Chicken Makhanish

I researched a bunch of different recipes and then threw this together.  My first attempt at Indian food and it wasn't a total failure. 

3 TBS olive oil
1 lb of chicken, cut into small pieces
1 shallot, minced
1/4 onion, minced
1 inch of garlic, grated
5 cloves of garlic, minced
2 TBS butter
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 bay leaf
1/4 plain yogurt
1 cup half and half
1 can of tomato sauce (you can use puree or crushed, I don't do chunks)
salt and pepper
1/4 cup of water, 1 TBS cornstarch

You need to prep this stuff first, because once you get going, it goes fast.  I'm more of a shake-as-you-go kinda girl.  But there a lot of stuff so do yourself a favor. 

Cut your chicken into pieces, set aside
I used my little hand chopper thing and minced (again, no chunks) the shallot, onion and garlic, set aside
Grate your ginger, set aside
Mix all the spices in a bowl, including the bay leaf, set aside

Ok, lets go.

Heat 2 TBS of oil and sauté chicken over high heat.  Just get a little brown on it and remove w a slotted spoon. It doesn't have to be done yet, just a little brown.

Add another TBS of oil and bring heat back up, med-high.  Add the shallot/onion/garlic mixture and stir.  Don't let it burn.  Add the butter.

Once the butter is melted add the lemon juice and your spices and let the heavenly scent fill your nostrils and take you to the, IDK, hot streets of India?  What's awesome in Indian?  It's not like they have majestic mountains, babbling brooks or rolling hills. Or do they? Whatever, it smells amazing.  Stir about for literally like 30 seconds. 

Add the can of tomato sauce.  Add the chicken back to the party.  I put on medium heat and allowed the chicken to finish cooking.  About 15 minutes or so.  Clean your mess up, you have time now.

Turn down to low then add the half-and-half and the yogurt.  Add slowly so it doesn't curdle. 

Mix the water and corn starch and add to the mix.  Heat another few minutes to thicken.  Serve with rice. 

It was good.  Not my favorite dinner in the whole world.  I will say, it was better the next day at lunch.  Husband loved it! 

Pictures?  Yeah, so about that.  I forgot.