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Instant Pot Butter Chicken

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Ingredients for 57 servings
  • 8.62 kg boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut in 1 1/2-inch pieces
  • 47 ml kosher salt
  • 280 ml unsalted butter
  • 9 1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 48 cloves garlic, minced
  • 140 ml grated ginger
  • 94 ml garam masala
  • 47 ml ground cumin
  • 47 ml smoked paprika
  • 23 ml ground turmeric
  • 12 ml cayenne pepper
  • 9 1/2 cans tomato sauce, 15 ounces
  • 750 ml water
  • 1.12 liters heavy cream
  • 280 ml cold unsalted butter
  • 560 ml chopped cilantro
  1. Step 1 of 5

    Toss the chicken with the salt.

  2. Step 2 of 5

    Set the Instant Pot to Sauté. Melt 2 tablespoons butter and cook the onion 4 minutes, until soft. Add the garlic, ginger and all the spices and stir 1 minute.

  3. Step 3 of 5

    Pour in the water and scrape the bottom well so nothing is stuck; this prevents a burn warning. Stir in the tomato sauce, then add the chicken without stirring it to the bottom.

  4. Step 4 of 5

    Lock the lid, set the valve to Sealing and cook on High Pressure for 8 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then release the rest.

  5. Step 5 of 5

    Switch to Sauté. Stir in the cream and the cold butter and simmer 3 to 5 minutes to thicken. Taste for salt and top with cilantro. Serve with rice or naan.