Do you love butter chicken but not too thrilled with the calories that come with it? Then I have a great recipe for you with this Healthy and Light Butter Chicken. Still full of delicious flavor and creaminess, just without the added calories
My family are huge fans of butter chicken but if I had to cook it often, it will require heavy cream. Not a great option at all especially if it on the dinner table at least once a week.
Substituting the heavy cream with Greek or plain yogurt turned this dish into a much healthier and lighter version of the regular Butter chicken recipe, and they loved it.
This is an extremely simple recipe, taking just under an hour to cook, and did I mention it is a one pot meal, that's right, another plus for this dish.
This recipe uses skinless and boneless chicken breast fillets. It cooks faster and is easier to cut up into cubes. The spices like Garam masala and chilli powder can be found at Indian spice shops or in the spice section of your grocery store.
You can follow the amounts used in this recipe or add it to your taste especially when using the chilli powder. Canned tomatoes are blended until smooth because you really do not want chunks of tomato in this dish.
When you do add the yoghurt and chicken to the tomatoes, allow the yoghurt to reduce and thicken as it cooks.
This helps it develop more flavor and a delicious rich creamy taste. I usually cook this dish a few hours before serving allowing the chicken to absorb the flavor of the sauce.
Served with basmati rice or delicious yeast free garlic butter naan, this makes a great weekday dinner.
Enjoy ♥
Healthy and light Butter Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 2 garlic cloves crushed
- ½ teaspoon ginger paste
- 2 teaspoons chilli powder ( adjust to taste )
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 5 ml / 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 x 16-ounce can chopped tomato, drained see note 1
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- salt to taste
- 1 pound chicken breast, cubed ( about 4 small chicken breasts)
- 1 cup Greek or plain unflavoured yogurt
- chopped coriander leaves to garnish
Instructions
- Empty the can of chopped tomatoes into a blender and pulse / blend until smooth, about half a minute
- Heat the butter, add the onion and fry until tender.
- Stir in the garlic and ginger and cook briefly before adding the chilli powder, turmeric, cumin and garam masala
- Stir for a minute before adding the blended and smooth Tomato and brown sugar Season to taste, cover, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
- Add the yoghurt and allow to cook for about 2 minutes then add the chicken, covering it with the sauce. and simmer for a further 10 -15 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the sauce slightly reduced and thickened.
- Reduce the heat to low when the chicken has cooked and allow to sit in the sauce for 10 more minutes to allow the flavours to be absorbed well into the chicken.
- Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and serve with naan or basmati rice.
Notes
- Use one cup (200g) chopped fresh tomatoes as an alternative to canned tomatoes.
Nutrition
Try this recipe with the Yeast free Garlic Butter Naan.You will absolutely love it
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen says
Wow. I didn't even know it's possible to make butter chicken with fewer calories. So cool! Love it, Ashika!
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you Kelsie. Fewer calories and just as creamy and delicious 🙂
Kelly @ Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats says
I love this healthy ((((and one pot!!!))) version of butter chicken. Looks like the perfect dinner. With the addition of your garlic naan of course!!
The Gardening Foodie says
I am so glad that you like the recipe too. One pot meals really make busy days easier. I hope that you get to try it soon and don't forget the garlic naan ?
neil@neilshealthymeals.com says
This is a lovely flavourful and perfectly light version of butter chicken Ashika. Something I would gladly cook during the week for Lynne and I. Thanks for this and have a great weekend!
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you Neil, oh yes definitely light and delicious. I hope that you and Lynne love this recipe as much as we do 🙂
Have a great weekend as well 🙂
Balvinder says
I love this healthy version of butter chicken. My daughter loves it so much and I simply don't make it because of all the cream and butter.
The Gardening Foodie says
Thank you Balvinder, my boys also love this dish, now it is made more often at home without the heavy cream. I hope that you get to try out the recipe soon and that your daughter loves it as well. 🙂
Maria | kitchenathoskins says
Butter chicken is one of our all time favs and my kids request often. My recipe is loaded with butter, cream and nuts - not a healthy option for weeknights. I totally adore this idea Ashika:)
Emma @ Bake Then Eat says
Ohh I’m bookmarking this for my fella, he is always looking for lower calorie versions of his favourite dishes.
Ana says
What is the nutritional count for this recipe? I love butter
Chicken but don’t like the fat and calories with the traditional version.
The Gardening Foodie says
Hi Ana, I have updated the recipe with the nutritional value and weight of each ingredient. I hope this helps and that you get to try out this great recipe 🙂