Change ingredients to reduce calories
Butter chicken is a familiar dish with a rich, fatty flavor thanks to the use of a lot of butter, fresh cream and spices. However, this is also a dish with a fairly high calorie content, not suitable for people who are losing weight or controlling their diet.
Nutrition experts believe that you can still enjoy this dish if you change the processing method and choose more suitable ingredients. The low-calorie butter chicken version prioritizes using chicken breast, low-fat milk and olive oil instead of fresh cream or animal butter.
Dr. Lisa Young - a nutritionist at the University of New York (USA) - said that replacing saturated fat-rich ingredients with low-fat foods helps reduce energy in dishes while still ensuring the necessary protein content for the body.
To prepare, cooks can marinate chicken breast with yogurt, garlic, ginger and spices for about an hour to make the meat softer. The sauce is made from ground tomatoes, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and a small amount of low-fat milk to create consistency.
After pan-frying the chicken until golden brown, add it to the sauce and simmer until the mixture is combined. The dish can be served with green vegetables or brown rice to balance nutrition.
Prioritize protein-rich, low-fat foods
According to nutrition experts, chicken breast is a meat part that contains more protein but less fat than thighs or chicken wings. This is a suitable choice for people who want to maintain muscle and control weight.
In addition, using yogurt and low-fat milk instead of fresh cream helps significantly reduce calories in the dish. A serving of butter chicken cooked according to this recipe only contains about 300 calories, much lower than the traditional version.
Ms. Samantha Cassetty - a nutritionist in the US - said that homemade dishes help users more easily control the amount of oil, salt and fat than processed foods or restaurant dishes.
Experts recommend that, to support effective weight control, users should combine a balanced diet with regular exercise habits instead of completely cutting back on favorite dishes.
