India’s ‘Butter Chicken’ makes it to ‘best chicken dishes in the world’ list; here’s where it ranks

She added that a small, palm-sized serving, around half to three-fourths of a cup, generally is adequate. “Letting the dish be the flavour highlight rather than the main bulk of the meal makes a lot of difference. Pair it with whole-wheat roti or a modest serving of brown rice to keep your plate in balance. Many also find it helpful to fill half the plate with crunchy salad or lightly cooked vegetables, so that the meal stays satisfying without becoming a calorie load,” she continued.

Many restaurants now offer “healthier” butter chicken. Which recipe changes actually help without dulling the flavour?

The dietitian elaborated, “Simple swaps can really lighten the dish. Replacing heavy cream with hung curd reduces the saturated fat content. Lean cuts of chicken reduce extra calories. Avoid adding ketchup to the gravy.” She further suggested using fresh tomato puree when making butter chicken. Cutting back on added sugar keeps the dish from becoming too sweet and lets the spices’ true flavours stand out. “Ingredients like garlic, ginger, and turmeric remain intact, meaning the dish still carries the natural benefits these spices are known for.”

How does butter chicken’s nutrition compare to international dishes like chicken parmigiana or Thai green curry?

The dietitian said every comfort food is unique. “Butter chicken usually has fewer breaded fats compared to chicken parmigiana and relies heavily on spices that support digestion. Thai green curry can be higher in sodium because it uses fish sauce and curry pastes. Butter chicken sits comfortably in the middle, rich and flavourful, while still offering some spice-based benefits as long as the portion size remains sensible.”

Besides Butter Chicken, TasteAtlas ranked Türkiye’s Pilic Topkapi as the world’s best chicken dish, followed by Morocco’s Rfissa. Other top contenders included Korean fried chicken (South Korea, No. 4), Peruvian roast chicken (Peru, No. 5), Butter Chicken (India, No. 6), Karaage (Japan, No. 7), French roast chicken (France, No. 8), Dak Galbi (South Korea, No. 9), Chicken Karahi (Pakistan, No. 10) and the Philippines’ Inasal na Manok.

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