Julie Sahnis Easy Tandoori Chicken Food

TANDOORI (INDIAN BARBECUED) CHICKEN

Steps:

• 1. Cut the wings off the chickens. Remove the neckbone carefully. Place the chickens on a cutting board and quarter them neatly. Then pull away the skin, using kitchen towels for a better grip if necessary. (Reserve the wings, neck, and skin for the stockpot.) Prick the chicken all over with a fork or a thin skewer. Make diagonal slashes 1/2-inch deep, 1 inch apart on the meat. Put the meat in a large bowl.
• 2. Add meat tenderizer and lemon juice to the chicken, and rub them into the slashes and all over for 2 minutes. Cover and marinate for 1/2 hour.
• 3. Put all the ingredients of the marinade into the container of an electric blender or food processor, and blend until reduced to a smooth sauce. (Alternatively, garlic and ginger may be crushed to a paste and blended with the remaining ingredients.)
• 4. Pour this marinade over the chicken pieces and mix, turning and tossing, to coat all the pieces well. (_A note of caution:_Since certain brands of _Tandoori_cooking tend to stain the fingers, it is advisable either to use a fork to turn the chicken pieces in the marinade or use a pastry brush to spread it over the chicken.) Cover and marinate for 4 hours at room temperature, or refrigerate overnight, turning several times. Chicken should not remain in the marinade for more than 2 days, because the marinade contains a meat tenderizer which, with prolonged marinating, alters the texture of the chicken meat to very soft and doughy.
• 5. Take the chicken from the refrigerator at least 1 hour before cooking to bring it to room temperature. The chicken is now ready to be either roasted in the oven or broiled over an electric or charcoal grill.
• To Roast in the Oven:
• Start heating the oven to 500°- 550°F. Take the chickens out of the marinade. Brush them with _ghee,_and place them on an extra-large shallow roasting pan, preferably on a wire rack. Set the pan in the middle level of the oven, and roast for 25-30 minutes, or until the meat is cooked through. There is no need to baste while the chicken pieces are roasting, because the enclosed environment keeps the chickens from drying excessively.
• To Broil Indoors:
• Preheat the broiler. Brush the grill with a little oil to prevent the meat's sticking. Place the chicken pieces, slashed side up, on the grill, and brush the slashed side with _ghee._Cook 2 to 3 inches away from the heat for 20 minutes. Turn and cook the other side for another 10 minutes, or until the chicken pieces are cooked through. Brush often with _ghee_during cooking.
• To Grill Outdoors:
• Fire the coal well in advance (about 1 1/2 hours before you are ready to begin cooking), so that a white ash forms over the surface of the coal. This is when the coal is at its hottest. Place the grill at least 5 inches away from the heat, and rub generously with oil. Place the chicken pieces, slashed side up, over the grill and brush them with _ghee._Let chicken cook without turning for 10 minutes. Turn, baste the other side, and cook for 10 minutes. Continue to cook, turning and basting the chicken every 10 minutes, until it is done. The cooking time for broiling and grilling usually varies widely. Much depends upon the intensity of the heat and its distance from the chicken. The point to remember is that the chicken pieces have been marinating in a very strong tenderizing solution for two days and therefore will cook much faster than standard broiled or barbecued chicken.
• Serve the chicken immediately, lightly brushed with ghee or oil and accompanied by Roasted Onions.

BUTTER CHICKEN (INDIAN CHICKEN IN TOMATO CREAM SAUCE)

Steps:

• To make the spice blend: Stir the ingredients together in a small bowl and set aside.
• To make the sauce: Melt the butter in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until the pieces just begin to turn gold, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, tomato paste and spice blend, and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly to prevent burning. The spices will be fragrant. Add the tomato sauce and diced tomatoes and stir will. Add the chicken pieces, spoon the sauce over the top and bring to a simmer. Turn the heat to low and cook, uncovered, until the chicken is warmed through and the sauce is flavorful, about 10 minutes. Stir frequently. Remove the chicken to a serving dish and cover to keep warm.
• Shake any excess water from the peas. Add the peas and cream to the sauce in the pan, stir well and heat through. Do not boil. Spoon the sauce over the chicken. Serve with rice and warmed pita bread.

CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• Marinate the chicken:
• Use a fork to prick the chicken breasts all over on both sides. Arrange the chicken breasts on a large sheet of plastic wrap, spacing them apart from one another, then cover with a second large sheet of plastic wrap. Using the smooth side of a meat mallet or a rolling pin, beat the chicken until the breasts are an even 1/2- to 3/4-inch thickness.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the yogurt, 1 tablespoon peanut oil, lime juice, and garlic. Add the pounded chicken, and rub the marinade over the meat. Set the chicken aside while you make the sauce.
• Make the sauce:
• In a small bowl, whisk together the coriander, cumin, cardamom, nutmeg, paprika, cayenne, and grated ginger. In a heavy, wide 4-quart pot or sauté pan over moderately high heat, melt the butter. Add the onion and sauté, stirring occasionally, until light brown and caramelized, about 5 minutes. (Note that because they are sautéed so quickly over moderately high heat, the onions will not caramelize evenly.) Reduce the heat to moderate then stir in the spice and ginger mixture. Add the tomato purée, water, heavy cream, and salt, and bring the sauce to a boil. Reduce the heat to gently simmer the sauce, uncovered, until thickened slightly, about 10 minutes. DO AHEAD: The sauce can be prepared ahead and refrigerated, in an airtight container, up to 3 days.
• While sauce is simmering, cook chicken:
• Heat a heavy 11- to 12-inch griddle or skillet over moderately high heat until very hot and add 1/2 tablespoon of peanut oil. Working in two batches, cook the chicken breasts, turning them a few times and lowering the heat if the chicken chars too quickly, until just cooked through and browned well on both sides, 6 to 8 minutes total. Transfer the chicken as cooked to a cutting board. Wipe the griddle or skillet clean with a paper towel and cook the remaining chicken, adding the remaining 1/2 tablespoon peanut oil between batches.
• When all the chicken is cooked, cut it into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Add the chicken to the simmering sauce and continue to gently simmer it, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the black pepper and chopped cilantro, and season with salt. DO AHEAD: Chicken tikka masala can be prepared ahead, cooled, uncovered, and refrigerated, covered, up to 3 days.
• To serve:
• Transfer the chicken to a serving dish and garnish with additional cilantro sprigs. Serve with naan, and/or if desired with Basmati Rice .

TANDOORI CHICKEN

Steps:

• With poultry shears, cut the backbones of the hens. Place the hens, breast side up, on the kitchen counter. Press down on the breast bone with the heel of your palm to flatten. If you are using broiler chickens, split them lengthwise into halves.
• Pull the skin off the hens, using paper towel to get a better grip. Prick the hens all over with a fork or a thin skewer. Make diagonal slashes, a half inch deep and one inch apart, on the meat, along the grain. Make a slit with a paring knife in the meat between the thigh and the breast. Secure the ends of the legs through the slit. Put the hens in a large bowl and set aside.
• Process all the ingredients of the marinade in a blender or food processor until they are liquefied. Pour the marinade over the hens. Mix thoroughly, turning several times to coat the pieces evenly with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate overnight (a maximum of two days) or marinate at room temperature for at least one hour (preferably four).
• Take the hens from the refrigerator at least one hour (maximum, five hours) before cooking.
• Light and prepare a covered charcoal grill until white ash covers the coals and the heat subdues to a moderately hot level. Scatter presoaked grapevine cuttings over the coal. Lightly brush racks with oil.
• Coat the hens lightly with oil and place them, breast side down, on the rack. Barbecue, covered, with the vents open, turning three or four times, without basting, for about 25 minutes - until the juices run clear when pierced with a knife at the joint. Serve the hens garnished with slices of tomato and cucumber.

JULIE SAHNI'S EASY TANDOORI CHICKEN

Steps:

• Prick holes in the chicken with the tines of a fork. In a large bowl, mix together the marinade ingredients. Add the chicken and marinate, covered, overnight in the refrigerator, turning occasionally.
• Heat the grill. Remove the chicken from the marinade. Scrape off excess and reserve. Brush the grill with oil. Grill the chicken for 5 minutes. Turn and baste with sauce. Continue to turn and baste, using as much sauce as desired, until the juices run clear when pricked with a knife, about 12 to 15 minutes.
• Serve garnished with slices of tomato, cucumber, onion, lemon and cilantro sprigs.

TANDOORI CHICKEN KABOBS

Steps:

• Pull the skin off the chicken pieces, remove all visible fat, and discard. Prick the chicken all over with a fork and make diagonal slashes, 1/2 inch deep and one inch apart, on the meat. Mix together the lemon juice, food coloring, if using, cumin, Garam Masala, red pepper, and salt and brush over the chicken, pushing the marinade into the slits. Combine the yogurt, ginger, and garlic and pour over the chicken. Mix, turning several times, to coat the chicken pieces evenly with the marinade. Cover and marinate at room temperature for one hour or refrigerate for 8 hours or up to 2 days. If the chicken has been refrigerated, bring to room temperature before cooking. If placing on skewers, slide meat down metal skewers prior to grilling. If grilling, heat the grill and place the grill rack at least 5 inches from the heat. If roasting, place the oven rack in the middle position and preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Remove the chicken from the marinade and coat generously with usli ghee. To grill, place meat side down, on the grill rack. To roast, place the chicken, meat side down, on a wire rack set over a jelly-roll pan. Grill or roast the chicken, turning 3 or 4 times during cooking, until the juices run clear, about 35 minutes. Brush the chicken with the remaining usli ghee and transfer to a platter. Surround the chicken with slices of onion, tomato, and cucumber and serve. The tandoori marinade is traditionally colored bright orange using natural food coloring. This is purely for visual effect. You can omit the color if you prefer.

TANDOORI CHICKEN SATAY APPETIZERS (MADE EASY)

Steps:

• PLACE chicken tenderloins using tongs into a large Ziploc bag or a wide shallow dish for marinating. (NOTES: If thawing, thaw naturally and NOT by microwave oven. You may use whole boneless chicken breasts cut into chunks if kebab-style skewers are desired).
• PLACE chicken pieces into a large Ziploc freezer bag for marinating.
• SQUEEZE the bag to roll and coat chicken thoroughly in marinade; PLACE bag into refrigerator to marinate 3-5 hours to overnight if desired for fuller flavor and more tender chicken (recommended but not absolutely necessary); SOAK required wooden skewers in water until needed.
• SHAKE away excess marinade from chicken; BRUSH chicken on all sides with vegetable oil or light olive oil.
• PLACE oven rack within 6 inches of heat element; SET heat to HIGH setting.
• SKEWER chicken lengthwise with water-soaked skewers up to 3/4 of the skewer, leaving the lower half empty so it has a "handle"; BRUSH chicken across tops with vegetable or olive oil BASTE; TURN chicken skewers over; BASTE the other side.
• SPRAY the grill of a broiler pan with grill with non-stick cooking spray; PLACE chicken with skewer handles extending over broiler pan for easy handling when broiling, SLIDE broiler pan onto oven rack.
• BROIL chicken until the edges begin to char slightly (keep a close eye on chicken since it cooks very quickly) TURN chicken within five minutes until lightly charred on edges but not overcooked; REMOVE from oven immediately, wearing oven mitts.
• ARRANGE satays in a splay, with skewer handles facing outward, on a serving platter lined with fresh kale leaves; ACCOMPANY chicken satays with a sauce of plain yogurt blended with coriander-mint chutney (or yogurt with tempered creamy peanut butter and chili-garlic sauce) and/or lime wedges if desired.
• SERVE and ENJOY!