Ingredients (6 servings):
For chicken & marinade:
1 kg boneless, skinless chicken breast cut in cubes
2 tbsp. lemon juice
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp. garam masala
1 tsp salt
For sauce:
¼ cup vegetable oil
2 ½ cups chopped onion (about 2 medium-large)
2 tbsp. coarsely chopped garlic
2 tbsp. garam masala
2 tsp paprika
¼ tsp cinnamon
2 tsp kosher salt, or to taste
2 cups diced no-salt-added canned tomatoes
¾ cup heavy (35% or whipping) cream
30 g butter
Chopped cilantro, to garnish (optional)
Preparation:
For marinade:
Combine all ingredients in a zip-top bag or shallow baking dish, massaging the marinade into the chicken. Let stand at room temperature while you prepare the sauce, or marinate in the fridge overnight.
For sauce:
Heat oil over medium heat in a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Add onions and slowly cook until golden, about 20 minutes, reducing heat if they are getting crispy or browning quickly.
Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in garam masala, paprika, cinnamon and salt; cook 1 minute more. Add tomatoes; cook 2 minutes, then add cream and carefully puree using an immersion blender (or standing blender, but do it in batches or the steam will blow the top off).
Return sauce to saucepan and bring to a simmer. Add chicken to the sauce, cover, and simmer over medium-low heat until cooked through, about 12 minutes (remove a couple of pieces to make sure they are no longer pink inside). A gentle simmer is required to gently cook the breasts so they don’t become tough, and you don’t want to overcook them.
Stir in butter, taste and add more salt to taste. Serve sprinkled with cilantro, if desired.