Butter chicken is a popular Indian dish that consists of chicken marinated in spices and yogurt, then cooked in a tomato, butter and cream sauce. The sauce is what really makes this dish so flavorful and delicious. Many grocery stores like Costco sell pre-made butter chicken sauce that you can easily use at home to make this classic Indian dish.
What is butter chicken?
Butter chicken, also known as murgh makhani, is a dish that originated in India. It consists of chicken marinated in a spiced yogurt sauce, then simmered in a creamy, tomato-based gravy sauce. Traditional butter chicken has a sweet, tangy and slightly spicy flavor.
The sauce is made using tomatoes, cream or coconut milk, butter or ghee, spices like garam masala, ginger, garlic and chili peppers. It has a bright orange color and rich, silky texture. Butter chicken is usually served with rice, naan bread or pita bread.
History of butter chicken
Butter chicken was created in 1948 at a restaurant called Moti Mahal in Delhi, India. The chef, Kundan Lal Gujral, experimented by cooking leftover tandoori chicken in a tomato gravy enriched with butter and cream. This resulted in the signature creamy and smooth texture of butter chicken that we know today.
The dish was invented to suit the refined tastes of foreign dignitaries and elite families who were put off by the texturally chewy tandoori chicken. By cooking the grilled meat in a luxurious, creamy gravy, it transformed the chicken into an irresistible meal that eventually became popular all over India.
Today, butter chicken remains one of the most popular dishes not just in India but around the world. It represents the very best of Indian restaurant cuisine.
Taste and texture of butter chicken
A classic butter chicken has a complex yet balanced array of flavors. It is creamy and somewhat tangy from the tomatoes, with a lovely velvety texture from the butter and cream. The chicken is tender and juicy from being soaked in the marinade and braised in the sauce.
The sauce has delicate aromas of garlic, ginger and spices like coriander, turmeric, garam masala and chili. These spices provide a warmth and depth of flavor that contrasts nicely with the creaminess. The sauce usually has some sweetness to offset the richness.
The balance of cream and tomatoes provides a luscious mouthfeel and prevents the dish from being overly rich. Done right, the curry should have a vibrant orange color and coat the chicken pieces evenly for every bite.
Making butter chicken at home
While eating at an Indian restaurant is always a treat, it’s easy to make your own delicious butter chicken at home too. Here are the basic steps:
1. Marinate boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts in yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, ginger and spices for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight. This tenderizes the meat and infuses flavor.
2. Grill or broil the chicken until nearly cooked through. This gives it a smoky, charred flavor.
3. Make the curry sauce by sautéing onion, garlic, ginger and spices like garam masala in butter or oil. Add crushed tomatoes, cream, salt and chili powder. Simmer until thickened.
4. Add the cooked chicken to the sauce and let it simmer for 5-10 minutes to soak up the flavors.
5. Garnish with cilantro and serve with rice and naan bread.
Making your own butter chicken allows you to control the flavors and spice level to suit your taste. The aromas as it simmers away will make your home smell amazing too!
Why buy pre-made butter chicken sauce?
While making butter chicken from scratch is rewarding, there are times when using a store-bought sauce can be convenient. Here are some benefits to buying pre-made butter chicken sauce:
– Saves time – Prep work like chopping onions, making a curry paste and simmering the sauce for an hour is already done for you. Simply cooking the chicken and heating the sauce is quicker.
– Consistent results – Relying on a pre-made sauce means you’ll get the same great-tasting butter chicken every time. The flavors are carefully balanced by the manufacturer.
– Made with quality ingredients – Brands like Maya Kaimal and Deep use natural ingredients you would use at home like tomato, cream, spices and butter. No artificial flavors or thickeners.
– Allows customization – You can add veggies, change the protein or spice it up to make the store-bought sauce your own.
– Ideal for busy weeknights – Whip up quick butter chicken after work without all the lengthy preparations.
– Tastes as good as restaurant style – Well-made pre-made sauces have complex flavors like a high-end Indian restaurant.
So buying a pre-made sauce can mean enjoying delicious butter chicken with far less effort while still controlling what goes into it.
Butter chicken sauce options at Costco
Costco offers a great range of high-quality pre-made Indian sauces that are perfect for making butter chicken at home. Here are some of the top options:
Maya Kaimal Butter Chicken Sauce
– Comes in a large 33.5 oz pack for the value-focused Costco shopper.
– Created by Maya Kaimal who was born in India so this has authentic flavors.
– Made with a short ingredient list including tomato, cream, clarified butter (ghee), fenugreek, cumin, garam masala.
– Mild spice level suitable for many people. Rich, creamy and buttery flavor.
– Can be used on proteins besides chicken like paneer or shrimp.
Deep Indian Butter Chicken Simmer Sauce
– Sold at Costco in a 27 oz tetra pack.
– Developed by chefs specializing in Indian cuisine to taste like restaurant quality.
– Contains tomato, cream, ginger, garlic, spices and maltodextrin for thickness.
– Has a medium spice level with a good kick. Strong tomato flavor balanced by cream.
– Gluten-free, vegetarian, no MSG or preservatives.
– Easy to prepare – just add chicken and simmer.
Tasty Bite Butter Chicken
– Comes in a shelf-stable 10 oz pouch that is reheated before serving.
– Chunks of chicken breast in a mildly spiced creamy tomato sauce.
– Ingredients include tomato, onion, butter, cream, ginger, garam masala and chili powder.
– Provides a quick meal – just heat and serve over rice.
– Butter chicken flavor in a convenient single-serve package.
Nutrition information
When buying pre-made butter chicken sauce, be sure to check the nutrition label for information like calories, fat, sodium, sugar and protein per serving. This allows you to compare products.
For example, in a 1/4 cup serving:
| Brand | Calories | Fat | Sodium | Sugar | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maya Kaimal | 90 | 8g | 480mg | 3g | 1g |
| Deep Indian | 60 | 5g | 580mg | 3g | 1g |
| Tasty Bite | 120 | 8g | 480mg | 2g | 6g |
As seen above, the nutrition can vary significantly between brands based on differences in the ingredients and preparation methods. Maya Kaimal uses ghee instead of oil or butter for example. Checking the nutrition facts allows you to look for products aligned with your dietary needs.
How to use Costco butter chicken sauce
Using one of the pre-made butter chicken sauces from Costco is easy. Here are some tips:
– Choose your protein – Chicken breasts or thighs work well. You can also use paneer, chickpeas or shrimp.
– Marinate if desired – Let the protein marinate in yogurt and spices for added flavor.
– Brown the protein – Get some color on the chicken or paneer in a skillet before braising.
– Simmer in the sauce – Add the protein to the butter chicken sauce and let simmer for 5-10 minutes.
– Finish with cream (optional) – Stir in cream or coconut milk for a richer taste.
– Garnish with cilantro – Chopped cilantro adds freshness and color.
– Serve over rice – Basmati rice, naan and pita bread are perfect accompaniments.
– Adjust spice level – Add chili powder or cayenne if you like it spicier.
The sauce concentrates from Costco make it so easy to enjoy restaurant-style butter chicken any night of the week.
Tips for best results
Here are some tips to ensure your homemade butter chicken turns out deliciously when using a pre-made sauce:
– Don’t overcook the chicken – It will dry out. Cook until just done then gently simmer in sauce.
– Use heavy cream or coconut milk – This makes the sauce extra luscious.
– Sauté aromatics first – Cook diced onion, garlic, ginger in oil for 1-2 minutes to bloom flavors before adding sauce.
– Simmer the sauce sufficiently – Let it gently bubble away for 10-15 minutes so the flavors develop.
– Add spices to taste – Customize with extra garam masala, cumin, turmeric, cayenne, etc.
– Finish with butter or ghee – A swirl of butter or spoonful of ghee makes it rich.
– Garnish with cilantro – Fresh cilantro adds texture, color and a flavor pop.
– Serve with rice – Basmati or jasmine rice complete the dish. Naan is perfect too.
With these tips, you can take the Costco butter chicken sauce to restaurant quality levels.
Butter chicken sauce recipe variations
The possibilities are endless when cooking with a pre-made butter chicken sauce. Try these creative ideas:
– substitute chicken for paneer, chickpeas, or shrimp
– add different veggies like cauliflower, peas, or spinach
– finish with a splash of cream or coconut milk
– garnish with chopped cilantro, mint, or scallions
– stir in garam masala, cumin, coriander, or paprika
– blend in yogurt or cashew cream for tanginess
– add a touch of honey, maple syrup, or brown sugar for sweetness
– use chicken broth or coconut milk for a thinner sauce
– sprinkle with toasted cashews or slivered almonds
– serve over cauliflower rice instead of regular rice
– bake seasoned chicken atop a layer of sauce in a casserole dish
– spread on flatbread and top with cheese for quick naan pizza
The pre-made butter chicken sauce is a handy pantry item to elevate simple ingredients into delicious Indian-inspired meals right at home. It provides a solid base sauce bursting with flavors that you can take in many creative directions.
Should you make your own or buy pre-made butter chicken sauce?
When it comes to butter chicken sauce, should you make it completely from scratch or use a convenient pre-made version? Here is a comparison:
Homemade Sauce
Advantages:
– You control all the ingredients and flavors
– Can incorporate freshly ground spices for superior aroma
– Fun to make the sauce yourself with the satisfaction of creating it
– Can customize to your spice level and taste preferences
Disadvantages:
– Requires significant prep time to cook onions, make paste, simmer sauce
– Results can vary each time depending on execution
– Needs many ingredients on hand like tomato, cream, whole spices
– Produces a large batch that may go to waste
Pre-made Sauce
Advantages:
– Provides huge time savings with minimal steps to finished dish
– Gives consistently delicious results every time
– Made by those specialized in authentic Indian cooking
– Allows focus on protein and veggie prep/cooking
– Lower cost compared to making small-batch sauce at home
– Convenient to have on hand whenever a craving strikes
Disadvantages:
– Less control over specific ingredients and spice levels
– Some preservatives may be present
– Not completely customized to your taste
– Difficult to make small portion sizes
Overall, pre-made butter chicken sauce provides a major shortcut to flavorful Indian food with little effort. But cooking the sauce yourself lets you craft every nuance. Trying both approaches can satisfy your butter chicken cravings!
Conclusion
Butter chicken sauce purchased at Costco is a fast and delicious way to replicate the flavors of Indian restaurants at home. Brands like Maya Kaimal, Deep Indian and Tasty Bite offer quality pre-made sauces that serve as the perfect base. Simply simmer with chicken, paneer or veggies for an easy weeknight meal. With some simple additions like cream, cilantro and rice, you can whip up restaurant-worthy butter chicken in under 30 minutes. Pre-made sauce lets you save time while still controlling ingredients and customizing flavors. So head to Costco to pick up a pack of flavorful butter chicken sauce to enjoy this popular Indian dish anytime.