Low Fat Chicken Tikka Masala Food

INSTANT POT CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• Season the chicken with 1 teaspoon kosher salt and set aside.
• Add the butter to an Instant Pot and set to SAUTE. Once melted, add the onion, garlic, ginger, garam masala, chili powder, cumin, turmeric, and cayenne. Cook, stirring often, until the onion is soft and the spices are very fragrant, about 5 minutes.
• Add the chicken pieces, stir to coat with the spices and onion, and cook, stirring often, just until the outsides start to brown, about 4 minutes. Add the tomato sauce and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir to combine. Cover and cook on HIGH pressure for 8 minutes. Vent to immediately release the pressure.
• Uncover and stir in the coconut milk. Turn the Instant Pot back to SAUTE. Bring the mixture to a simmer, stirring occasionally, and let it continue to simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, about 10 to 15 minutes. Turn the Instant Pot off, and then stir in the peas. Let cool for 3 to 4 minutes, and then stir in the Greek yogurt (do not stir in the Greek yogurt right away or it may curdle). Enjoy warm with rice or naan and a sprinkle of fresh cilantro.

SKINNY CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until golden.
• Add the crushed ginger, stir for a few minutes then add the garlic and cook another minute. Add cumin, garam masala, turmeric, chili powder, and salt; mix well until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in tomatoes, yogurt and milk. Simmer on low heat until sauce thickens, about 10 minutes.
• Add chicken and simmer for 10 - 15 minutes or until cooked through.
• Add a generous amount of chopped cilantro and serve with Bamati Rice or Naan.

LOW-FAT CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• For the marinated chicken, mix together all the ingredients in a bowl, cover with cling film and put in the fridge aside to marinate while you make the sauce.
• For the tikka masala sauce, bring the stock to a simmer in a saucepan. Add the sliced onions, garlic and ginger. Cut a square of baking paper or greaseproof paper large enough to cover the mixture in the pan. Push it right down to cover the onions and garlic closely, cover the pan with a lid and simmer very gently for 15 minutes.
• Remove the paper. The onions should be translucent and soft. Add the tikka spice powder, the tinned tomatoes and the chopped coriander and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat slightly and simmer briskly for 20-30 minutes, until the sauce is thickened. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper then set aside to cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, preheat the grill to its hottest setting. Cover a baking tray with foil, and then place the marinated chicken on the tray in a single layer. Grill the chicken for 15 minutes, or until the chicken pieces are cooked through. Give the chicken a turn halfway through cooking, to ensure it's nicely browned all over.
• Using a stick blender or food processor, blend the tikka masala sauce until smooth. Return to the heat and warm through, then add the plain yoghurt. (Don't boil the sauce after you add the yoghurt or it will split.) Stir the cooked chicken pieces into the sauce and serve with brown basmati rice and a sprinkling of coriander to finish.

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.

LOW FAT CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a balti pan or frying pan over medium high heat. When hot, add the garlic and ginger paste and allow to sizzle for about 30 seconds. Then add the ground almonds and fry for a further 20 seconds while stirring constantly. The pan will look quite dry as the almonds soak up the oil. Add the rest of the spices, stir and then add the tomato purée and the base sauce.
• Turn the heat up to high and allow the sauce to come to a rolling simmer. Stir in the tandoori chicken and cook for a further few minutes until the meat is heated through. If using raw chicken, it will need about five minutes simmering in the sauce to cook through.
• Once the meat is heated/cooked through, lower the heat to medium-high and stir in the yoghurt one tablespoon at a time. If using food colouring, stir it in and then squeeze in the lemon juice and add the chopped coriander.
• To finish, add the methi leaves by rubbing them between your fingers. This helps bring out their flavour. Top with the garam masala and season with salt to taste.

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:

• Soak bamboo skewers in water.
• Thread chicken on skewers, and marinate (in the refrigerator) for an hour or so.
• Discard marinade.
• For sauce, melt butter on medium heat.
• Add garlic & jalapeno; cook 1 minute.
• Stir in coriander, cumin, paprika, garam masala & salt.
• Stir in tomato sauce.
• Simmer 15 minutes.
• Stir in cream; simmer to thicken- about 5 minutes.
• Grill or broil chicken, turning occasionally, to cook through- about 8 minutes.
• Remove chicken from skewers; add to sauce.
• Simmer 5 minutes.
• Garnish with cilantro Serve with basmati rice, naan or pita bread.
• Note: You can make your own garam masala. McCormick also makes garam masala; it's available in super markets.

THE ULTIMATE MAKEOVER: CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• For the marinade, finely grate the ginger and garlic (you should have 1 rounded tbsp of each), then mix them together. Put half of this mix into a medium bowl, then stir in the yogurt, lime juice, chopped coriander, chilli, garam masala, paprika and turmeric. Heat a small heavy-based dry pan, tip in the cumin, coriander and fenugreek seeds, then heat briefly until toasted and smelling fragrant (they will start to jump in the pan). Remove and grind to a powder using a pestle and mortar. Stir half into the yogurt mix (save the rest for the sauce). Stir the chicken chunks into the spiced yogurt until well coated. Cover and leave to marinate for at least 30 mins, or overnight if you like.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce. Heat the oil in a large pan. Add the onions, then fry over a medium heat for about 10 mins, stirring occasionally, until softened and turning brown. Stir in the remaining ginger and garlic, and stir-fry for 2 mins. Mix in the paprika, turmeric, garam masala, chilli and the rest of the toasted cumin, coriander and fenugreek. Cook for 1 min, stirring to scrape up the bits from the bottom of the pan. Stir in the tomato purée, then 150ml water. Cook for 1 min. Carefully transfer to a food processor or blender. Process to a thick, fairly smooth sauce. Return to the pan, pour in another 150ml water, then set aside. Can be made a day ahead. Soak the rice in cold water for up to 30 mins.
• Heat the grill to high. Thread the chicken onto 8 wooden skewers (soaked first), then balance them across a baking tray lined with foil, so they are slightly raised over it. Grill for 12-15 mins until cooked and slightly charred around the edges. Meanwhile, drain the rice, then tip into a pan with 375ml water. Bring to a boil, then cook over a low heat, covered, for 8 mins. Remove from the heat but leave covered for 5 mins. Cook the peas in boiling water for 3 mins, drain. Fluff up the rice with a fork, then toss in the peas.
• When ready to serve, reheat the sauce, stirring in any juices from the chicken and a drop more water to thin if necessary (it should be quite thick). Remove from the heat, stir in the yogurt, then season with a pinch of salt. Serve the chicken skewers with the rice, a scattering of coriander and lime wedges.

CHICKEN TIKKA WITH SPICED RICE

Steps:

• Slash each chicken breast deeply with a knife 3-4 times on one side. Put in a bowl and add 50g of the yogurt and the tikka paste. Mix well, cover and marinate in the fridge for 30 mins. Make the raita by stirring the cucumber and most of the mint into the rest of the yogurt. Season with black pepper, cover and chill.
• Heat oven to 240C/220C fan/gas 9. Scatter the onion wedges over a foil-lined baking tray. Remove the chicken from the marinade, shake off any excess and place on top of the onion wedges. Cook for 20 mins.
• Meanwhile, tip the rice, curry powder, peas and pepper into a pan of boiling water and simmer for 10 mins or until the rice is just tender. Drain well and divide the rice between 4 plates. Add the chicken, roasted onion and remaining mint. Serve with the cucumber raita.

CHICKEN TIKKA SKEWERS

Steps:

• Put 8 wooden skewers in a bowl of water to soak. Mix the yogurt and curry paste together in a bowl, then add the chicken (if you have time, marinate for an hr or so). In a large bowl, toss together the cucumber, red onion, coriander and lemon juice. Chill until ready to serve.
• Shake off any excess marinade, then thread the chicken pieces and cherry tomatoes onto the pre-soaked skewers. Cook under a medium grill for 15-20 mins, turning from time to time, until cooked through and nicely browned.
• Stir the lettuce or pea shoots into the salad, then divide between 4 plates. Top each serving with 2 chicken tikka skewers and serve with the warm chapatis.