Makhani Gravy

also called makhani sauce · butter gravy · makhani base · tomato cashew gravy

Three ways to read this recipe

The table

Makhani Gravy: ingredients down the left, what to do with them across. Tap any cell to cross it off.
28 oz(800 g)canned whole tomatoessimmer 25 min, until the cashews go softblend smooth, push through the sievesimmer 10 min, until it holds a linewhisk in off the heat
1/2 cup(70 g)raw cashews
1 Tbs(17 g)ginger-garlic paste
2(slit)green chiles
4 pods(bruised)green cardamom
1 stick(2-in piece)cinnamon
1 cup(240 mL)water
2 tspkosher salt
4 Tbs(56 g)butter
1 TbsKashmiri chile powder
1 Tbs(21 g)honey
1/2 cup(120 mL)heavy cream
1 Tbs(crumbled between the palms)kasuri methi
3 Tbs(42 g; cubed)cold butter
Six cups is butter chicken for six or two dinners for three
Tap anything to cross it off.

What to lay out

Everything the recipe asks for, sitting under the step that eats it. Tick each one as you measure it.17 things to get out.

Pans and tools

1simmer 25 min, until the cashews go soft

3simmer 10 min, until it holds a line

goes in with what step 2 made

4whisk in off the heat

goes in with what step 3 made

Cooking it

Tap a step when it is done; the next one lights up.

The clock

Start to finish
at least 37 min1 of 4 steps gives no time
Needs you
about 2 min
If you get it wrong
Narrow — the butter and the cream go in off the heat, because a makhani boiled after the dairy splits and does not come back
  1. simmer 25 min, until the cashews go soft

    25 minwalk awayfrom the start

  2. blend smooth, push through the sieve

    not timed25 min in

  3. simmer 10 min, until it holds a line

    10 minwalk away25 min in

  4. whisk in off the heat

    2 minneeds you35 min in

You'll need blender · fine sieve · heavy pot

Goes with

See how it is written
>> title: Makhani Gravy
>> category: Sauces & Gravies
>> tags: indian, tomato, cashew, butter, base
>> counters: Curry House
>> aka: makhani sauce, butter gravy, makhani base, tomato cashew gravy
>> pairs-with: butter-chicken, ginger-garlic-paste
>> servings: 6
>> time: 1 hr
>> slack: narrow — the butter and the cream go in off the heat, because a makhani boiled after the dairy splits and does not come back

>> step: simmer 25 min, until the cashews go soft
Simmer @canned whole tomatoes{28%oz}(800 g), @raw cashews{1/2%cup}(70 g), @ginger-garlic paste{1%Tbs}(17 g), @green chiles{2}(slit), @green cardamom{4%pods}(bruised), @cinnamon{1%stick}(2-in piece), @water{1%cup}(240 mL) and @kosher salt{2%tsp} in a #heavy pot{} ~simmer{25%min}.

>> step: blend smooth, push through the sieve
Blend @&(~1)tomato and cashew{} in a #blender{} until it is completely smooth, then push it through a #fine sieve{} with a ladle.

>> step: simmer 10 min, until it holds a line
Simmer @&(~1)strained gravy{} with @butter{4%Tbs}(56 g), @Kashmiri chile powder{1%Tbs} and @honey{1%Tbs}(21 g) ~simmer{10%min}, until a spoon drawn across the bottom holds its line for a second.

>> step: whisk in off the heat
Whisk @heavy cream{1/2%cup}(120 mL), @kasuri methi{1%Tbs}(crumbled between the palms) and @cold butter{3%Tbs}(42 g; cubed) into @&(~1)gravy{} off the heat ~whisk{2%min}, adding the cold butter a cube at a time so it thickens the sauce instead of splitting out of it.

Six cups is butter chicken for six or two dinners for three.