
From the kitchen
Camel Milk Butter Chicken
Classic butter chicken finished camel-milk-style, with the milk added off the heat at the very end.
By Aunesty Janssen · The Complete Camel Milk Guide & Cookbook: A Definitive Guide to History, Science, Sourcing & 150 Original Recipes
Ingredients
- 2 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, in 1-inch pieces
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp garam masala
- 1 cup tomato purée
- 1/2 cup water, plus more as needed
- 3/4 cup pasteurized camel milk
- 3/4 tsp fine salt, plus more to taste
- 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
Method
- Cut chicken into even 1-inch pieces. Heat butter in a wide saucepan over medium heat and cook onion with salt 8 minutes until golden.
- Add ginger, garlic and garam masala; stir 30 seconds. Add tomato purée and 1/2 cup water. Simmer 8 to 10 minutes, stirring.
- Add chicken and bring to a gentle simmer. Cover partly and cook 12 to 18 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the largest pieces reach 165°F. Add a little water if the sauce catches.
- Remove from direct heat. Slowly stir in milk and warm over low heat without boiling hard.
- Taste for seasoning, sprinkle with cilantro and serve with rice or naan.
Cook with confidence
Before you start
Before you start
Use boneless, skinless thighs. Added water provides enough liquid to cook the chicken before the milk finish. Check temperature rather than relying on color alone.
Serving and keeping
Refrigerate in shallow containers within 2 hours for 3 to 4 days. Reheat to 165°F. Freeze up to 2 months; thaw in the refrigerator, then warm gently.
Onion and Tomato Cues
Take the onion the full 8 minutes until golden. Simmer 1 cup tomato purée about 10 minutes until it darkens and butter shows at the edges. That reduction prevents a watery final sauce.
Chicken Doneness
Cubed thighs usually need about 12 minutes, but the thickest pieces should reach 165°F. Do not overcook chicken while trying to thicken an under-reduced sauce.
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