There are two distinct groups among people who have tasted Butter Chicken – those who think it is overrated and those who instantly fall in love with it. But without getting into why anyone wouldn’t like this flavourful Indian dish, it’s best to delve deeper into the history of the food because you will be surprised to know that story of Butter Chicken actually begins with the invention of Tandoori Chicken!
The origins go back nearly 100 years to the Gora Bazaar of Peshawar where a man named Mokha Singh Lamba started a small restaurant called Mukhey da Dhaba.
Here, a young chef Kundan Lal Gujral experimented with chicken by skewering yoghurt marinated pieces of chicken and sticking them into the tandoor– previously used only for breads. Cooked in the heat of the clay tandoor, Gujral’s unique Tandoori Chicken with crispy skin and a recognizably bright red exterior was an instant success.
At some point when Mokha Singh’s health deteriorated, he eventually sold the shop to Gujral who renamed it as Moti Mahal!
Gujral later moved to Daryaganj in Delhi and so did Moti Mahal. It was here that Gujral realised that if unsold, the Tandoori Chicken hanging on the seekhs all day tends to dry out.
Butter Chicken was created for the first time when Gujral came up with the genius idea of immersing the Tandoori Chicken pieces into the gravy made with tomatoes, butter, cream and spices.
While the dish’s original recipe is well known, the actual flavour can vary from restaurant to restaurant.
Here are our top picks for resturants that serve best Butter Chicken in Qatar.
Zaffran Dining Experience
Tandoor Express
Roti & Boti
Star Kebab Tandoori
Qutba
