Who does not love a piping hot and creamy plate of butter chicken. It is not just a dish; it is an emotion. It is legacy. An emblem of North Indian culinary artistry, this beloved staple was born not in a royal kitchen or a high-end culinary lab, but by happy accident in the heart of Delhi, at a now-iconic restaurant.
The ‘by chance’ invention of butter chicken
The story begins in the 1950s at Moti Mahal, a restaurant founded by Kundan Lal Jaggi and Kundan Lal Gujral. The tale goes that the duo, seeking a way to repurpose leftover tandoori chicken, simmered it in a buttery tomato-based gravy infused with spices. And just like that Murgh Makhani, better known as butter chicken, was born.
The invention was an accident, but the response was immediate and powerful. The dish’s luscious texture and mellow spice hit the perfect balance for North Indian palates, catapulting Moti Mahal into national culinary fame.
It wasn’t just everyday diners who flocked to the restaurant. Moti Mahal’s butter chicken drew a long list of dignitaries and celebrities. India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, was a regular. So were other high-profile names like President Dr. Zakir Hussain and cinematic legend Raj Kapoor. The dish became more than a meal.
The butter chicken battle
But with fame, inevitably, comes controversy. In early 2024, the legacy of butter chicken was at the centre of a heated culinary courtroom drama. Moti Mahal filed a 2,752-page lawsuit against Daryaganj, another Delhi-based eatery, accusing it of falsely claiming credit for inventing the dish. The case turned into a spectacle, sparking debates on food heritage, authenticity, and legacy.
The not so creamy butter chicken version also exists...
Interestingly, there are different versions of butter chicken available throughout India. Take Old Delhi’s famous Aslam Chicken, for instance. Their version skips the tomato gravy altogether. Instead, it features charcoal-grilled chicken doused in melted butter, creating a smoky, rich, yet very different flavour profile. Then there’s Mumbai’s Pritam Restaurant, which brought its own twist—serving a dry version of butter chicken that veers completely away from the gravy-heavy Delhi style.
Even Celebrities love butter chicken
This culinary gem hasn’t just stayed within Indian borders—it’s gone global. From Ananya Panday to Kriti Sanon to Australian cricketer Brett Lee, many have confessed their love for this dish.
