Saturday 25 May 2013

Paleo Butter Chicken

So I am back at it.  I am more convinced than ever to eat healthy and lose the extra baggage.  This summer I am committing to run the 1/2 marathon, starting back at crossfit 2-3 days/week (once I finish work), and eating clean!!  Eating clean can still be delicious, so I plan on trying lots of new recipes this summer and sharing them!

Tonight I made a favorite, and something I have not shared yet!!  BUTTER CHICKEN!!  I love Indian food, and who doesn't love butter chicken?!?!  Although this is a delicious recipe, I must admit it is not as good as the authentic real deal, but I will still eat it anytime!

Since I don't eat rice, I usually pair it with Spaghetti squash, and sometimes roasted vegetables.  Today I served it over a roasted sweet potato and portobello mushroom.  It was yummy yummy yummy.


As usual I do not do things by the book.  It tells you to cook the chicken first, then add it to the sauce.  I cooked my chicken IN the sauce.  I think next time I will try adding some spinach to it too.








Ingredients

  • 2 x 2 tbsp of pastured, grass-fed butter (I always end-up using more since we know it’s so good for our health); Its butter chicken, I used 1/4 cup of butter
  • About 1 Kg chicken cut in chunks;
  • 2 tsp garam masala;
  • 2 tsp paprika; I used smoked paprika.  much yummier!
  • 2 tsp ground coriander;
  • 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger; Today I used 1tsp of ground ginger since I forgot to buy some ginger at the store
  • 1/4 tsp chili powder (adjust to taste); I used probably close to 1/2 tsp and it still was not very spicy
  • 1 cinnamon stick; this is just garnish in the original recipe so i skip it
  • 6 bruised cardamon pods; i have ground cardomon so I used about 1tsp
  • 1 can of tomato puree (you can easily puree your own tomatoes if they are meaty enough);
  • 3/4 cup coconut milk;
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice;

Directions

  1. Heat a pan, add the first 2 tbsp of butter and stir-fry the chicken chunks. You can cook them in 2 batches if your pan is too small.
  2. Remove the chicken from the pan.
  3. I SKIPPED STEPS 1 AND 2.  I MELTED 1/4 CUP OF BUTTER
  4. Put the second 2 tbsp of butter and slowly heat the spices for a minute or two until you can smell the aroma. I was using a very low heat, so i probably cooked it 10-15 min
  5. Put the chicken back in the pan and stir so you mix in all the spices with the chicken. I SKIPPED THIS STEP.
  6. At this point, add the tomatoes and simmer for about 15 minutes. Stir from time to time.
  7. Add the coconut milk and lemon juice and let it simmer for another 5 minutes.
  8. THIS IS WHERE I ADDED MY RAW CHICKEN AND LET IT COOK THROUGH IN THE SIMMERING SAUCE
  9. Enjoy without guilt! Garnish with fresh herbs and a stick of cinnamon for extra fanciness points.

I


I got the original recipe from Paleo Lifestyle http://paleodietlifestyle.com/delicious-butter-chicken-recipe/    











I hope you like the chicken as much as we did!!






Happy Cooking!





JoJo!!