Chicken Tikka Masala

  • Level: Easy
  • Yield: 6 servings
  • Total: 2 hr 15 min
  • Prep: 30 min
  • Inactive: 1 hr
  • Cook: 45 min
Tikka is a Persian word for "bits and pieces" and a masala refers to any combination of complementary Indian spices.
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Ingredients

Chicken and Marinade:

1 whole chicken (3 to 4 pounds), cut into 10 pieces

Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper

1 cup plain yogurt

2 tablespoons smoked paprika

1 tablespoon ground coriander

1 tablespoon ground cumin

2 teaspoons cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon lemon zest

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3 cloves garlic, minced

One 1-inch piece ginger, peeled and grated

Sauce:

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 large onion, sliced

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 tablespoon smoked paprika

2 teaspoons garam masala

One 14.5-ounce can fire-roasted diced tomatoes, such as Muir Glen

1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Directions

  1. For the chicken and marinade: Sprinkle the chicken pieces with salt and pepper. Combine the yogurt with the paprika, coriander, cumin, cayenne, lemon zest, cinnamon, garlic and ginger in a mixing bowl. Mix together well then pour into a resealable plastic bag. Add chicken pieces and shake around to coat all the pieces evenly. Place in the refrigerator and marinate for 1 hour.
  2. Heat a grill to high. Wipe down the grates with an oil-blotted paper towel to create a nonstick surface. Remove the chicken from the marinade and wipe off any excess. Grill the chicken pieces until well-marked, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove to a plate and set aside.
  3. For the sauce: Set a Dutch oven over medium heat. (Alternatively, you can cook in a pressure cooker. Simply cut the cooking time in half and cook over medium heat with medium pressure.) Coat with the oil and add the butter. Add the garlic and onions. Cook until translucent and fragrant, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the tomato paste, paprika and garam masala. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes to toast the spices and cook the tomato paste. Add the crushed tomatoes, vinegar and grilled chicken pieces. Stir well and simmer until the chicken is tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Finish the sauce with the heavy cream. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with the cilantro.
  4. Wine paring for meal: dry Riesling or sparkling wine

Let's Get Cooking!

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Hazzie

Great recipe! So easy to follow and forgiving. I used 2+lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into large pieces. Did 1&amp;1/2 tsp cayenne and the heat level was spicy but perfect. <br /><br />I cooked it on my indoor grill (without taking off extra marinade) so that I could start the onions and garlic in the pot and watch them both. <br /><br />I used a little less red wine vinegar and only a splash or two of heavy cream at the end. <br /><br />I also used what I had on hand and it worked great. Meyer lemon, some smoked paprika and the rest regular when I ran out of smoked , ginger paste since the store was out of fresh. <br /><br />Very flavorful. Served with basmati rice and garlic naan (but naan was not needed, although we love naan). <br /><br />This is a must try recipe!

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