Chicken Tikka Masala
- Total
- 1 hr
- Makes
- 4 servings
Serves
| 600g/ 1.2lb chicken thigh ((boneless, skinless), cut into 3cm / 2.2" cubes (Note 1)) | Combine all ingredients except chicken in a bowl and mix. Add chicken and turn well to coat. | Cover with cling wrap and leave in fridge to marinate overnight3 hr · minimum). | Heat 1 tbsp oil in a non stick pan over high heat until smoking. Add half the chicken and spread out. Leave2 min · or until charred. Turn each piece and cook the other side until charred - don't worry if not cooked inside. (Note 4, also Video helpful here) Remove into bowl. | Scrape out charred bits left in pan and discard. Add more oil if required and cook remaining chicken. | Wipe skillet with paper towels (or do this part in a pot as you need a lid). Turn heat down to medium high. | Add oil and butter. When butter is melted, add onions, ginger and salt. | Cook, stirring constantly to ensure it doesn't burn, until the ginger is starting to turn golden and the onions smell sweet5–7 min | Reduce the heat to medium. Add the garlic and paprika, and cook2 min | Add the Curry Sauce Spices, and cook a further 2 minutes, stirring. | Add tomato passata and water, and mix. Bring to a simmer, then cover and reduce heat to low. | Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. | Pour curry into a bowl, then use a stick blender to puree until smooth (Note 5). | Return sauce to skillet. Add cream, sugar and butter. Stir to melt the butter. | Add chicken, stir. Simmer for a few minutes until the chicken is cooked through. | Optional: Sprinkle with a pinch of extra garam masala at the end. | Serve over basmati rice, sprinkled with coriander/cilantro if desired. Try this No Yeast Flatbread as a quick naan! |
| 1/2 cup plain yoghurt, ( full fat best (Greek is fine)) | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 cloves garlic (, minced (~1.5 tbsp)) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 tbsp fresh ginger (, grated) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 tsp garam masala ((Note 2)) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 tsp each salt, cumin, ground coriander, paprika (sweet, normal or smokey) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 tbsp vegetable oil | ||||||||||||||||
| 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper ((optional)) | ||||||||||||||||
| Pinch black pepper | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 tsp lemon juice | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 - 2 tbsp oil ((Note 3)) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 tsp turmeric | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 tbsp garam masala ((Note 2)) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 tsp coriander | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 tsp cumin | ||||||||||||||||
| 1/8 tsp cardamom powder | ||||||||||||||||
| 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper | ||||||||||||||||
| 3 tbsp (65ml) vegetable oil ((Note 3)) | ||||||||||||||||
| 30g / 2 tbsp unsalted butter OR ghee | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 onion, finely chopped ((brown, white or yellow)) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 tsp salt | ||||||||||||||||
| 2 tbsp fresh ginger (, grated) | ||||||||||||||||
| 6 cloves garlic (, crushed or grated) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 tbsp paprika ((not smoked)) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 2/3 cups (400ml) tomato passata ((tomato puree)) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 2/3 cups (400ml) water | ||||||||||||||||
| 100 ml (1/3 cup + 1 tbsp) cream ((thickened or pure is fine)) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 tsp sugar | ||||||||||||||||
| 50g / 3 tbsp unsalted butter OR ghee | ||||||||||||||||
| Basmati rice |
Ingredients
- 600g/ 1.2lb chicken thigh ((boneless, skinless), cut into 3cm / 2.2" cubes (Note 1))
- 1/2 cup plain yoghurt, ( full fat best (Greek is fine))
- 6 cloves garlic (, minced (~1.5 tbsp))
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger (, grated)
- 1 tsp garam masala ((Note 2))
- 1 tsp each salt, cumin, ground coriander, paprika (sweet, normal or smokey)
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper ((optional))
- Pinch black pepper
- 2 tsp lemon juice
- 1 - 2 tbsp oil ((Note 3))
- 2 tsp turmeric
- 1 tbsp garam masala ((Note 2))
- 2 tsp coriander
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1/8 tsp cardamom powder
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
- 3 tbsp (65ml) vegetable oil ((Note 3))
- 30g / 2 tbsp unsalted butter OR ghee
- 1 onion, finely chopped ((brown, white or yellow))
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tbsp fresh ginger (, grated)
- 6 cloves garlic (, crushed or grated)
- 1 tbsp paprika ((not smoked))
- 1 2/3 cups (400ml) tomato passata ((tomato puree))
- 1 2/3 cups (400ml) water
- 100 ml (1/3 cup + 1 tbsp) cream ((thickened or pure is fine))
- 1 tsp sugar
- 50g / 3 tbsp unsalted butter OR ghee
- Basmati rice
Stepssimplified
- 1Mix yoghurt, garlic, ginger, garam masala, salt, cumin, coriander, paprika, 1 tbsp oil, cayenne, black pepper, and lemon juice in a bowl. Add chicken cubes and coat thoroughly. Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 3 hours, preferably overnight.
- 2Heat 1 tbsp oil in a non-stick pan over high heat until smoking. Add half the chicken in a single layer. Cook without moving for 2 minutes until charred. Turn each piece and char the other side. Remove to a bowl. Scrape out and discard any burnt bits from the pan. Repeat with remaining chicken, adding more oil if needed. Wipe the pan clean.
- 3In the same pan (or a pot with a lid) over medium-high heat, add 3 tbsp oil and 2 tbsp butter. Once the butter melts, add the chopped onion, 2 tbsp grated ginger, and 1 tsp salt. Cook, stirring constantly, until the ginger starts to turn golden and the onion smells sweet, about 5–7 minutes.
- 4Reduce heat to medium. Add 6 crushed garlic cloves and 1 tbsp paprika. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring. Add 1 tbsp garam masala, 2 tsp coriander, 1 tsp cumin, 1/8 tsp cardamom, 1/8 tsp cayenne, and 2 tsp turmeric. Cook for another 2 minutes, stirring.
- 5Pour in 400 ml tomato passata and 400 ml water. Stir, bring to a simmer, then cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- 6Remove the sauce from heat. Blend with a stick blender until smooth. Return to the pan. Stir in 100 ml cream, 1 tsp sugar, and 50 g butter until the butter melts.
- 7Add the charred chicken pieces to the sauce. Stir and simmer for a few minutes until the chicken is cooked through. Optionally sprinkle with extra garam masala. Serve over basmati rice.