If you ask any Indian food enthusiast to choose between paneer tikka masala and butter chicken, they will probably not be able to make a choice. Why do you ask? Because these two dishes are among the best that Indian cuisine has to offer, the “butter chicken vs paneer tikka masala” competition is a tight one.
The trick here is to understand how these dishes are made and what makes them special. Thus, without further ado, let us barge right into the technicalities of the same.
What Is Butter Chicken?
Butter chicken is a legendary dish that was created by chance. The owner of a restaurant located in Delhi (India) mixed some Tandoori Chicken with creamy tomato gravy. And how we thank him for it!
When we think of Indian food, we tend to associate it with spice. But butter chicken is a lovely rich dish, not associated with the same spicy heat than some other Indian curries.
It is a slow-cooked dish made in butter and is lower on the spice margins. The dish is made with thoroughly marinated, tandoor grilled chicken mixed with creamy tomato gravy.
What Is Paneer Tikka Masala?
This is a vegetarian Indian dish made with Indian cheese or paneer grilled on the tandoor and mixed with a creamy base. Paneer tikka masala is one of the most popular Indian recipes that use cottage cheese and is a spicier variant of the popular paneer makhani or paneer butter masala.
It is possible to make this dish a vegan, gluten-free, or even a nut-free meal. It takes a little longer to make since the paneer needs to be marinated and grilled, but it can also be done in batches to make the job easier.
Butter Chicken Vs Paneer Tikka Masala: What Are The Similarities?
The main similarity between these two dishes is that they are both equally delicious and flavorful. The pieces just melt in your mouth while the sauces leave a lingering creamy yet smoky taste behind.
Both paneer tikka masala and butter chicken are best served with rice varieties like jeera rice or ghee rice. They can also be accompanied by naan and chapati. They are dishes that you cannot go wrong with and are safe choices to begin your tryst with Indian curry.
Both the chicken and the paneer are pre-marinated and grilled on a tandoor. The gravy of butter chicken and paneer tikka masala may seem eerily similar, but they are prepared differently. Want to learn more? Read on!
What Is The Difference Between Butter Chicken And Tikka Masala?
Easily available and often the bestsellers in Indian restaurants, there are a few essential differences between these two delicious dishes. The foremost of these is the fact that Paneer Tikka Masala is a vegetarian dish while Butter Chicken is a non-vegetarian delicacy. There are also certain nutritional differences between paneer vs chicken.
Butter Chicken is made either with bone-in or boneless chicken pieces, while the latter is made with Indian cottage cheese. Another significant difference between them lies in the gravy.
While both use a tomato paste as the base, the spices added and method of preparation differs. Butter chicken is also sweeter than paneer tikka masala. There is only a subtle difference in taste, but an experienced tongue can differentiate the creaminess of butter chicken from the tangy tomato intensity of tikka masala.
How To Prepare Butter Chicken
Marinating the chicken properly is the key to getting this recipe right, as only then will you get soft, succulent pieces with all the flavor intact.
- Take the chicken (1 lb) in a medium-sized bowl, and add 3/4 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Mix well and set aside for 15-20 minutes.
- Second marination. Add 3/4 teaspoon of kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves, optional), 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, 1/8 teaspoon turmeric, 3/4 tablespoon oil, 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste, and 1/2 teaspoon garam masala. Combine well, cover the bowl, and place in the refrigerator for a minimum of 12 hours.
- Oven: Grill in preheated oven (240 degrees Celsius) for 20-30 minutes.
- Stovetop: Cook in a wide-open pan with 1 teaspoon of butter on high heat until the pieces turn slightly golden brown in color.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a pan-add a 2-inch piece of cinnamon and 2 cloves. Sauté for a minute-add green chili-ginger garlic paste-stir until the raw smell diminishes.
- Add tomato puree-1 teaspoon of paprika (red chili powder), 1/4 tablespoon of sugar, and salt. Stir and cook until oil separates-pour 1 cup of water. If using cashew paste for added creaminess, add now.
- Simmer for 5 minutes before adding the grilled chicken pieces. Cook until chicken becomes tender, and check salt and spice level. Add 1/2 teaspoon of garam masala, and simmer for 2 minutes.
Making Paneer Tikka Masala
You can easily make yummy paneer tikka masala, just like the ones you get at Indian restaurants. This is actually the vegetarian version of the original chicken tikka masala. You can use store bought paneer or make it at home yourself.
- Take a bowl and add 1/2 cup of Greek yogurt-1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste, 1/2 teaspoon garam masala powder, 1/2 teaspoon paprika or chili powder, 1/8 teaspoon turmeric, 1 teaspoon oil, 1/4 teaspoon dried fenugreek leaves and1/4 teaspoon salt. Mix everything before adding cubed paneer pieces. You can add diced onions and capsicum to this as well. Let it rest for at least 20 minutes.
- The pieces of paneer that you add should be thawed beforehand.
- Stovetop: Fry the paneer cubes in 1 tsp oil in a wide pan on medium flame.
- Air Fryer: Fry at 390 F for 5 minutes.
- Oven: Bake in a preheated oven for 8 to 10 minutes at 430 F.
- Heat 1 tablespoon oil -add whole spices like cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves-half a teaspoon of ginger-garlic paste-sauté. Add onion puree and pureed tomatoes. You can prepare the onion-tomato puree together too. Pour half to a quarter cup of water and bring to a boil-simmer until sauce thickens.
- Add grilled paneer tikkas to the gravy-pour 3 tablespoons of heavy cream. Garnish with chopped coriander and/or kasuri methi. This may seem a bit time-consuming and if you are short on time but have promised yummy Indian food to your guests, check out this article that will help you make paneer in an instant pot.
Which Is Better: Butter Chicken or Tikka Masala?
Well, it all depends on your taste buds and whether you prefer vegetarian or non-vegetarian food. Though the differences between the two are subtle, the preparation time and ingredients use differ. If you ask us which one is easier to make, we will go with paneer tikka masala. Here’s an easy video showing how to prepare paneer tikka masala:
Butter chicken vs paneer tikka masala is a difficult tie to resolve, but we hope that you were able to make a choice through this article. If looking for a creamy curry with medium heat, go with butter chicken.
The aromatic spices of paneer tikka masala and butter chicken along with the yumminess of basmati rice or butter naan, will definitely make your day. Try out both recipes and decide for yourself which of these popular dishes steals your heart.
