Weekends feel special. After a busy week of work and deadlines, we finally get a chance to slow down, reconnect, and enjoy simple pleasures. One of our favorite ways to do this is by cooking together. This weekend, my partner Arjay and I gave in to our cravings and tried making Buttered Chicken at home.
It wasn’t just about the food. It was about the experience, the teamwork, and the memories we made together in our small kitchen.
Why Buttered Chicken?
Buttered chicken has always been a comfort dish, a warm hug on a plate. Creamy, flavorful, and rich, it’s perfect for sharing, especially on a relaxed weekend. Instead of ordering takeout, we thought, why not make it ourselves? Cooking together gave us something to look forward to and made an ordinary weekend feel special.
Gathering the Ingredients
Before we started, we prepared all the ingredients. Lying everything out on the counter was already exciting. It made the dish feel more real and doable. Here’s what we used:
For the Chicken:
500 grams chicken breast or thigh, cut into bite-sized pieces
all-purpose crispy fry flavored garlic
Salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon cooking oil
For the Sauce:
2 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste or tomato sauce
1 teaspoon sugar (adjust to taste)
salt and pepper to taste
The Cooking Process
Cooking together always brings teamwork and laughter, and this time was no different. Arjay handled the chicken while I worked on the sauce, and we switched roles when needed.
Step 1: Seasoning the Chicken
We began by seasoning the chicken with salt, pepper, and garlic powder, and then crisping it. This step is important because it makes the chicken tasty before adding the sauce. We let it sit for a few minutes while the pan heated up.
Step 2: Cooking the Chicken
We heated a tablespoon of oil in a pan over medium heat. Then we added the chicken and cooked it until it was golden on all sides. The smell made us excited. Once it was cooked, we took the chicken out of the pan and set it aside.
Step 3: Making the Buttered Sauce
In the same pan, we added butter and let it melt. We sautéed the chopped onions until they were soft and clear. Then we added the minced garlic, stirring to prevent burning. By now, our kitchen smelled amazing.
Step 4: Building the Flavor
We mixed in the tomato paste and cooked it for a minute to remove the raw taste. A pinch of sugar, salt, and pepper made the
flavors just right.
Step 5: Bringing It All Together
We put the cooked chicken back in the pan and covered it with the creamy buttered sauce. We let it simmer for about 5 to 10 minutes so the flavors could blend. For some spice, we added a few chili flakes.
The Best Part: Tasting and Sharing
When the buttered chicken was ready, we served it hot with steaming rice. The first bite was so satisfying: creamy, savory, and comforting. But more than the taste, it was the feeling of accomplishment that made it special. We cooked this together from start to finish.
We laughed about small kitchen mistakes, celebrated when the sauce turned out right, and enjoyed every moment. Cooking together reminded us that love is often found in simple things like sharing tasks, being patient, and enjoying the results together.
Trying new recipes to satisfy our weekend cravings wasn’t just about eating. It brought us closer together. Buttered chicken became more than just a dish; it became a memory. This experience with Arjay showed me that home-cooked meals made with love and teamwork always taste better.
As we cleaned up the kitchen and talked about what to cook next weekend, one thing was clear: cooking together is a tradition we want to keep. For now, this buttered chicken weekend will always have a special place in our hearts and on our recipe list.