Mother butter chicken

Name: mother butter chicken
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 4 servings

Mowgli Street Food founder Nisha Katona shares her recipe for mother butter chicken, Mowgli’s bestselling curry.

By Saga Magazine | Published - 28 Oct 2025

This is by far Mowgli’s best seller. What makes it so addictive is the tang of the tandoori dressing marinade.

I only make this at home when we have guests, otherwise the uncompromising aromas waft up the drive and can frighten the neighbours.

Prep time

10 mins

Cooking Time

50 mins

Serves

Ingredients

5 tbsp vegetable oil
2 large white onions, cut in half and thinly sliced
5cm/2 inch piece of fresh root ginger, peeled and grated
6 garlic cloves, grated
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp ground coriander
½ tsp ground cardamom
½ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground fenugreek
½ tsp ground turmeric
¼ tsp chilli powder
2 tbsp tomato purée/paste
400g/14oz can chopped tomatoes
5 tbsp Greek-style yogurt
750g/1lb 10oz bone-in chicken thighs, diced
2 tbsp tandoori masala
2 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
80g/3oz/1/3 cup butter

Method

Put the oil in a large heavy pan and set over a medium-high heat. When hot, add the diced onion, ginger and garlic and fry for 8 minutes or until the onion has softened and turned golden brown. Turn the heat down to low and add the cumin, coriander, cardamom, cinnamon, ground fenugreek, turmeric, chilli powder, tomato purée, canned tomatoes and Greek-style yogurt, stir well and cook for a further 5 minutes.
Blend the mixture with a hand-held/immersion blender until it turns into a smooth sauce, then set aside.
Rub the tandoori masala into the diced chicken then, in a separate large non-stick frying pan set over a medium-high heat, fry for 6 minutes or until the chicken starts to change colour and brown at the edges.
Add the browned chicken to the blended sauce. Return to a low heat and simmer gently for 30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Add up to 500ml/17fl oz/2 cups water slowly to achieve the consistency of sauce that you like. Add the salt and sugar and finish by stirring the butter through to create a thick and creamy sauce. Don’t be afraid to add more water to loosen the sauce to your taste.

Recipe from Mowgli Street Food: Stories and recipes from the Mowgli Street Food restaurants by Nisha Katona, image credit Yuki Sugiura (Nourish Books), RRP £14.50.

Check price

A boiled egg with the top removed and a runny yolk, with a small piece of bread dipped in

How to cook a perfect boiled egg - From the ultimate egg to an air fryer hack

The best ways to boil an egg, which may surprise you, and the egg-boiling mistakes to avoid.

The best granola to buy: tried and tasted

Oaty, nutty and fruity, granola is a breakfast staple. Which shop-bought mix bowled us over?

Grapefruit topped with cottage cheese - delicious! | Getty/kaphotollc

Bland, boring and back: why is cottage cheese in fashion again?

Welcome to the cottage cheese revival – but is it even good for you? And would YOU eat it?

potatoes and onions being stored together

The foods you must never store together

If you want your food to last longer, we've got the 5 common food pairs you must never store together.

Young man and his senior father going through shopping list while buying in supermarket

How to save money on your food shop – without noticing the difference

We’ve found the best money-saving alternatives to some of the most popular branded products.

Close-up of a barista pouring frothed milk into a coffee mug in front of a large coffee machine

The secrets of cafe-quality coffee (and it’s not just about the machine)

We quizzed the experts on why a barista brew always tastes so good – and got some insider tips on how to recreate it at home.

Hand swirling a glass of red wine on a blurred background of a wine cellar

The best low alcohol wines offering great taste without the headache

Want to take a break from booze? From low-alcohol Tempranillo to 0% aperitifs, our expert has the best on offer.

A person putting tomatoes away - but should tomatoes be stored in the fridge? | GettyLiudmila Chernetska

Don’t store these 7 foods in the fridge

These foods will lose flavour and freshness if you store them in the fridge.

The best chicken Kyiv we've tried and tasted

Chicken Kiev has been popular for more than a century, but which supermarket Kyiv is best?

three rolled up Chinese style duck pancakes on a table with chopsticks

How to cook Chinese food in an air fryer - with 3 easy recipes to try

We've got expert advice on how to cook up a feast in your air fryer in minutes.

How to bake perfect chicken

Avoid dry, overcooked meat with our guide to baking chicken in the oven.

A man wearing an apron pours white wine from a glass into a pan of food, with various vegetables on the worktop

Diana Henry's tips for cooking with alcohol

If you've got leftover sherry, vermouth or limoncello, the food writer shares her advice on how to use alcohol in your cooking.

Someone putting a cooked shepherd's pie into a red flask to eat outdoors

Food for your flask – take your dinner outdoors

Flasks aren’t just for soup and hot drinks: we’ve got two delicious recipes to cook and take with you anywhere.

How to cook couscous

Versatile and easy, couscous is a useful staple in your kitchen cupboard.

How to cook healthy food in your air fryer - with 3 recipes to try

Advice from an expert on healthy air fryer swaps, with delicious and easy recipes to get you started.

Mother butter chicken

Ingredients

Method

Related articles