Butter Chicken, Naan Bread & Carrot Pickle recipe

Butter Chicken, Naan Bread & Carrot Pickle

by Anna Middleton (@chefanna)
Prep Time
30min
Cook Time
45min
Total Time
1hr 15min

A delicious Indian meal consisting of creamy butter chicken, freshly made naan bread, and tangy carrot pickle.

Ingredients

4 Servings
(1 serving = 1 plate)

Butter Chicken

  • 6cup
    Chicken Breast Fillets (cut into cubes)
  • 1cup
    Onions (finely chopped)
  • 1tsp
    Garlic Clove (finely grated)
  • 1tbsp
    Ginger (peeled & finely grated)
  • 1tbsp
    Garam Masala
  • 1tbsp
    Cumin Powder
  • 1tsp
    Turmeric
  • 1tbsp
    Red Chilli Powder
  • 1can
    Chopped Tomatoes (tinned)
  • 8
    leaves Curry leaves
  • 3/4cup
    Vegetable Oil
  • 2cup
    Cream
  • Salt & Pepper (to taste)
  • 1/2cup
    Coriander Leaves

Naan Bread

  • 1
    bag Ready-Made Dough
  • 3/4cup
    Flour
  • 4tbsp
    Sunflower Oil
  • 4tbsp
    Butter

Carrot Pickle

  • 2cup
    Carrots (julienne)
  • 1/2cup
    Spring Onions (diagonal, thinly sliced)
  • 1tsp
    Thai Green Chilli (finely chopped)
  • 1cup
    Apple Cider Vinegar
  • 1/2cup
    Water
  • 3tbsp
    Sugar
  • Salt & Pepper (to taste)

How to make Butter Chicken, Naan Bread & Carrot Pickle

Butter Chicken

  1. Heat a saucepan and add half of the vegetable oil. Add the onions and sauté until golden brown.

    Step 1.1: Heat a saucepan and add half of the vegetable oil
  2. Add the curry leaves, garam masala, cumin powder, turmeric, and chilli powder. Add a little water so the spices do not burn. Sauté for another 2 minutes.

    Step 1.1: Add the curry leaves, garam masala, cumin powder, turmeric, and chilli powder
    Step 1.2: Add the curry leaves, garam masala, cumin powder, turmeric, and chilli powder
  3. Add the tinned tomatoes, garlic, ginger & a little salt and pepper. Turn down to simmer for 5 min, then add the cream and turn down to simmer the sauce for about 10–15 minutes.

    Step 1.1: Add the tinned tomatoes, garlic, ginger & a little salt and pepper
    Step 1.2: Add the tinned tomatoes, garlic, ginger & a little salt and pepper
  4. Remove from the heat and using a stick blender, blend the sauce until smooth.

    Step 1.1: Remove from the heat and using a stick blender, blend the sauce until smooth
  5. Heat a pan and add the remaining vegetable oil. Add the chicken strips, a little salt and pepper, and sauté until golden brown.

    Step 1.1: Heat a pan and add the remaining vegetable oil
  6. Add the sauce to the chicken and stir until all the chicken is coated in sauce.

  7. Turn down the heat and simmer until all flavors have infused.

Naan Bread

  1. Break the dough into even pieces. On a floured surface, roll each piece into a flatbread about 1 cm thick.

    Step 2.1: Break the dough into even pieces
  2. Roll each flatbread into an oval shape without giving them time to rise.

    Step 2.1: Roll each flatbread into an oval shape without giving them time to rise
  3. Heat a griddle pan to medium heat, add a little vegetable oil and butter. Add the flatbread and cook until golden brown on one side, then flip to cook on the other side.

    Step 2.1: Heat a griddle pan to medium heat, add a little vegetable oil and butter
  4. Ensure the pan is not too hot to prevent the bread from burning before it cooks through.

Carrot Pickle

  1. Add the carrots, spring onions, and green chillies to a medium bowl. Add a little salt and pepper to taste.

  2. Place the vinegar, water, and sugar in a saucepan. Add a little salt and pepper. Bring the vinegar solution to a boil, then turn off the heat.

  3. Pour the vinegar solution over the carrots, mix well, and cover with a lid. Set aside to pickle for 10 minutes.

  4. Remove the carrots from the solution and place the pickled carrots in the fridge to cool.

  5. Serve the butter chicken with naan bread on the side and a little carrot pickle. Garnish with coriander leaves.

Tips & Tricks

  1. Ensure the pan is not too hot when cooking the naan bread to prevent burning.

  2. Blend the butter chicken sauce until smooth for a creamy texture.

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Recipe by

Anna Middleton

(@chefanna)

I have been a professional South African chef for 18 years, now teaching kids & adults how to cook by using their instincts. I...