Butter Chicken Wings (Murgh Makhani Wings)

I’ve taken my wing game up a notch and crafted these Butter Chicken Wings. Take the classic Murgh Makhani aka butter chicken gravy and dunk those chicken wings in it and taste that deliciousness. Enjoy the recipe!

History

Butter chicken wings trace back to the much-loved traditional Indian dish, Murgh Makhani or Butter Chicken. The original dish was reportedly concocted by chefs in Delhi in the 1950s using leftover tandoori chicken, which was simmered in a tomato-based, creamy sauce. This recipe swaps traditional boneless chicken with wings, offering a flavorful rendition perfect for an appetizer or party snack.

Ingredient Notes

This recipe uses classic Indian flavors that give the chicken wings a huge depth of flavor. This flavor comes from the delicious spices so don’t let the quantities of spices put you off making it, as once you have them, this recipe is very easy to make again. As most of the ingredients are pantry.

For the more unique ingredients like tandoori masala and kasuri methi, there are some easy alternatives you can use instead.

• Chicken Wings: For this recipe, we’re using full chicken wings, which include both the drumette and the flat. If desired, you can also use wingettes or drumettes separately.
• Tomato Puree: Tomato puree provides the sauce with a rich, velvety base that brings a hint of tangy sweetness, vital for the classic butter chicken taste. In different states or countries, tomato puree may be labeled slightly differently; sometimes it’s called passata or sieved tomatoes.
• Ginger Garlic Paste: if you can’t find pre-made ginger garlic paste, you can easily make your own by mixing equal parts of minced fresh ginger and garlic. This can even be done in a food processor.
• Cream: I used fresh cream for the recipe but feel free to use heavy whipping cream also. If you use heavy whipping cream, you may need to reduce the sauce for a few minutes as it has a thinner consistency than fresh cream.
• Sweetener: A sweetener of your choice can be used to balance out the spicy and tangy flavors in the sauce. Depending on your dietary preferences, it could be regular sugar, stevia, or any other low-calorie sweetener.
• Red Chili Powder: This adds the heat to the dish. Adjust the quantity according to your tolerance for spiciness. For a milder spice, you can use paprika instead.
• Kasuri Methi: Known as dried fenugreek leaves, Kasuri Methi brings a uniquely slight bitter undertone, which is characteristic of many Indian dishes. If this is hard to source, you could use a tiny pinch of ground mustard seed as a substitute but use it sparingly due to its strong flavor.
• Ghee: Ghee, or clarified butter, is used in this recipe for seasoning the wings before baking. This lends a rich, nutty flavor and helps the wings achieve a crispy finish. If you cannot find ghee, unsalted butter or coconut oil can be used, but ghee is recommended for its authentic flavor.
• Tandoori Masala: Tandoori Masala is a unique blend of spices, and not finding it shouldn’t deter you from making this dish. A homemade mix of red chili powder, turmeric, garam masala, and ground coriander can mimic its smoky and savory profile quite effectively.

Expert Tips

Thorough Coating: It’s crucial to ensure the chicken wings are completely coated with the seasoning. This is what gives your wings the depth of flavor and a beautiful color once baked.

Baking Tips: For perfectly crispy wings, bake them on a rack in a single layer without touching each other. This allows even heat distribution and airflow around each wing, ensuring that they are crisped up evenly on all sides. Also, preheating your oven is important as it helps achieve the desired crispness right from the start.

Creamy Sauce: When preparing the sauce, it’s important if you’re using fresh cream to add it at the end after turning off the heat. This helps prevent the cream from curdling due to high heat, thus maintaining a smooth and rich consistency.

Sauce Intensity: You can adjust the intensity of the sauce to personal preference. If you prefer a more intense, concentrated flavor, you can reduce the sauce for longer. If you want it lighter, you can add a bit more water or cream. I always recommend trying the recipe as it is first, then adjusting it if needed the next time around.

Step by Step Instructions

1) Preheat the oven to 390°F (200°C).

2) Add the chicken wings into a large bowl and season with salt, tandoori masala and ghee.

3) Arrange the chicken wings on a baking rack in a baking tray in a single layer.

4) Bake the chicken wings for 20-25 minutes or until the center of the biggest chicken wing is 390°F (75°C).

4) In the meantime in a saucepan melt the butter over low heat and add ginger garlic paste, red chili powder, turmeric, garam masala, coriander powder, and ground cumin to the saucepan. Stir the spices into the butter, letting them cook until they are fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.

5) Stir in the tomato puree, a small amount of water (about 1/4 cup should suffice), and the Kasuri Methi (dried fenugreek leaves). Gently simmer the butter chicken wing sauce covered for 5 minutes. Season to taste with sweetener and salt then cover and gently simmer for an additional 5 minutes.

6) Turn off the heat, and then stir in the fresh chopped cilantro and cream.

7) Place the baked wings in a large bowl, and pour the prepared sauce over them. Toss the wings in the sauce until they are well coated.

8) Return the sauce-coated wings to the baking rack, and place them back in the oven. Bake for an additional 10 minutes.

9) After the final bake, remove the wings from the oven and mix them back into the sauce bowl, giving them a final coat.

10) Serve the butter chicken wings immediately for the best flavor and texture.

Storage and Leftovers

The butter chicken wings are best served immediately while hot and crispy. If you do have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When reheating, it’s best to do so in the oven or an air fryer to maintain crispiness.

FAQs

Quick Dip to Serve with Butter Chicken Wings

If you’re looking for a quick and easy dip for your chicken wings, here is my Chatpata recipe. It work’s extremely well with these butter chicken wings.

Chatpata Dip Ingredients:

• 2.5 fl oz (75 ml) Yogurt (or 5 Tbsp)
• 1 oz (30g) Cream Cheese (or 2 Tbsp)
• Salt to Taste
• 1/4 Tsp Garlic Powder
• 1/4 Tsp Chaat Masala
• 1 Small Handful of Fresh Cilantro

Chatpata Dip Method:

1. In a large bowl, mix together all the ingredients.
2. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes, then serve.

Chatpata Dip Nutrition (4 servings):

• Calories: 41
• Net Carbs: 0g
• Carbs: 0g
• Fat: 3g
• Protein: 1g
• Fiber: 0g

More Chicken Wing Recipes You May Like:

• Alfredo Chicken Wings
• Japanese-style Keto Chicken Wings
• Keto Tandoori Chicken Wings
• Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
• Malai Chicken Wings
• Peanut Butter Chicken Wings
• Saag Chicken Wings

Butter Chicken Wings (Murgh Makhani Wings)

I've taken my wing game up a notch and crafted these Butter Chicken Wings. Take the classic Murgh Makhani aka butter chicken gravy and dunk those chicken wings in it and taste that deliciousness. Enjoy the recipe!

4.75 from 12 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course Appetizer

Cuisine Indian

Servings 12 wings

Calories 142 kcal

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

• 2.2 lbs Chicken Wings about 12 full chicken wings sliced in half
• 1 tbsp Ghee
• 1.8 oz Butter
• 0.33 oz Ginger Garlic Paste or 50/50 minced ginger and garlic
• 3.5 oz Tomato Puree also known as passata or sieved tomatoes
• 1.7 fl oz Fresh Cream or heavy whipping cream
• 1 handful Cilantro

Seasonings

• Salt to taste
• Stevia or Sweetner
• 1/2 Tsp Red Chili Powder
• 1/2 Tsp Turmeric
• 1/2 Tsp Garam Masala
• 1/2 Tsp Coriander Powder
• 1/2 Tsp Cumin Powder
• 1 Tsp Kasuri Methi (Fenugreek Leaves)
• 1 Tsp Tandoori Masala

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 390°F (200°C).
• Add the chicken wings into a large bowl and season with salt, tandoori masala and ghee.
• Arrange the chicken wings on a baking rack in a baking tray in a single layer.
• Bake the chicken wings for 20-25 minutes or until the center of the biggest chicken wing is 390°F (75°C).
• In the meantime in a saucepan melt the butter over low heat and add ginger garlic paste, red chili powder, turmeric, garam masala, coriander powder, and ground cumin to the saucepan. Stir the spices into the butter, letting them cook until they are fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
• Stir in the tomato puree, a small amount of water (about 1/4 cup should suffice), and the Kasuri Methi (dried fenugreek leaves). Gently simmer the butter chicken wing sauce covered for 5 minutes. Season to taste with sweetener and salt then cover and gently simmer for an additional 5 minutes.
• Turn off the heat, and then stir in the fresh chopped cilantro and cream.
• Place the baked wings in a large bowl, and pour the prepared sauce over them. Toss the wings in the sauce until they are well coated.
• Return the sauce-coated wings to the baking rack, and place them back in the oven. Bake for an additional 10 minutes.
• After the final bake, remove the wings from the oven and mix them back into the sauce bowl, giving them a final coat then serve.

Notes

• Fresh cream is used in this recipe, but you can substitute it with heavy whipping cream. If using heavy whipping cream, be aware that you may need to reduce the sauce for a bit longer due to its thinner consistency.
• When using fresh cream be sure to turn off the heat before adding the cream to the sauce to prevent it from curdling (this is different to heavy whipping cream).
• The wings are best served immediately while they are still hot and crispy. However, if there are leftovers, they can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• Use more or less red chili powder to control the level of spiciness.

Nutrition

Calories: 142kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 9gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 43mgSodium: 67mgPotassium: 119mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 174IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 1mg

Keyword butter chicken wings

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