Deliciously Crispy Dry Butter Chicken Recipe Chinese: A Must-Try Dish
Dry butter chicken is a well-loved Chinese dish, cherished by many for its delightful mix of crunchy and smooth textures paired with a luxurious buttery flavour. If you want to dazzle your loved ones with a scrumptious main course, this recipe is a must-try.
The dry butter chicken recipe Chinese style is easy to make and requires simple ingredients that are easily available at your local grocery store. The recipe involves marinating the chicken in a mixture of spices and then frying it until it is crispy. The chicken is then tossed in a creamy butter sauce that is infused with aromatic spices, giving it a rich and flavourful taste.
If you are a seafood lover, you can also try adding seafood to this recipe. Prawns or shrimp work well with this dish and add a unique flavour to the recipe. Simply add the seafood to the marinade and follow the same cooking method as you would with the chicken. Serve the dish with steamed rice or naan bread for a complete meal that is sure to impress your guests.
Key Takeaways
- Dry butter chicken is a popular Chinese recipe that is easy to make and requires simple ingredients.
- This dish can be made with seafood, such as prawns or shrimp, to add a unique flavour.
- Serve the dish with steamed rice or naan bread for a complete meal.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Choosing Your Chicken
For this dry butter chicken recipe, you can use boneless chicken thighs or breasts. It is best to use skinless chicken to prevent excess oil in the dish. However, if you prefer chicken with skin, you can use it, but make sure to remove the skin before cooking.
If you want to experiment with seafood, you can use prawns or fish fillets instead of chicken. However, keep in mind that the cooking time may vary depending on the type of seafood you choose.
Butter and Dairy Alternatives
Traditionally, this recipe calls for unsalted butter and evaporated milk. However, if you are lactose intolerant or vegan, you can use dairy-free alternatives such as coconut milk or almond milk. You can also use heavy cream instead of evaporated milk for a creamier texture.
Spices and Seasoning
The key to a delicious dry butter chicken recipe is the right balance of spices and seasoning. You will need garlic, ginger, garam masala, turmeric, salt, sugar and pepper. You can adjust the amount of spices according to your taste preference.
If you want to add a little kick to the dish, you can add some red chilli powder or cayenne pepper. You can also use fresh curry leaves for added flavour.
To summarise, here are the ingredients and their possible substitutions:
| Ingredient | Substitution |
|---|---|
| Chicken | Prawns or fish fillets |
| Unsalted butter | Dairy-free butter |
| Evaporated milk | Coconut milk or almond milk |
| Heavy cream | Double cream |
| Garlic | Garlic paste |
| Ginger | Ginger paste |
| Garam masala | Curry powder |
| Turmeric | Saffron |
| Salt | Sea salt |
| Sugar | Honey |
| Pepper | Black pepper |
| Curry leaves | Bay leaves |
Remember, the key to a great dry butter chicken recipe is to experiment with the ingredients and find the perfect balance of flavours that suits your taste buds.
Marinating the Chicken
Before you start cooking your dry butter chicken, you need to marinate the chicken to make it more flavorful and tender. Here's how you can do it:
Marinade Preparation
You can use a variety of ingredients to make the marinade for your dry butter chicken. A simple marinade can be made by mixing together yogurt, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and some Indian spices. However, for a Chinese-style dry butter chicken, you can use a marinade made with oyster sauce, salt, sugar, white pepper, and a beaten egg.
To prepare the marinade, mix all the ingredients together in a bowl until they are well combined. If you want to add a seafood flavor to your dish, you can also add some fish sauce or shrimp paste to the marinade. You can use chicken breasts or thighs for this recipe, or even use seafood like prawns or scallops.
Marinating Time
Once you have prepared the marinade, add the chicken pieces to the bowl and coat them thoroughly with the marinade. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes to an hour. For best results, you can also marinate the chicken overnight in the fridge.
Marinating the chicken for a longer period of time will help the chicken absorb more flavor from the marinade and make it more tender. However, be careful not to marinate the chicken for too long, as the acid in the marinade can break down the protein in the chicken and make it mushy.
In conclusion, marinating the chicken is an important step in making a flavorful and tender dry butter chicken. With the right marinade and marinating time, you can elevate the taste of your dish and impress your guests.
Cooking Method
Frying Techniques
To prepare the dry butter chicken recipe, you will need a frying pan and some oil. Heat the pan and add oil to it. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken pieces to the pan and fry them until they turn golden brown. Make sure that the chicken is cooked thoroughly and is not pink in the middle.
Cooking tips: It is important to use a frying pan that is big enough to accommodate all the chicken pieces. This will prevent overcrowding and ensure that the chicken cooks evenly. Also, avoid using too much oil as this will make the chicken greasy. You can use vegetable oil or coconut oil for frying.
If you want to add seafood to the recipe, you can use prawns or shrimps. To prepare the seafood, clean and devein them, and then fry them in a separate pan until they turn pink.
Sauce Preparation
To make the sauce for the dry butter chicken recipe, you will need butter, milk, garlic, curry leaves, and some spices. Melt the butter in a pan and add garlic and curry leaves. Fry them until they turn golden brown and then add milk to the pan.
Next, add the spices such as salt, pepper, and chilli powder to the pan and mix well. Let the sauce cook for a few minutes until it thickens. Once the sauce is ready, pour it over the fried chicken pieces and mix well.
Cooking tips: You can use evaporated milk or cream instead of regular milk to make the sauce creamier. Also, you can add some cornflour to the sauce to thicken it further. If you want to make the sauce spicier, you can add more chilli powder or chopped green chillies.
In conclusion, the dry butter chicken recipe is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that you can prepare at home. By following the frying and sauce preparation techniques mentioned above, you can make a restaurant-quality dish in no time.
Serving Suggestions
Accompaniments
Dry butter chicken is a versatile dish that can be served with a variety of accompaniments. One of the most popular options is steamed rice, which helps to balance out the rich and creamy flavours of the dish. You can use basmati rice or any other type of rice that you prefer.
If you have any leftovers, you can use them to make a delicious sandwich by stuffing the chicken into a naan bread or a flatbread. This is a great option for a quick and easy lunch or snack.
Another great accompaniment for dry butter chicken is vegetables. You can serve the chicken on a bed of sautéed vegetables such as bell peppers, onions, and mushrooms. This adds a healthy touch to the dish and complements the flavours well.
Plating and Presentation
When it comes to plating and presentation, there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, make sure that the chicken is evenly coated with the sauce and that there is enough sauce to go around. You can garnish the dish with some fresh coriander leaves or chopped spring onions to add some colour and freshness.
If you want to take the presentation up a notch, you can serve the chicken in a shallow bowl or a small casserole dish. This makes the dish look more elegant and sophisticated.
If you want to add some seafood to the dish, you can try using prawns or scallops instead of chicken. Simply marinate the seafood in the same sauce as the chicken and cook it in a similar way. This adds a unique twist to the dish and makes it more interesting.
Nutritional Information
If you're looking to make a dry butter chicken recipe, it's important to know the nutritional information of the dish. Here's a breakdown of the key nutrients in this Chinese-style butter chicken recipe:
- Calories: One serving of this dish contains around 355 calories, which is a moderate amount for a main course dish.
- Iron: Chicken is a good source of iron, which is important for healthy blood cells. This recipe contains around 2.5mg of iron per serving.
- Carbohydrates: This dish contains around 14g of carbohydrates per serving, which is a moderate amount.
- Saturated Fat: Butter is high in saturated fat, which can raise cholesterol levels. This recipe contains around 10g of saturated fat per serving.
- Cholesterol: This dish contains around 92mg of cholesterol per serving, which is a moderate amount.
- Sodium: This recipe contains around 251mg of sodium per serving, which is a moderate amount.
- Potassium: Chicken is a good source of potassium, which is important for healthy muscles and nerves. This dish contains around 450mg of potassium per serving.
- Fiber: This dish contains around 2g of fiber per serving, which is a moderate amount.
- Vitamin A: Chicken is a good source of vitamin A, which is important for healthy eyes and skin. This dish contains around 400IU of vitamin A per serving.
- Vitamin C: This recipe doesn't contain any vitamin C, but you could add some vegetables to the dish to increase its vitamin C content.
- Calcium: This recipe doesn't contain any calcium, but you could use calcium-fortified milk to increase its calcium content.
To make this dish even more nutritious, you could add some seafood to it. Shrimp or prawns would be a good addition, as they're low in fat and high in protein. You could also add some fish, such as cod or salmon, which are high in omega-3 fatty acids and other important nutrients. Just make sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly, as seafood cooks faster than chicken.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the simplest way to cook dry butter chicken with a Chinese twist?
The simplest way to cook dry butter chicken with a Chinese twist is to marinate the chicken in a mixture of oyster sauce, salt, sugar, white pepper, and a beaten egg. After marinating the chicken for at least 30 minutes, fry it in about 2 inches of oil until it's golden brown. Then stir-fry the chicken with tomato passata, cream, sugar, salt, and chicken peas. Finally, add butter and stir until it's melted and well combined.
How can I prepare dry butter chicken in a traditional Chinese style?
To prepare dry butter chicken in a traditional Chinese style, you can use Chinese five-spice powder, soy sauce, and sesame oil in the marinade. After marinating the chicken, you can stir-fry it with garlic, ginger, and scallions. Then add tomato sauce, hoisin sauce, and Chinese rice wine. Finally, add butter and stir until it's melted and well combined.
Any tips for making an easy and tasty dry butter chicken with Chinese flavours?
One tip for making an easy and tasty dry butter chicken with Chinese flavours is to use boneless chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts. Chicken thighs are more flavourful and tender than chicken breasts. Another tip is to use Chinese five-spice powder, soy sauce, and sesame oil in the marinade to add more Chinese flavours. Finally, you can add seafood such as shrimp or scallops to the dish for a seafood twist.
Where can I find the best-rated recipes for dry butter chicken with a Chinese influence?
You can find the best-rated recipes for dry butter chicken with a Chinese influence on cooking websites such as Relished Recipes, Kuali, dimsimlim.com, and trychinesegoodies.com. These websites have a wide selection of recipes that you can choose from.
Can you suggest a method to make butter chicken sauce thicker without using flour?
Yes, you can use cornstarch or arrowroot powder to thicken butter chicken sauce without using flour. Mix one tablespoon of cornstarch or arrowroot powder with one tablespoon of water until it forms a slurry. Then add the slurry to the sauce and stir until it thickens.
Why does butter chicken often have such a vibrant red colour?
Butter chicken often has such a vibrant red colour because of the use of tomato sauce or tomato paste in the recipe. The tomato sauce or paste gives the dish a rich, red colour. Additionally, some recipes call for the use of red chilli powder or paprika, which can also contribute to the red colour of the dish.