Homemade Tikka Paste Food

HOMEMADE TIKKA PASTE

Steps:

• First toast your cumin and coriander seeds. Heat a small frying pan over a medium heat and toast the seeds until starting to smell fragrant. Stir occasionally to stop them from burning.
• Place the toasted seeds (and fenugreek seeds if using) into the blender and pulse until you have a coarse powder.
• Add the remaining ingredients to the blender and process until smooth.
• You will probably need to stop and scrape the sides down at least once.
• Store in an airtight container in the fridge for a couple of weeks or freeze in small portions to use at a later date.

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.

HEALTHY TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• Put the onion, garlic and ginger in a food processor and whizz to a smooth paste.
• Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a flameproof casserole dish over a medium heat. Add the onion mixture and fry for 15 mins. Tip into a bowl and wipe out the pan.
• Add the remaining oil and the chicken and fry for 5-7 mins, or until lightly brown. Stir in the tikka spice and cayenne and fry for a further minute. Tip the onion mixture back into the pan, along with the tomatoes and 1 can full of water. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for 15 mins. Stir in the almonds and spinach and cook for a further 10 mins. Season, then stir though the yogurt and coriander. Serve with brown rice.

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.

TIKKA SKEWERS

Steps:

• Soak 12 wooden skewers in water for 30 mins (this helps to stop them burning). In a large bowl, mix together the tikka paste with half of the yogurt, the cumin, ginger and seasoning. Boil the potatoes in a pan of boiling salted water for 7 mins, then drain well and tip into the tikka mixture with the paneer. Gently mix into the marinade, then chill for at least 2 hrs to take on flavour.
• To assemble the kebabs, alternately thread the marinated potatoes and paneer onto the skewers with the onions and peppers, then cover on a tray until you are ready to barbecue.
• Heat the barbecue or a grill. Mix the mango chutney into the remaining yogurt, and the mint leaves into the salad leaves. Barbecue or grill the kebabs for 10-15 mins, turning, until the veg are charred and softened. With a few minutes to go, add the chapattis to the barbecue in batches to warm through. Serve the kebabs with the minty salad, cooling mango yogurt and chapattis, and let everyone assemble their own wraps.

TIKKA PASTE

Steps:

• Grind coriander and cumin seed to a fine powder.
• Add remaining spices, mint and salt, stir well.
• Mix in lemon juice, food color, wine vinegar, and 2 tbs water to make a thin paste.
• Heat oil in pan, stir fry paste for 10 minutes until all water is absorbed. when oil rises to the top, the paste is cooked.
• Allow to cool before storing in air tight jars.

TIKKA MASALA PASTE

Steps:

• In a dry skillet, toast cumin and coriander seeds until fragrant. Transfer to a mortar and grind using a pestle until finely ground. Transfer to the bowl of a small food processor, along with ginger, salt, oil, tomato paste, chiles, cilantro, coconut, and almond flour; process until a smooth paste is formed.

NEXT LEVEL TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• Remove the skin from the chicken and slash each thigh two or three times. Put into a bowl or plastic container and toss with the lime juice and ½ tsp salt. Set aside while you make the marinade.
• In a small food processor, blitz the ginger and garlic to make a paste, adding a splash of water if needed. Set aside half of the paste for the sauce. Tip the remaining marinade ingredients into the food processor, then blitz to a smooth paste. Pour the paste over the chicken and marinate for at least 4 hrs (overnight or 24 hrs is even better).
• To make the sauce, heat 2 tbsp of the ghee or butter in a large shallow pan with a lid. Cook the onions for 15 mins over a medium heat until starting to brown. Add the spices and remaining garlic and ginger paste, and cook for 2 mins. Stir in the tomato purée, ground almonds, a pinch of sugar and vinegar. Cook for about 1 min. Pour in the passata, then fill the jar or carton halfway up with water and add this too. Bring to a gentle simmer, then cook for 2-3 hrs until you have a thick, red sauce. Can be kept chilled in the fridge for up to 48 hrs while you marinate the chicken.
• Set the grill to its highest setting. Lift the chicken from the marinade, wiping off any excess back into the dish and reserve for the sauce. Arrange the chicken on a large baking tray cut-side up. Put under the grill for 10-15 mins until charred and starting to blacken. Remove the tray from the oven and set aside with the cooking juices. Reheat the sauce, adding the reserved marinade, then tip the chicken and any pan juices with the crème fraîche or cream into the curry sauce. Cook for 40 mins until the chicken is completely tender. Stir the remaining butter or ghee in at the end.
• Leave the curry to sit for a few mins, then season with the garam masala and smoked salt, if using. Sprinkle with coriander and flaked almonds, then serve with naan bread and rice, if you like.