Creamy Cashew Butter Chicken—This chicken recipe is full of flavor and very easy to make. Made with spicy and creamy sauce and served with rice or naan bread.
It has been a while since I last had tasty and satisfying homemade curry. Today I decided to dig out my Indian spices from my pantry and cook the most amazing butter chicken. I made thick and rich gravy with tomatoes, heavy cream, cashews and tons of aromatic spices. I served it with plain steamed white rice for family at dinner.
This recipe is similar to the Easy Butter Chicken recipe that I published earlier. The difference is that I used another ration of spices in addition to roasted cashews in the gravy.
Cashews add richness to the gravy because they have fiber, protein and healthy fats.
I usually cook the gravy first with onion, garlic, ginger, cashew, tomato sauce and spices. Then I smooth them all in the blender to make a rich, thick and delightfully fragrant sauce. I bring the sauce back to the pan and cook it with the chicken until the chicken absorbs all the flavor. Then I finish it with a splash of heavy cream for balance and sweetness.
The key spice here is garam masala which is a blend of cinnamon, peppercorns, cloves, coriander seeds, cumin seeds and cardamom pods. They make a beautiful, aromatic spice in Indian curries, dals and many other delicacies.
You can find garam masala on the spice shelf of most supermarkets, or you can make it at home. Just grind equal amounts of the spices, or the proportions to your taste.
Ingredients Needed:
To make the chicken you will need chicken breasts, garam masala, cayenne pepper, turmeric, paprika, salt, garlic and fresh ginger.
To prepare the gravy you will need butter, olive oil, onion, cashews, tomato sauce, salt, black pepper, garam masala and heavy cream.
How to Cook Cashew Butter Chicken
In a large mixing bowl place the chicken and season with all spices, salt, minced garlic and ginger. Coat the chicken well and cover for 10 minutes.
While you are marinating the chicken, heat up the butter and oil in a large pan on medium heat, and sweat the onions until translucent; add cashews and cook for 2–3 minutes. Then add tomato sauce, salt, pepper and garam masala. Cook for a few minutes or until little bubbles appear on the sides. Turn off the heat and smooth the mixture in blender to make a rich, thick sauce. Set aside.
In the same pan, add a tablespoon of oil and cook the chicken in batches until golden brown on all sides. Pour the tomato and cashew sauce over and simmer for 5 minutes. Add cream, mix and turn off the heat.
Plate your Creamy Cashew Butter Chicken in a bowl, garnish with some freshly chopped cilantro and serve immediately. Enjoy.
What to Serve with Creamy Cashew Butter Chicken
I like to serve this delicious Creamy Cashew Butter Chicken with steamed white rice or naan bread.
Check my other chicken recipe;
Easy Butter Chicken
Chicken vegetable Curry
Garlic Honey Chicken
Whole Roasted Chicken
Creamy Cashew Butter Chicken
Creamy Cashew Butter Chicken—This chicken recipe is full of flavor and very easy to make. Made with spicy and creamy sauce and served with rice or naan bread.
Ingredients
For the chicken:
- 2lb skinless, boneless chicken breast, cubed
- 2 teaspoons garam masala
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
For the gravy:
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 red onion, medium, diced
- 1 cup cashews, roasted, unsalted
- 15oz tomato sauce (1 can)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 3 tablespoons heavy cream
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl place the chicken and season with all spices, salt, minced garlic and ginger. Coat the chicken well and cover for 10 minutes.
- While you marinate the chicken, heat up the butter and oil in a large pan on medium heat, and sweat the onions until translucent; add cashews and cook for 2–3 minutes. Then add tomato sauce, salt, pepper and garam masala. Cook for a few minutes or until little bubbles appear on the sides. Turn off the heat and smooth the mixture in blender to make a rich, thick sauce. Set aside.
- In the same pan, add a tablespoon of oil and cook the chicken in batches until golden brown on all sides. Pour the tomato and cashew sauce over and simmer for 5 minutes. Add cream, mix and turn off the heat.
- Serve immediately over steamed white rice and garnish with freshly chopped cilantro.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 5 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 543Total Fat: 25gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 160mgSodium: 1612mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 4gSugar: 6gProtein: 62g
— DID YOU TRY THIS RECIPE? —
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Wendy Kloppers says
This receipe looks Devine. When you mention a can of tomato sauce. Which tomato sauce is this you refer to? Tomato purée?
Guss says
Tomato pure works for sure. I am glad you like the recipe!
Shana Stapp says
This is a wonderfully tasty recipe. My daughter is a pescatarian, so I’ve made this 3 ways: chicken, shrimp, and potatoes. As my family says, ‘This recipe is a keeper’!
Guss says
So glad to hear that.