Chef Marianna Chicken Tikka Masala Food

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:

• 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!

CHEF JOHN'S CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• Place chicken in a bowl and drizzle vegetable oil over chicken; toss to coat.
• Whisk kosher salt, garam masala, ground cumin, ground coriander, smoked paprika, ground turmeric, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and cardamom together in a small bowl. Season chicken with spice mixture and turn to coat evenly.
• Melt clarified butter in a large, heavy skillet over high heat. Cook chicken thighs in hot butter until browned on all sides, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate. When cool enough to handle, cut chicken into bite-size pieces.
• Reduce heat under the skillet to medium-high. Stir onion into skillet; saute until onion softens and turns translucent, 5 to 6 minutes. Add tomato paste and stir. Saute until paste caramelizes, about 5 minutes. Stir garlic and ginger into tomato-onion mixture and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Pour the crushed tomatoes into the skillet and bring to a boil while scraping the browned bits of food off of the bottom of the skillet with a wooden spoon. Pour in coconut milk and chicken broth; bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium low, and cook, stirring occasionally, until flavors blend and sauce is slightly reduced, about 15 minutes.
• Stir chicken, any accumulated juices from the chicken, cilantro, and red pepper flakes into tomato mixture; bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until chicken is cooked through and tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper.

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:

• Heat the vegetable oil and butter in a large, lidded casserole on the hob, then add the onions and a pinch of salt. Cook for 15-20 mins until soft and golden.
• Add the tikka masala paste and peppers, then cook for 5 mins more to cook out the rawness of the spices.
• Add the chicken breasts and stir well to coat in the paste. Cook for 2 mins, then tip in the chopped tomatoes, tomato purée and 200ml water. Cover with a lid and gently simmer for 15 mins, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is cooked through.
• Remove the lid, stir through the mango chutney, double cream and natural yogurt, then gently warm through. Season, then set aside whatever you want to freeze. Will keep, in an airtight container, in the freezer for up to three months. Scatter the rest with coriander leaves and serve with basmati rice and naan bread.