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A pan of chicken tikka masala with charred chicken in a creamy orange tomato sauce, served with naan and lemon wedges
Indian · Dinner

Chicken Tikka Masala

Yogurt-marinated chicken pieces are seared until lightly charred, then simmered in a smoky, onion-rich tomato gravy finished with a little cream. A dinner for roti, naan or rice.

Prep45 min
Cook40 min
Total1 h 25 min
Serves4
Difficulty
CuisineIndian

Ingredients

4 servings

Equipment: Large heavy-based pan or karahi, oven grill or a grill pan, baking tray, blender

Method

  1. In a bowl, mix the yogurt, 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste, lemon juice, 1 tsp chilli powder, 1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp coriander, the turmeric, 1 tsp salt and 1 tbsp oil. Add the chicken and coat every piece well.

  2. Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, or up to 6 hours if you have time.

  3. Heat the grill to its highest setting and line a baking tray with foil. Spread the chicken out in a single layer without crowding, leaving most of the marinade clinging to the pieces.

  4. Grill for 10 to 12 minutes, turning once, until the edges are browned with a few charred spots. The chicken does not need to be cooked through yet. Set aside with any juices from the tray.

  5. Heat the remaining 2 tbsp oil and the butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add the onions and a pinch of salt and cook, stirring often, until soft and golden brown at the edges.

  6. Stir in the remaining ginger-garlic paste and the green chilli. Cook for 1 minute until the raw smell disappears.

  7. Add the tomato purée, tomato paste, remaining chilli powder, cumin, coriander and 0.5 tsp salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring, for about 10 minutes until the mixture thickens and the oil separates at the edges.

  8. For a smoother sauce, blend this masala with a splash of the water, then return it to the pan. Otherwise leave it as it is for a more rustic texture.

  9. Add the water, sugar and the grilled chicken with its juices. Cover and simmer gently for 10 minutes, until the chicken reaches 74°C inside and the sauce coats the back of a spoon.

  10. Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the cream, garam masala and 1 tsp of the crushed fenugreek leaves. Heat for 2 minutes without boiling, then taste and adjust the salt.

  11. Sprinkle with the remaining fenugreek leaves and the fresh coriander. Rest for 5 minutes before serving so the flavours settle.

Cooking tips

  • Use boneless thighs for the juiciest result. If you use breast, cut the pieces slightly larger and shorten the simmering time by a few minutes.
  • Browning the onions well gives the sauce its depth, so do not rush that step.
  • Stir the cream in over low heat and do not let the sauce boil, or it may split.
  • For a smoky flavour without an oven grill, sear the chicken in a hot cast-iron pan in batches.

Substitutions

  • Replace the cream with 100 g extra thick yogurt whisked with 1 tsp cornflour, added off the heat.
  • Use 1 tbsp ordinary red chilli powder plus 0.5 tsp paprika if you cannot find Kashmiri chilli powder.
  • Swap the butter for extra oil for a lighter sauce.
  • Use 400 g canned chopped tomatoes if fresh tomatoes are not ripe.

Serve with

"Serve with hot naan, roti or steamed basmati rice, with sliced onion, lemon wedges and a cucumber raita on the side."

Storage

"Cool within 2 hours and keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. It also freezes for up to 2 months, though the sauce may be slightly less smooth once thawed."

Reheating

"Thaw overnight in the fridge if frozen. Warm in a pan over low heat with a splash of water until steaming hot throughout (74°C), stirring gently."

Nutrition per serving, estimated

500kcal
37 gProtein
15 gCarbs
33 gFat

Estimated from the ingredient list. Values vary with brands and portion size.

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