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 My oldest absolutely loves Indian food as does my wife and me.  As you have read, we are in the middle of some cooking lessons and I thought we would try some Indian.  This can be quite involved.  The reality, in this case, was we were cooking multiple things at one time.  So, he lost a little focus and had a lot he was trying to keep up with at one time.  I do not think we realize, how adept we become at multi-tasking as we learn to cook.  What took hours and was overwhelming, we just kind of do.  I guess that is a neat takeaway in this experience for me.  A chance to appreciate my growth in the process.
This recipe was not as complicated as many of the Indian recipes I have tried. Â So if you love Indian food and want a good starter, this is it. Â After all, it is butter chicken – even the name sounds delicious.
Directions
- Heat the oil in a dutch oven over medium high heat.  Add the shallot and onion and saute until soft and translucent – about 8 – 10 minutes. Stir in Ghee, lemon juice, ginger, garam masala, chili powder, cumin, turmeric and bay leaf.  Cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add tomato sauce, and cook for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in half-and-half and yogurt. Reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Season with salt pepper. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Heat canola oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken until lightly browned, about 5 minutes per side. Â Reduce heat, and season with 1 teaspoon garam masala and cayenne. Stir in a few spoonfuls of sauce, and simmer until liquid has reduced about 3 – 4 minutes. Put chicken into sauce and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Mix together cornstarch and water, then stir into the sauce.
Cook for 5 to 10 minutes, or until thickened. Â Enjoy!
Dear Peter
If you love Indian food than you should try Pakistani Food as well. I am pretty sure you will love it. I write a food blog that documents culinary heritage of Pakistani food. Check it out, you might find something interesting to try for next time for your family! Happy Cooking!
http://thegawalmandi.blogspot.com/
http://www.gawalmandi.com