If you find yourself unsure what to serve with butter chicken then this article I’ve written will make this problem a thing of the past.
Murgh Makhani, or butter chicken, is a dish that has won over the hearts and palates of foodies all over the world. It represents the essence of Indian cuisine with its delicate chicken and creamy tomato sauce.
Selecting the ideal side dishes to complement this famous entrée is essential to making a genuinely remarkable dining experience. Here are some great options to go with butter chicken so that you can have a satisfying lunch that appeals to all the senses.
What to Serve with Butter Chicken
Naan Bread: The Classic Companion
Perhaps the most common side dish for butter chicken is naan bread. This thick, creamy sauce is ideal for mopping up with this soft, pillowy flatbread. Regardless of your preference for cheese, garlic, or plain naan, each variety has a distinct flavor and texture. Rich butter chicken is enhanced by the seductive smokiness of the mild char from tandoor cooking.
Making Naan at Home
If you’re up for the challenge, cooking naan at home can be satisfying. To make a soft dough, mix yogurt, water, yeast, and all-purpose flour. After allowing it to rise, roll it out and bake or fry it till golden brown in a hot skillet. For an added luxury, before serving, brush it with melted butter or ghee.
Try experimenting with toppings like sesame seeds or fresh herbs like parsley or cilantro to enhance your handmade naan experience. For an extra taste boost, you may also load your naan with paneer or spicy potatoes.
Basmati Rice: A Fragrant Base
Another traditional dish to combine with butter chicken is basmati rice. It’s the perfect vessel for soaking up the flavorful sauce because of its lengthy grains and aromatic scent. It’s easy to cook basmati rice: just rinse the grains in clean water, then cook them with a little salt and cardamom for taste.
Variations of Flavored Rice
Consider using spices like saffron or cumin to give your rice dish an even higher level of flavor. Alternatively, you can make a pilaf by adding cooked basmati rice to a ghee-sautéed onion and pea mixture. This gives your plate additional color and texture in addition to enhancing the flavor.
Try cooking basmati rice with turmeric and tempering it with curry leaves, peanuts, and mustard seeds for a more festive take on lemon rice. The richness of butter chicken can be delightfully contrasted with the zesty flavor of lemon rice.
Raita: The Cooling Contrast
A yogurt-based side dish called raita balances the richness of butter chicken with a crisp taste. Raita, which is made with yogurt, chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, and spices like coriander and cumin, helps temper the heat of the spices in the chicken meal. It is a necessary component to your meal because of its cooling impact.
Raita variations
You can experiment with a lot of raita varieties. For example, boondi raita adds crispy chickpea flour balls for texture and mint raita uses fresh mint leaves for a taste explosion. Every version adds a special touch that goes really well with butter chicken.
To add sweetness and texture to fruit-based raitas, try adding sliced pineapple or pomegranate seeds. These fruity variations not only improve the flavor but also make your table arrangement look more appealing.
Lentil Dishes: Nutritious and Flavorful
Tadka dal or dal makhani are two great lentil dishes to go with butter chicken. These substantial lentil dishes improve the entire flavor profile of your meal while providing additional protein and fiber. A rich dish that goes well with both naan and rice, daal makhani is made with black lentils that are cooked gently with cream and spices.
How to Cook Lentils at Home
Lentils are easy to prepare at home. For a faster cooking time, soak them overnight, or use canned lentils for ease of usage. Before adding your lentils, add some spices like turmeric and garam masala for more flavor, then sauté onions, garlic, and ginger in ghee.
When preparing your dal, think about adding spinach or tomatoes for an even more tasty meal. This gives your plate more color and nutrition at the same time.
Vegetable Sides: Adding Color and Nutrition
Along with adding color to your meal, including vegetable sides gives you important nutrients. Think about serving mixed veggies or sautéed spinach seasoned with Indian spices with butter chicken. A quick stir-fry of green beans, carrots, and bell peppers can provide the creamy meal a crisp contrast.
Well-liked Vegetable Recipes
Another common option that goes well with butter chicken is aloo gobi, which is a combination of potato and cauliflower. These veggies’ earthy flavors bring variation to your meal and balance the richness of the chicken.
As side dishes, you might also try preparing palak paneer, which is spinach mixed with cottage cheese, or bhindi masala, which is spiced okra. These alternatives are tasty extras that show off the variety of Indian food while also improving your meal.
Chutneys: A Burst of Flavor
Chutneys are a great way to infuse your food with even more flavor when looking at what to serve with butter chicken. The savory components of butter chicken are well contrasted with the sweetness of mango chutney. A burst of freshness from the mint chutney can complement every meal.
Recipes for Homemade Chutneys
Chutney is easy to make at home, and you can add or subtract flavors to suit your tastes. Mango chutney is a delicious and tangy treat made from ripe mangoes combined with sugar, vinegar, ginger, and spices like cinnamon. Mint chutney is a zesty side dish made by blending fresh mint leaves with yogurt, lemon juice, and green chilies.
For a sour variation, try tamarind chutney, or for a tropical touch, try coconut chutney. Every variety of chutney has a distinct flavor that might improve your eating experience.
Salads: Make Your Meal More Light
A crisp salad can serve as a welcome diversion from the richness of butter chicken. Think about a straightforward cucumber salad with salt and lemon juice, or a fancier salad with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, onions, and a zesty vinaigrette.
Indian-Souled Salad Recipes
Try the kachumber salad, which is made with sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, and lemon juice that has been seasoned with cumin powder, for an Indian take on salads. This salad balances the flavors of your main dish and adds freshness.
A tasty alternative is a beetroot salad dressed with yogurt and topped with fresh coriander leaves. In addition to giving brilliant color to your dish, the earthiness of beets combines beautifully with the creamy tones of butter chicken.
See also: Nando’s peri peri chicken liver recipe
Dessert: Ending on a Sweet Note
After enjoying butter chicken and all of its delicious sides, serve a classic Indian dessert like gulab jamun or kheer (rice pudding) to complete your meal. These desserts provide a delightful finish to counterbalance the savory components of your meal.
Common Indian Desserts
Deep-fried dough balls infused with rosewater are called gulab jamun, and they’re delicious and sweet! Kheer is produced by cooking rice in milk until it becomes creamy; cardamom is frequently added for taste, and nuts like almonds or pistachios are sometimes added for texture.
You might also try other desserts like barfi, a condensed milk-based fudge-like treat, or rasgulla, which are soft cheese balls dipped in syrup. Every dessert honors Indian culinary customs with its own distinct flavors.
In summary
Take into account on what to serve with butter chicken whether preparing butter chicken for guests or serving it at home to produce a well-rounded dish that pleases the senses. Every option—from authentic naan bread to cool raita and tasty lentil dishes—improves the whole dining experience by offering a balance of flavors and textures.
Whether you go with bright veggie sides or aromatic basmati rice, carefully choosing what to serve with butter chicken will help create a memorable meal that highlights the variety and depth of Indian cuisine. Savor this recipe and discover new flavors while enjoying one of India’s favorite foods!
