Marinara Makeover Chicken Tikka Masala Recipes

CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• Cube chicken to 1 to 1½ inch pieces. Add them to a mixing bowl. Make sure there is no excess moisture in your chicken. If you want you may pat dry with a few kitchen tissues.
• Add red chilli powder, garam masala, cumin powder, coriander powder, turmeric, salt, lemon juice, oil, ginger garlic paste, yogurt and kasuri methi. Skip the lemon juice if your yogurt is sour.
• Mix well. Cover with a cling wrap and refrigerate for minimum of 8 hours and up to 48 hours. If you are in a rush, you may cut down to 3 hours.
• Heat oil or ghee in a pot or pan. Add onions and sprinkle 1 teaspoon salt. Saute until deep golden.
• Add ginger garlic paste and green chilli. Saute until aromatic, for 40 to 60 seconds.
• Reduce the heat to low. Add red chilli powder, coriander powder, garam masala and cumin powder. Stir well quickly.
• Pour tomato puree and cook on a medium high heat until the onion tomato masala becomes really thick and begins to leave the sides of the pan. It also turns fragrant. (Check video for consistency)
• Pour 2 cups of hot water and cover. Simmer until thick, yet of pouring consistency. (Check video for consistency)
• Grill in Oven : While the gravy simmers, thread the chicken to the metal skewers or soaked bamboo skewers and place them in a prepared tray. Bake them in a preheated oven at 460 F or 240 C for 9 to 10 mins. Turn them to the other side with a tong and grill then for another 9 to 10 mins. To char the chicken, broil for 2 to 3 mins or until slightly charred.
• Or In a Skillet: Pour 1 tbsp oil to a skillet and heat it well. Place the chicken tikka one by one, spacing them apart. Cook on a medium high heat for 3 mins, turn them to the other side with a tong and cook for another 3 mins, until charred and not essentially fully cooked. Remove to a plate and Cook in batches.
• Or In the Air fryer: Thread on skewers and place them in the basket or in the tray. Air fry for 6 mins, at 400 F or 200 C. Turn them with tongs and air fry for another 6 mins. If they dry out, you may baste with marinade and continue for another 2 mins, until slightly charred.
• When the tikka masala turns thick, add sugar and the cream (or cashew cream, check notes to make your own). Stir well and cook for a few minutes until thick, creamy and aromatic. (Check video for consistency)
• Add the grilled chicken tikka and kasuri methi. (Make sure your gravy has reached a thick gravy consistency/serving consistency, before adding chicken). Stir and cook for 2 to 3 mins until chicken tikka is soft and tender. Taste test and add more salt and sugar if needed.
• Turn off and garnish with cream and coriander leaves. Serve chicken tikka masala with Butter Naan, roti, paratha, basmati rice or Jeera rice.

LEFTOVER CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• Peel and cut the onions, garlic cloves and ginger.
• Heat up the oil in a pan and fry the onions on a medium heat until golden.
• Add the garlic, chilli and ginger and stir for 10-15 seconds.
• Chop the tomatoes and add them to a pan, then mix well and cook until the tomatoes are mushy.
• Next, add the spices and fry for a few seconds to release their full flavour, then pour in the and water and leave to cook until the water has been absorbed and the sauce begins to thicken.
• Add the sugar, tomato purée, yogurt and check if it needs any salt or pepper.
• Add the cooked chicken, give it a good stir, and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
• Garnish with fresh coriander or parsley.
• Remove from the heat and serve hot with basmati rice, naan or pitta bread.

CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Wine paring for meal: dry Riesling or sparkling wine

THE BEST CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• For the chicken marinade: Whisk together the yogurt, ginger, salt, chili powder, garam masala, pepper, turmeric and garlic in a large bowl until combined. Toss the chicken in the spiced yogurt marinade until evenly coated. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 3 hours and up to 24. (Overnight works best.)
• For the sauce: Melt the ghee in a large Dutch oven or wide heavy pot over medium heat. Add the onions and serrano, season with 1 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are golden and beginning to caramelize, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the ginger and garlic and cook, stirring, until very fragrant and the ginger starts to turn golden and sticks to the bottom of the pot, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the fenugreek leaves, garam masala, chili powder and paprika and cook, stirring occasionally, until very fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, breaking them up into pieces with a spoon, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has reduced by half and the tomatoes are very tender, about 30 minutes.
• Let the hot sauce cool for about 5 minutes or so, then transfer it to a blender filling no more than halfway. (If your blender is small, you may need to work in batches.) Remove the center cap from the lid and place it on the blender. Cover the lid with a kitchen towel to catch splatters, and pulse until smooth. Add 1/4 cup heavy cream and puree until creamy. Pour into a clean pot and bring to a simmer. Season with salt.
• Meanwhile, position a rack directly under the broiler and preheat to high. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and set a wire rack inside.
• Arrange the chicken in a single layer on the rack. Broil until the chicken starts to brown in spots, 3 to 6 minutes per side (it will not be cooked through). Remove from the broiler. When cool enough to handle, cut the chicken into 1-inch pieces. Add the chicken to the simmering sauce, cover and cook until the chicken is cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Top the chicken and sauce with cilantro. Serve with rice and naan.

CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• Whisk together the yogurt, spices, garlic and ginger in a large baking dish. Add the chicken and turn to coat in the mixture. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours and up to 24 hours.
• Preheat the broiler. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or aluminum foil and brush with some of the ghee. Remove the chicken from the marinade, and wipe off excess marinade. Brush the breasts with ghee and season both sides with salt and pepper, to taste. Arrange on the baking sheet in an even layer. Broil until golden brown on both sides, about 4 minutes per side.
• Remove the chicken from the heat and to a cutting board. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes and cut it into 1-inch thick slices. Transfer the chicken to a platter and serve.

CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the tandoori masala and toast, stirring often, until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Whisk the spice mixture into the yogurt in a large bowl. Then mix in the ginger, lemon juice, salt and garlic. Add the chicken and toss to coat well. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour, preferably 6 hours and no more than 8 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Arrange the chicken on a greased baking sheet and bake until cooked through and an instant-read thermometer inserted in the chicken measures 165 degrees F, 12 to 15 minutes. Increase the heat to broil and broil 3 minutes.
• Add the chicken to the Tikka Masala Sauce. Toss to combine. Serve the chicken with the sauce.
• Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the fenugreek leaves and tandoori masala and toast, stirring often, until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the marinara sauce and bring to a simmer. Add the cream, honey and salt to taste and simmer until the oil and butter start to float on the surface, about 5 minutes.

CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• For the chicken marinade: Slice the chicken into bite-sized chunks. Combine the cubed chicken with the yogurt, lemon juice, ginger, garam masala, salt, paprika, turmeric and garlic and stir until well-coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to overnight.
• Preheat a tandoor (clay) oven or grill.
• Place the marinated chicken pieces on skewers, then place them in the tandoor oven. Cook until cooked well, about 15 minutes.
• For the sauce: Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat, then add coriander and cumin, followed by the garlic, onions, ginger and salt to taste. Cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, then add the garam masala, paprika and turmeric and stir constantly until the spices are fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the tomato puree and 1 1/4 cups of water, then bring to a boil and cook for about 15 minutes.
• Pour in the cream. Remove the chicken from the skewers and add to the sauce, cooking for another 5 minutes, then finish with the fenugreek leaves. Garnish with cilantro and serve over rice or alongside naan bread. Enjoy!