Best Rice for Butter Chicken: Perfect Pair For a Creamy Curry

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Creamy butter chicken in a black container with text "best rice for butter chicken".

Butter chicken or Murgh Makhani is not just my favorite Indian dish to relish.

It’s also my go-to Indian recipe to cook.

After all, unlike many recipes from India, this dish doesn’t need dozens of ingredients to prepare.

Plus, it also pairs perfectly well with my favorite side dish of all time– rice.

Oh, but don’t just use any rice for this masterpiece.

For butter chicken to showcase its bold, savory flavors, you better bed it on the type of rice that can truly complement it!

Do You Need Rice for Butter Chicken? 

Butter chicken with rice in a black bowl.

First, let’s talk about a fun fact.

Butter chicken doesn’t actually need rice.

You can also pair it with sides like naan bread, green vegetables, or flatbread.

Because of this flexibility, there’s actually no one-size-fits-all rule as to what rice you should use for butter chicken! 

For the most part, it’s up to preferences.

However, there’s definitely one rice variety that’s used most commonly in India.

And, apart from that OG rice…

I’ve also found great rice alternatives that can make butter chicken shine just as brightly!

Crowned Rice Variety for Butter Chicken: Basmati Rice

The best rice to use for butter chicken is Basmati rice. 

It’s the classic choice used by locals in India whenever they whip up Murgh Makhani. 

But apart from being the authentic option…

I’ve just always loved using Basmati rice for dishes like biryani, pulao, and butter chicken. 

Yup– dishes where the rice needs to soak up rich flavors. Basmati excels in them! 

Reasons to Use Basmati Rice for Butter Chicken

Fluffy Texture: Cooked Basmati rice has the ideal fluffy texture for butter chicken. With the grains staying separate, the rich and creamy sauce of the butter chicken will have no trouble coating each grain, ensuring flavor in every bite.

Subtle Aroma: Unlike other rice varieties like long-grain white rice, Basmati rice has a distinct, slightly nutty fragrance. This aroma adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the dish without overpowering other ingredients.

Fast & Easy to Cook: Butter chicken is one of the easiest, less complicated Indian dishes to cook. It just makes sense that we partner it up with a bed of Basmati rice that also takes very little time and effort to prepare!

Rice Alternatives for Butter Chicken 

I’m guessing you’re probably not a professional chef like me (no offense). 

So, whether we like it or not, we won’t always have access to the ingredients we need exactly when we need them. 

That’s where ingredient substitutions come in handy. 

Or, I guess in butter chicken’s case– more of side dish substitutions! 

Brown Basmati Rice

Wooden scoop with brown basmati rice.

The highest on this alternative list is none other than brown Basmati rice.

Or, as I like to call it, the more nutritious and “exciting” version of its white counterpart.

This brown rice absorbs flavors well and stays fluffy, making it a perfect match for butter chicken.

And yes, it might have a chewier texture, which others see as a con, but I honestly prefer the unique bite every now and then!

The only real downside of this rice alternative is probably its longer cooking time.

It takes approximately twice as long to cook compared to its white counterpart.

But that’s still just 40 to 45 minutes of cooking time.

So, if you cook it at the same time you start preparing butter chicken, it’ll be fully cooked once the dish is ready!

Jasmine Rice

Uncooked Jasmin rice in a white dish.

Jasmine rice is more like Basmati rice than it is different.

To start, they’re both aromatic (though Basmati leans on being nutty, while Jasmine rice smells more floral).

And they’re both long-grain white rice that absorbs flavors well and cooks within 20 minutes!

Now, not gonna lie–this rice doesn’t become the fluffiest once cooked (sometimes, it clumps up).

However, if you rinse your rice enough before cooking, you can easily minimize or fully avoid this problem!

All Rice to Meet Butter Chicken’s Best Partners

Sure, sometimes, you’ll catch me pairing my butter chicken with freshly baked naan bread or a side of sautéed vegetables.

But my preferences for this classic dish are pretty clear.

Cooked Basmati rice (brown or white) and Jasmine rice are always my go-to side dishes for butter chicken.

They become the perfect canvas for this Indian curry to shine on, a role no other side dish can replicate!

Yield: 4

Stress-free Butter Chicken Dish for Four

Creamy butter chicken in a black container.

Experience the rich, creamy flavors of this easy-to-make butter chicken. Get the perfect, cozy dinner at home without impossible-to-find ingredients! 

Prep Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 pound of chicken breast (bite-sized pieces)
  • 1/2 cup of plain yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon of ground turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon of ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon of ground coriander
  • 1/2 teaspoon of ground paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 1 thumb-sized ginger, minced
  • 1 can (200 ml) of tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup of heavy cream (or more, to taste)
  • 3 tablespoons of butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon of garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon of fenugreek leaves, crushed (optional)
  • Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

    1. In a bowl, mix yogurt, lemon juice, turmeric, cumin, coriander, paprika, and salt.

    2. Add the chicken pieces and coat them well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight if you can.

    3. Once the chicken has marinated, it’s time to start cooking. In a large pan over medium heat, heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil.

    4. Sear the marinated chicken pieces and cook until they are browned on all sides.

    5. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.

    6. In the same pan, add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of oil. Toss in the chopped onion and sauté until it is golden brown.

    7. Add the minced garlic and ginger, and cook for another 2 minutes.

    8. Pour in the tomato sauce to the pan. Let it simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the fenugreek leaves during this step (if using) for additional flavor.

    9. After 10 minutes, add the cooked chicken back into the pan. Stir well to coat the chicken with the sauce.

    10. Pour in the heavy cream and add the butter. Stir until the butter is melted and the sauce is creamy. 

    11. Let it simmer for another 5 minutes. Sprinkle garam masala over the chicken and stir.

    12. Garnish with fresh cilantro before serving. Serve your delicious butter chicken over a warm bed of Basmati rice!

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