Tomato Yogurt Sauce Recipes

TOMATO-YOGURT CHICKEN CURRY

Steps:

• Toast the cumin: Heat the oil in a large, deep pot over medium heat until it shimmers. Sprinkle in the cumin seeds and stir; they should sizzle on contact, become fragrant and darken slightly.
• Caramelize the onion: Immediately add the red onion and bay leaves to the pot. Cook, stirring often, until the onion is dark chestnut brown, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Make the tomato base: While the onion is cooking, drain the juice from the can of tomatoes into a liquid measuring cup; set aside. Puree the tomatoes, garlic, ginger, chiles, turmeric and paprika in a food processor.
• Saute the base: Add the tomato base to the onion mixture and cook, stirring, until thick and paste-like, 10 minutes. When the mixture starts sticking to the bottom of the pot, add the chicken and potatoes. Cook, stirring, until the chicken is opaque and the sauce clings to the meat and potatoes, about 5 minutes.
• Simmer the curry: Add the honey to the reserved tomato juice, then add enough water to make 1 1/2 cups of liquid; pour into the pot. Season with salt to your liking and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low and gently simmer, uncovered and stirring occasionally, until the potatoes are tender and the sauce is slightly thickened, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Adjust the seasoning: Gently stir the yogurt into the curry. Taste for seasoning and add salt, if necessary. Sprinkle with the Garam Masala and serve over rice. Top with cilantro.
• Shell the cardamom: Gently crack open the green and black cardamom pods with a mortar and pestle (or crush them on a cutting board using a heavy pan). Remove the seeds and discard the husks.
• Grind the spices: Finely grind the cardamom seeds, cinnamon sticks and cloves in a spice or coffee grinder. Store in an airtight container away from direct sunlight for up to 1 year.

INDIAN CHICKEN IN TOMATO YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Set chicken pieces aside.
• Combine ingredients from onion to cardamom to form a rub.
• Add chicken to rub mixture and mix very well so all chicken pieces are coated with spices and onion.
• Put the chicken mixture into a 10-inch covered sautee pan and sautee 10 to 15 minutes until onions begin to soften ad chicken takes on some color.
• Add the water, chopped tomatoes, and tomato paste and simmer for 15 minutes.
• Add the yoghurt and simmer 1-2 minutes till warmed through.
• Serve in a bowl, with or without rice in the bottom. I prefer my rice served on the side.

YOGURT TOMATO SAUCE FOR GYROS

Steps:

• Stir ingredients in medium bowl to blend, season sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
• Cover and chill until ready to use.