Chicken Tikka Masala

 

 

Chicken Tikka Masala is actually an Indian Dish that is made up in a curry sauce, but in the UK Curries are a huge part of their dietary cuisine since the time of Queen Victoria.

Ingredients

6 garlic cloves, finely grated

4 tsp. finely grated peeled ginger

4 tsp. ground turmeric

2 tsp. garam masala

2 tsp. ground coriander

2 tsp. ground cumin

1½ cups whole-milk yogurt (not Greek)

1 Tbsp. kosher salt

2 lb. skinless, boneless chicken breasts, halved lengthwise

3 Tbsp. ghee (clarified butter) or vegetable oil

1 small onion, thinly sliced

¼ cup tomato paste

6 cardamom pods, crushed

2 dried chiles de árbol or ½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

1 28-oz. can whole peeled tomatoes, like San Marzano

2 cups heavy cream

¾ cup chopped cilantro, plus sprigs for garnish

Steamed basmati rice (for serving)

Directions

Step 1

Combine garlic, ginger, turmeric, garam masala, coriander, and cumin in a small bowl. Whisk yogurt, salt, and half of spice mixture in a medium bowl; add chicken and turn to coat. Cover and chill 4-6 hours. Cover and chill the remaining spice mixture.

Step 2

Heat ghee in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Add onion, tomato paste, cardamom, and chiles and cook, stirring often, until the tomato paste has darkened, and the onion is soft, about 5 minutes. Add the remaining half of the spice mixture and cook, stirring often, until the bottom of the pot begins to brown, about 4 minutes.

Step 3

Add tomatoes with juices, crushing them with your hands as you add them. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring often and scraping up browned bits from the bottom of the pot, until sauce thickens, 8-10 minutes.

Step 4

Add cream and chopped cilantro. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens, 30-40 minutes.

Step 5

Meanwhile, preheat broiler. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and set a wire rack inside sheet. Arrange chicken on rack in a single layer. Broil until chicken starts to blacken in spots (it will not be cooked through), about 10 minutes.

Step 6

Cut chicken into bite-size pieces, add to sauce, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until chicken is cooked through, 8-10 minutes. Serve with rice and cilantro sprigs.

Do Ahead: Chicken can be made 2 days ahead. Cover; chill. Reheat before serving.

Step 7

Serve hot over jasmine or basmati rice.

Elizabeth Kilbride is a Writer and Editor with forty years of experience in writing with 12 of those years in the online content sphere. Author of 5 books and a Graduate with an Associate of Arts from Phoenix University in Business Management, then a degree. Mass Communication and Cyber Analysis from Phoenix University, then on to Walden University for her master’s in criminology with emphasis on Cybercrime and Identity Theft and is currently studying for her Ph.D. degree in Criminology. Her work portfolio includes coverage of politics, current affairs, elections, history, and true crime. Elizabeth is also a gourmet cook, life coach, and avid artist in her spare time, proficient in watercolor, acrylic, oil, pen and ink, Gouche, and pastels. As a political operative having worked on over 300 campaigns during her career, Elizabeth has turned many life events into books and movie scripts while using history to weave interesting storylines. She also runs 7 blogs that range from art to life coaching, to food, to writing, Gardening, and opinion or history pieces each week. 

British Fare, Potpourri of Frugality. Kilbride