Oven preparation: Preheat the oven to 200°C. Peel the carrots, celeriac, and sweet potato and cut into equal cubes. Spread over a baking sheet, drizzle with oil, and roast for 20 minutes, without spices.
Cooking the rice: Cook the rice according to the package instructions. Optionally, add a clove of garlic or a kaffir lime leaf for extra aroma. Keep warm.
Frying the chicken: Cut the chicken thighs into pieces. Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a large pan or sauté pan and brown the chicken all around.
Adding flavorings: Add finely chopped onion, garlic, and grated ginger to the chicken. Sauté for 2 minutes. Add tomato paste and sauté briefly to reduce acidity.
Making the sauce: Add coconut cream, Tikka Masala spices, and chickpeas. Let simmer gently for 3 minutes.
Adding vegetables: Add the roasted vegetables and let simmer for another 2 minutes.
Spinach & lime: Stir the spinach into the sauce and let wilt for 1 minute. Add lime zest and juice to taste.
Serving: Serve the Butter Chicken with rice. Finish with cashews and fresh coriander or Thai basil.
Tips
- Add fresh tomatoes in season for extra vegetables.
- Use leftover roasted vegetables from the day before.
- For extra spice: add chili flakes or fresh chili.
- Prefer cream over coconut? Use 150 ml of cooking cream.
- Also delicious with naan or papadums instead of rice.