful dish.