Our household is similar to that of many other families in the United States when it comes to ordering takeout. Check the junk drawer in our kitchen. You will discover it is full of carry out menus from pizza joints and Chinese restaurants. But across the pond in Great Britain, they gravitate toward an Indian dish when it comes to ordering a meal to enjoy at home. Chicken Tikka Masala is an Indian one pan dinner. Yogurt marinates chicken which then simmers in a creamy spiced tomato sauce. It is the Indian version of comfort food and is just as fun to say as it is to eat.
I first researched, prepared and ate Chicken Tikka Masala (CTM for short), when a personal chef client requested it for his weekly menu of meals. I was a little leery of Indian food as I was not as experienced in cooking the cuisine. But after some experimenting with different recipes, I struck upon a delicious version of Britain’s beloved entrée.
A unique spice blend adds to the intriguing flavor of Chicken Tikka Masala. Bite-sized pieces of chicken are tossed in yogurt along with cumin, coriander, salt and pepper. The yogurt helps keep the chicken juicy and tender as well as adding a slight tanginess to the sauce. Usually the chicken in CTM is grilled. I streamlined my recipe and broiled the yogurt and spice coated chicken to add a charred flavor to the dish.
What is garam masala?
The chunky tomato based sauce includes the star ingredient of Garam Masala. From the Hindu words for “hot or intense” and “a mixture of spices,” Garam Masala is a combination of spices commonly in Northern Indian cooking. There is not a single version of Garam Masala. There are many varieties with varying combinations of cinnamon, coriander, black peppercorns, cardamon, caraway, nutmeg, ginger and cloves. It has a unique taste like no other spice blend and adds a warmth and intensity to the sauce. Traditional accompaniments for Chicken Tikka Masala include basmati rice, green peas and naan which is an Indian flat bread.
With its unique and delicious flavor, it is no wonder that Chicken Tikka Masala is one of Great Britain’s most popular dishes. Add a worldly flair to dinner and prepare this Indian comfort food for your family and friends.
Chicken Tikka Masala
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4
Description
Chicken Tikka Masala is an Indian one pan dinner highlighted with yogurt marinated chicken that is simmered in a creamy spiced tomato sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds boneless (skinless chicken breasts cut in 1-inch pieces)
- Salt
- Pepper
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon coriander
- ½ cup plain yogurt
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 medium red onion (chopped)
- 2 garlic cloves (chopped)
- 1 1–inch piece of ginger root, peeled and chopped
- 1 tablespoon Garam Masala
- 1 15 – ounce can diced fire roasted tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 cup half and half
- A handful of chopped cilantro (plus extra for serving)
- 4 cups cooked basmati rice
- 2 cups frozen green peas (thawed and warmed)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to broil and place the oven rack in the highest position. Line a baking sheet with foil and set aside.
- Place the chicken in a medium sized bowl and season with salt, pepper, cumin and coriander. Add yogurt and toss with the chicken so that it is completely coated. Place the chicken in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet and broil for 7 – 10 minutes or until the chicken is just cooked through and the edges are blackened. Remove from oven.
- Heat a large sauté pan over medium high heat and add the butter. When it has melted and just begins to foam, add the red onion, garlic and ginger root. Sauté for 8 – 10 minutes or until the onions begin to soften and the edges are starting to brown. Stir in the Garam Masala and cook for about 30 seconds to release the oils in the spices. Add the tomatoes, sugar, and chicken. Stir to combine and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Slowly add the half and half and stir to fully incorporate it into the sauce. Sprinkle in the cilantro and gently stir to combine. Season to taste with salt and pepper and remove from the heat.
- Serve over basmati rice and green peas and sprinkle with fresh chopped cilantro.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Entree
- Method: Oven and stove top
- Cuisine: British
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 491
- Sugar: 11.4 g
- Sodium: 453 mg
- Fat: 13.1 g
- Saturated Fat: 5.4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 63.8 g
- Fiber: 8 g
- Protein: 34.8
- Cholesterol: 78 mg
Keywords: chicken tikka masala
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