Wednesday 25 / December / 2024
It is said taste travels faster than anything else in this world. I had to experience it to believe in it. Years back while I was on my first single sojourn to Paris, I had almost everyone telling me that even before I visit the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre Museum I must taste the authentic French cuisine, globally renowned for its finesse and flavours.
And so I did. For the next few days I immersed myself fully in France’s culinary culture. I had a generous share of baguettes found in many flavours, Pain au Chocolat that is croissant filled with soft and smooth liquid dark chocolate, and some finest French cheese. I also got a chance to try the traditional steaks, soufflés, and tarts of France. But then suddenly my taste buds grew homesick if not the heart and I pined for something that was familiar to my palate. And so began my quest for some warm buttery naan, spicy curries, and in short everything that was Indian. On a lazy afternoon while walking on the cobbled streets of Paris, my eyes fell on a signage that nearly made my heart skip a beat — The Gandhi Ji’s, Indian Restaurant.
Totally perplexed and also filled with curiosity to know what connection there could be between Indian history’s iconic leader and Indian cuisine, I walked inside the restaurant. The smell of tandoori and the familiar names of Indian dishes were proof enough I had finally reached the place where I yearned to be. But what really surprised me was to see that the restaurant had a real tandoor and the dishes were prepared in authentic Indian way. A sneak peek at the menu and I made up my mind. That afternoon it would be nothing more than a plate of butter chicken accompanied by Indian bread.
The mildly spiced curry was made even more milder keeping in mind the local palate.The rich, creamy and satisfyingly spicy butter chicken turned out to be a real delight. True it wasn’t like the one that we get to eat in India but when food is cooked to suit different tastes it doesn’t lose its soul and that’s how it transcends the geographical and cultural borders. Having its strong roots in Northern India, butter chicken that is also known as murgh makhani has truly traversed the world and has made its home everywhere, from the Swiss Alps, Berlin, and Austria to Malaysia and Indonesia. The waiter at The Gandhi Ji shared with us little details on how the Indian restaurants remained crammed with locals and tourists who came specifically asking for butter chicken, palak paneer, and curries on weekends. This delicious restaurant-style dish can also be made at home with simple ingredients. Here we go with an easy butter chicken recipe.
Ingredients
• 4 onions, sliced in thin strips
• 2-3 tablespoons butter
• 2 chicken breasts, cut into cubes
• 1 tablespoon ginger, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon of garlic, finely chopped
• 1 cup tomato puree + 1tbsp tomato sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 2/3 cup cream
• 1/4 cup plain yoghurt
• 1 tablespoon garam masala
• 1 teaspoon chilli powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 3-4 tablespoons fresh coriander leaves
• 1/4 cup slivered almonds
Preparation
Cook the onion in butter until they are limp and soft, about seven minutes. In the meantime, cut the chicken in cubes. Remove the onions from the pan when they are cooked, leaving as much of the butter as possible. Turn up the flame a bit and add the chicken. When the chicken is cooked well add the spices, ginger and garlic and stir for a while. Add a few tablespoons of water and the pureed tomato. Put the sautéed onion back into the pan and set to simmer. Squeeze in the lemon juice. In a separate bowl take one tablespoon of tomato sauce in a bowl and mix it with the cream and the yoghurt. Add garam masala, chilli powder and ground cumin. Stir in the coriander leaves. You can also garnish with almond slivers. Serve with steamed rice or any Indian bread.
Muscat Palate
In Muscat this all time favourite Indian dish, is served in most of the Indian restaurants. The best ones are at:
Omar Al Khayyam Alauddin, Branch MQ
+968 2460 0667
Grand Hormuz, Seeb
+968 2435 0500
Begum’s, Al Khuwair
+968 2448 2299
Trishna, near (ABA)
+968 9651 3841
Copper Chimney, CBD area
+968 2470 6420
Jashn, Al Khuwair
+968 2448 8521
Taste of India
+968 2449 0034
—[email protected]
