Tandoori Chicken Spears Recipes

TANDOORI CHICKEN RECIPE

Steps:

• To a mixing bowl, add greek yogurt or hung curd (thick curd). If you do not have it make your own following the notes below.
• Next add in ginger garlic paste, garam masala, red chili powder, salt, turmeric, kasuri methi, pepper powder and coriander powder.
• Pour oil and lemon juice as well.
• Mix everything well. The marinade has to be thick and not of dripping consistency. Taste it and add more salt and chili powder if needed.
• Make deep gashes over the chicken and add it to the bowl.
• Marinate the chicken well into the gashes.
• Cover and set aside for at least 6 hours. If you reduce the marination time, chicken will not turn soft and juicy. It may not get cooked well if making on tawa.
• Preheat the oven to the highest for atleast 15 to 20 mins. In my oven it is 470 F or 240 C. For the stovetop and air fryer method, please follow the step by step instructions above the recipe card.
• Place a foil on a oven tray to collect the drippings.
• Then keep a greased wired rack on the tray.
• Place the chicken pieces over the wire rack.
• Grill the chicken for about 15 mins.
• For spicy version mix together 1 tsp red chili powder with 1 tbsp oil.
• After 15 mins of grillling, baste the red chili oil over the chicken. You can also baste the left over marinade over the chicken.
• Turn the chicken to the other side and baste the red chili oil or marinade.
• Grill for another 6 to 10 mins or until the chicken is cooked through. You will need to adjust the timing as it depends on size of the chicken pieces.
• The last 5 mins, set to broil mode. Alternately you can move the entire tray with wire rack to the top most rack for the last 5 mins. This gives the charred effect.
• Brush the drippings all over the chicken. This keeps the chicken moist. You can also burn a char coal piece and place it in a small cup. Bring out the chicken tray from the oven and place the cup of char coal in the tray. Cover with a large bowl or foil. Allow it to smoke for 5 to 7 mins.
• Restaurant style tandoori chicken is ready. Serve with this Cilantro Chutney or Pudina Mint Chutney alongside onion and lemon wedges.

INDIAN TANDOORI CHICKEN

Steps:

• Remove skin from chicken pieces, and cut slits into them lengthwise. Place in a shallow dish. Sprinkle both sides of chicken with salt and lemon juice. Set aside 20 minutes.
• In a medium bowl, combine yogurt, onion, garlic, ginger, garam masala, and cayenne pepper. Mix until smooth. Stir in yellow and red food coloring. Spread yogurt mixture over chicken. Cover, and refrigerate for 6 to 24 hours (the longer the better).
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium high heat, and lightly oil grate.
• Cook chicken on grill until no longer pink and juices run clear. Garnish with cilantro and lemon wedges.

TANDOORI FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Make a few slashes in meat side of each thigh. In a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, combine chicken and marinade, turning to coat. Refrigerate at least 1 day and up to 2 days.
• Preheat oven to 250 degrees. In a large bowl, whisk together flour and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt; season with pepper. In a large straight-sided skillet (preferably cast iron), heat 3 cups oil (it should be about 1/2 inch deep) over medium-high until a thermometer registers 350 degrees.
• Working with 6 pieces at a time, remove chicken from marinade, wiping off excess with a paper towel. Dredge in flour mixture and add to skillet, skin-side down. Partially cover and fry until golden brown and cooked through, 6 to 7 minutes a side. (Adjust heat to maintain oil temperature between 330 degrees and 350 degrees; do not let it go over 350 degrees, and return to 350 degrees between batches.) Transfer chicken to a paper towel-lined plate; place in oven to keep warm.
• Mix together onion and lime juice; let stand 10 minutes. Stir in remaining 2 tablespoons oil and herbs. Season with salt. Serve chicken, with onion salad and cucumbers.

TANDOORI CHICKEN SPEARS

Steps:

• To make the marinade: in a blender, puree the yogurt, ginger, garlic, paprika, cumin, turmeric, and cayenne. Set the marinade aside.
• Pull the filet off the back side off each chicken breast. Cut the breasts and the filets into 1-inch chunks. (For skewers, pound the chicken between waxed paper until about 1/2 inch thick, then cut them into strips about 1 inch wide.) Place the chicken in the marinade, season well with salt, stir, and then refrigerate, covered, for at least 30 minutes or up to 3 hours.
• Preheat the broiler and adjust the rack so it is about 4 inches from heating element (if using skewers, soak the skewers in warm water for 30 minutes before using).
• Lift chunks of chicken from the marinade with a slotted spoon and place them on a nonstick or oiled baking sheet, setting them about 1/2 inch apart, working in batches. Broil until they are cooked through, about 8 minutes, turning the pieces halfway through.
• Scoop out a chunk of mango chutney and place it on top of each chicken chunk. Pluck off a cilantro leaf and place it on top of the chutney and spear together the chicken, chutney, and leaf with a toothpick.
• If seving with pita crisps, place the cilantro leaf on each crisp and top with a piece of chicken and a dab of chutney.
• For skewers, weave the chicken on the skewers and broil about 8 minutes, turning halfway though and then serve on platter sprinkled with cilantro and the chutney in a bowl for dipping.

TANDOORI-STYLE CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place chicken in a gallon-size zip-top bag. In a blender, blend yogurt, onion, ginger, garlic, lemon juice, cumin, coriander, and oil until smooth; season with salt and pepper. Pour marinade over chicken and shake to coat. Refrigerate 4 hours (or up to 1 day).
• Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Place a wire rack in a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet. Lift chicken from marinade, letting excess drip off. Season chicken with salt and pepper and place, skin side down, on rack. Roast until chicken is charred in spots, 35 minutes, flipping once. Reduce heat to 450 degrees and roast until chicken is cooked through, 10 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.