Butter Chicken Curry Vegan Indian Curry Recipes

Butter chicken is a creamy, rich and savoury dish that is hearty and comforting. Serve it with basmati rice, naan, roti, or chapati for a complete meal. This Vegan Butter Chicken is CRAZY, BONKERS DELICIOUS! Yes, you read the title correctly and no, this is not a drill. I’ve been experimenting with my Vegan Butter Chicken recipe for a VERY long time. After dozens of iterations, I’m finally ready and so excited to share it with you. Butter chicken, also known as murgh makhani, is a beloved Indian dish that has captured the hearts of foodies worldwide. It’s a dish that’s rich, creamy, and filled with spices. If you’re anything like me, you’re always on the lookout for amazing food experiences. In this post, I’ll take you on a journey through the delicious world of vegan butter chicken. Not only will you learn all about the original butter chicken, but you’ll also see why it’s a must-try.

The secret to Butter Chicken Curry (VEGAN)

There are multiple components to get right here; the seitan chicken needs to be firm, pullable and flavoursome without being overpowering. The colour should to be light inside, not brown. Next, the sauce. Perfect Butter Chicken sauce is the holy grail of modern North Indian cooking and everyone has their own way of doing it. It’s one of the most popular restaurant dishes around the world because of its subtlety and simplicity. It’s not always easy to find that balance.

What is Butter Chicken?

Butter chicken is a popular Indian dish that’s typically made with yoghurt-marinated boneless chicken. To veganise this recipe, we’ll be using an incredible chicken-style seitan (a wheat gluten protein) marinated in a handful of spices. The seitan is then cooked in a creamy tomato sauce with lots of vegan butter, hence the name. The dish originated in Delhi’s famous restaurant, Moti Mahal in the 1950s, and it quickly became a favourite amongst the locals. Butter Chicken is typically served with naan or basmati rice.

What does Vegan Butter Chicken taste like?

The vegan seitan chicken is tender and moist, and the sauce is so flavourful that it’s hard to believe that it’s vegan. The sauce is also perfect for soaking up with the naan or basmati rice. The combination of the vegan butter, tomatoes and coconut milk creates a unique flavour that is both creamy and savoury. Vegan Butter Chicken is a great choice for anyone looking for a delicious vegan meal that is sure to satisfy. You’ll be tempted to take a spoon to this sauce. Butter chicken is a dish that’s perfect for the slow cooker too!

Why is Butter Chicken So Delicious?

Butter chicken is a feast for the senses. The aroma of the spices and the creamy tomato sauce will have your mouth watering before you even take a bite. When you do finally take a bite, you’ll be met with a perfect balance of spiciness and creaminess.

The Spice Factor

One of the reasons that butter chicken is so popular is because of the spices. The dish features a blend of aromatic spices such as cumin, coriander, garam masala, turmeric, and chilli powder. These spices create a flavour explosion in your mouth, which is why it’s such a crowd-pleaser.

How to make Butter Chicken extra creamy

I’ve switched the butter in my Vegan Butter Chicken with almond butter which lends a rich, creamy texture to the fresh tomato sauce. Having said this, you could also use cashew butter if you prefer that. A touch of coconut milk mellows out the spices and finishes the dish perfectly. I’d highly recommend using a high-powered blender, such a NutriBullet to blend the sauce.

Sieve the Butter Chicken gravy!

For the silkiest gravy possible and a true restaurant-style Butter Chicken finish, pass the sauce through a sieve or food mill to strain away unwanted tomato seeds and skin, as well as any coarse spices. You don’t want rogue spices ruining your heavenly Vegan Butter Chicken experience.

Stockpiling vegan chicken pieces 101

If like me, you need a Vegan Butter Chicken experience once a week, you can always double up on quantities and stow it away in the freezer to assemble later. For example, I keep seitan pieces in a ziplock-type (for example) bag in the freezer. You can keep it frozen for up to 3 months. Indeed, you can also freeze sauce portions. The sauce can also be used for other curries, such as butter tofu or mixed veggies. The protein-packed seitan pieces are great in stir fries, salads, pasta, wraps and more.

How to Make Butter Chicken

Now that we’ve discussed what this vegan butter chicken is all about and why it’s so delicious, let’s talk about how to make it. You’ll need spices, tinned tomatoes, coconut milk, and vegan butter, as well as the ingredients for the seitan. Some recipes include using a tandoor to cook the protein element of the dish, while others recommend grilling it. Kudos goes to the brilliant Skye Michael Conroy and The Seitan Appreciation Society on Facebook who are generous enough to share their wonderful passion, tips and recipes. The addition of beans to this seitan recipe was inspired by the Avocados and Ales Chickwheat recipe. Thank you. Shall we get on with the curry then?

How to make Butter Chicken Curry (VEGAN) | Vegan Butter Chicken recipe

How to make seitan chicken-style pieces for Vegan Butter Chicken | Murgh Makhani

Variations of Butter Chicken Curry (VEGAN)

There are several variations of butter chicken that you can try. Some recipes call for using paneer instead of chicken, which makes it an easy vegetarian option. You can also add different vegetables to the sauce to make it even more delicious. Peppers, onions, cauliflower, mushrooms and potatoes are all great options.