LCBO Food & Drink Holiday 2025

THE UPPER CRUST

Butter Chicken Focaccia Butter chicken is stuffed into the best focaccia dough, which is slicked with garlicky ghee, sprinkled with cilantro and served with a bowl of extra sauce on the side for slathering. Serve this one hot at your next gathering and watch everyone swoon. This is most delicious fresh out of the oven, but save any extras well-wrapped in the fridge and reheat. 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, about 13 oz (370 g) Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste 1 tbsp (15 mL) canola oil 1/2 cup (125 mL) chopped red onion 1 jar (400 mL) spicy butter chicken sauce, such as Patak’s, divided 1 recipe (Anything But) Basic Focaccia, p.147, completed through Step 6 2 tbsp (30 mL) ghee 11/2 tsp (7 mL) coarsely chopped garlic 2 tbsp (30 mL) chopped cilantro 1. Cut chicken into 1-inch (2.5-cm) pieces. Place in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Set aside. 2. Heat oil in a medium-size frying pan over medium-high. Add onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Add chicken. Cook, turning occasionally, until lightly browned all over, about 4 minutes. Add 1/2 cup (125 mL) butter chicken sauce. Simmer until chicken is cooked through and sauce has thickened so it mostly just coats chicken, about 2 minutes more. Remove from heat and cool.

just to temper rawness, 1 to 2 minutes. When focaccia is

3. Press individual pieces of chicken into dimples of prepared focaccia, spreading evenly and getting them down deep. (Avoid getting too much sauce on top of dough.) Bake until bread is lightly browned and almost cooked through, about 20 minutes. 4. While focaccia is baking, heat ghee and chopped garlic in a small saucepan over medium,

6. Sprinkle focaccia with cilantro and serve with warm sauce on the side.

ready, brush mixture all over top of bread and bake again until bread is deeply browned and fully baked, about 8 minutes more. 5. Pour remaining butter chicken sauce into pan used to cook chicken and place over medium heat. Cook, scraping bottom of pan to incorporate any bits, until sauce is hot, about 2 minutes.

Serves 8 to 12

WHAT TO SERVE Aveleda Lisboa Red LCBO 37228, $12.95 With such a heavy sauce, a less complicated, lightweight red brings refreshing contrast. Good acid and red fruit balance the tomato in the sauce.

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———————— HOLIDAY 2025