Indian · main
Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani)
Butter Chicken (Murgh Makhani) reads richness 5.9, warm spice 4.2 and umami 4.0 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a Indian main, about 45 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 4.6 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 2.5 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 2.7 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 1.7 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 7.1 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 5.0 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Richness 5.9 · Warm Spice 4.2 · Umami 4.0 · Nutty 3.9 · Allium 3.1 · Salinity 2.9 · Floral 2.9 · Funk & Ferment 2.8 · Heat 2.7 · Sourness 2.6 · Sweetness 2.0 · Herbaceous 1.7 · Fruity 1.5 · Earthy 1.4 · Bitterness 1.4 · Citrus 0.5
What's in it (15)
- 2 lbs chicken thighs
- 1/2 cup yogurt
- 2 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
- 1 tsp red chili powder
- 1 tbsp tandoori masala
- 4 medium tomatoes
- 4 tbsp butter
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 medium onions
- 1/4 cup cashews
- 3 cardamom pods
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 1 tbsp dried fenugreek leaves
- salt to taste
Time & effort: about 45 min (30 min active) · effort: involved
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 166.1 kcal, 10 g protein, 9.2 g fat, 13.6 g carbs
Dietary: Contains meat · Contains dairy — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (4 steps)
- Marinate chicken in yogurt and spices, then grill or broil until cooked through.
- Simmer onions, tomatoes, cashews, and whole spices into a smooth sauce, then stir in butter and cream.
- Add grilled chicken pieces and finish with crushed dried fenugreek leaves.
- Serve with naan or basmati rice.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Curried Cauliflower Soup — Thai
- Lamb Rogan Josh — Indian
- Chicken Korma — Indian
- Kadhi with Jaggery and Whole Spice — Indian · Gujarat
- Gatte ki Sabzi (Gram Flour Dumplings in Yogurt Gravy) — Indian · Rajasthan
Keep reading: what richness, warm spice, umami mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
See how this dish fits your palate — take the short taste test →
Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.