Butter Chicken

If you aren’t familiar, butter chicken is a northern Indian dish that is essentially some chopped-up browned chicken in a creamy spiced tomato sauce.

Despite it being super complex in terms of flavor, it is surprisingly easy to make at home. And with a few swaps on the old ingredient list, I’ve developed a luxurious low sodium butter chicken so full of flavor, nobody will miss the salt.

The main trick here is to use “no salt added” ingredients. For example, reach for the can of crushed tomatoes that has no salt added. Yes, there’s still sodium in the tomatoes but the salt content is significantly reduced. The great part of this recipe is that the flavor comes from some amazing spices like curry powder and garam masala – which are sodium-free!

I prefer to serve my butter chicken on a bed of jasmine white rice. To me, the aromatic flavor of the rice pairs well with the spices in the butter chicken. I know not everyone is a fan, so choose the rice you like best.

Just stay away from the rice you microwave in a cup or bag. These might save you time but they will cost you salt. Yep, these ultra-fast cooking rice cups often have added sodium that doesn’t naturally exist in rice. So save the sodium and cook your rice on the stove.

I also like to serve up some garlic Lavash wedges on the side. Cut a sheet of Lavash Bread into triangles. Brush them with some olive oil (or unsalted butter) and then dust with a 50/50 mix of onion and garlic powder. Toast them in the oven until golden brown. You’ll have a delicious side of low salt bread!

Low Sodium Butter Chicken

Yield: 4-6 Servings

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Butter chicken can easily be made lower sodium without sacrificing that rich, creamy flavor.

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Ingredients

• 3/4 cup of unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon of curry powder
• 2 tablespoons of garam masala
• 2 pounds of boneless skinless chicken breast
• 1 cup of diced onion
• 3 tablespoons of minced garlic
• 3 tablespoons of minced ginger
• 1/4 cup of no-salt-added tomato paste
• 1 can (28 oz.) of no-salt-added crushed tomatoes
• 1 1/2 cup of coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons of lime juice

Instructions

1. Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat
2. Stir in curry and garam masala; cook until fragrant
3. Add chicken to Dutch oven and stir until chicken is coated
4. Add onion, garlic, and ginger
5. Cook until chicken is slightly browned - about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally
6. Stir in unsalted tomato paste until fully combined
7. Add tomatoes and milk and continuously stir until combined and the milk has fully warmed
8. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally
9. Remove from heat and stir in lime juice

Notes

One of the signature ingredients in butter chicken is coconut milk. I know not everyone is crazy about coconut milk so here are a couple of alternative options:

• Mix 1.5 cups of cold milk with 3 tablespoons of cornstarch and stir, allowing the mixture to thicken.

• Use plain yogurt

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For complete information please read the disclosures page (link at the bottom of this page).

• 
  Authentic Aromatic Thai Jasmine White Rice
• 
  Garam Masala Indian 11-Spice Blend  ~ All Natural, Salt-Free 
• 
  Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven 

Nutrition Information

Yield 6 Serving Size 1 Amount Per Serving Calories 627Total Fat 41gSaturated Fat 27gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 12gCholesterol 190mgSodium 104mgCarbohydrates 15gFiber 3gSugar 6gProtein 51g

Nutritional information is provided as an estimate. Nutritional content may vary due to several factors such as how much of an ingredient is used vs. how much will actually be eaten, brand differences, and more. To ensure the most accurate nutritional information, the reader should make calculations based on the ingredients actually used, using their own preferred method, or consulting with a licensed nutritional expert. This Website is not intended as a source of nutritional or food safety advice, and its readers assume full responsibility for any decisions made regarding their own health and safety. Nutritional information calculated by Nutritionix

Did you make this low sodium recipe?

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