Hi, I’m Jacob Allen, and I’m excited to share my Chicken Tikka Masala recipe. It’s more than just food; it reminds me of my college days with friends, eating and studying together late into the night.
In college, my friends and I loved cooking new dishes to spice up our meals. One day, we found Chicken Tikka Masala in The Kelly Clarkson show where the was Nick Jonas.
We were curious about its flavors, so we decided to try it. In our small kitchen, we each helped out to make it perfect. We even enjoyed it with Pineapple Mocktails.
Now, whenever I make Chicken Tikka Masala, it brings back happy college memories. Join me in making this Unique recipe and relive those special times!
Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Baking sheet
- Skewers
- Large Skillet
Ingredients
- 500 g boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tsps ground cumin
- 2 tbsps ground coriander
- 2 tsps paprika
- 1 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 large onion
- 1 can 400g crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup heavy cream
- Salt
- Fresh cilantro leaves
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix yogurt, lemon juice, cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, garam masala, ginger, chili powder, and half of the minced garlic. Add chicken pieces, coat evenly, and marinate for at least 1 hour or overnight in the refrigerator.
- Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F). Thread marinated chicken onto skewers and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through.
- In a large skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium heat. Add onions and remaining garlic, sauté until soft and translucent.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes and cook for 5 minutes. Add baked chicken pieces to the skillet and simmer for another 10 minutes.
- Pour in heavy cream, stir well, and simmer for an additional 5 minutes. Season with salt to taste.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro leaves before serving.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of chili powder to suit your preferred level of spiciness.
- For a healthier version, you can use Greek yogurt instead of heavy cream, though the taste and texture may differ slightly.
Nutrition
Time For My Personal Tips
Tip 1: Marinating the chicken overnight not only enhances the flavor but also ensures the meat is tender and juicy.
Tip 2: For an extra smoky flavor, grill the marinated chicken skewers instead of baking them in the oven.
Tip 3: Don’t rush the cooking process; allowing the spices to simmer together with the tomatoes and cream creates a rich and complex sauce that’s the hallmark of a delicious Chicken Tikka Masala.
Secrets to Deliciously Rich Indian Cuisine
In Indian cooking, using enough oil and butter is important for richness in the dish. Don’t skimp on them, as it really affects the flavor. We were surprised at how much of a difference it made.
You can reduce the oil by just 1 tablespoon at most, and skip the butter at the end if you want, but taste it first. Even with the full amount of oil and butter, it’s only about 1.7 tablespoons per serving, which isn’t too much.
You can use ghee instead of oil and butter for sautéing the onion, but I find oil and butter give a similar result. Sometimes I use ghee if I have it on hand, but usually, I don’t.
This dish has plenty of sauce on purpose because it’s delicious that way! Even though it might seem like a lot, curries need a good amount of salt because of their intense flavors.