Butter Chicken, · 8 servings

Pat 1000 g boneless chicken thighs dry and toss it in a bowl with 1 ½ to 2 tbsp lemon juice, 1 to 1 ½ tsp Kashmiri chili powder and ½ to ⅔ tsp salt. Cover and leave for 20 min.

Add ⅔ cup Greek yogurt or hung curd, 1 ½ tbsp ginger garlic paste, ¼ tsp ground turmeric, 1 ½ to 2 tsp garam masala, 1 tsp ground cumin, 2 tsp ground coriander, 2 tsp kasuri methi and 1 ½ to 2 tbsp neutral oil. Mix until every piece is coated.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 min, or overnight for the most tender result.

Take the chicken out of the fridge while you make the gravy so it loses its chill.

Heat 2 tbsp butter or ghee, for searing on a griddle or cast iron pan until hot. Lay the chicken in with space between the pieces and cook over medium heat for 2 min, then turn and cook the other side. Work in two or three batches.

If using 260 g onion, fry it in 2 tbsp neutral oil, for the onion over medium heat until lightly golden, then let it cool.

Blend 1200 g ripe tomatoes, the fried onion, 84 g whole raw cashews (about 28) and 1 cup water, for blending to a completely smooth puree.

Melt 2 to 4 tbsp butter or ghee in a heavy pan over medium heat and add 2 cinnamon stick (5 cm piece), 4 to 8 pods green cardamom pods and 4 to 8 whole cloves.

Stir in 1 ½ tbsp ginger garlic paste and 2 to 4 green chilies. Fry on low heat for 1 min to 2 min.

Turn off the heat and stir in 2 to 4 tsp Kashmiri chili powder, half of 2 to 3 tsp garam masala, 2 to 3 tsp ground coriander and 1 tsp ground cumin, so the ground spices toast in the residual heat without burning.

Pour in the tomato and cashew puree, passing it through a sieve if it is not perfectly smooth. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat with the lid partly on, then lower the heat and cook, stirring now and then.

Add 2 cups hot water and simmer for 10 min. Fish out and discard the whole spices.

Add the seared chicken to the gravy. If it looks too thick, loosen it with a splash of hot water. Cover and simmer gently until the chicken is tender.

Stir in 1 to 1 ½ tsp salt, 2 tsp sugar, 1 tbsp kasuri methi and the rest of the garam masala. Taste; add another knob of butter if you like.

Turn off the heat and stir in most of 160 to 200 ml heavy cream. Drizzle the rest on top and scatter with 4 tbsp coriander leaves. Serve with naan, jeera rice or plain basmati.