Serious Eats Chicken Tikka Masala Maybe The Best Food

THE BEST CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA RECIPE

Steps:

• TO COOK UNDER THE BROILER : Line a broiler pan with heavy duty aluminum foil and preheat the broiler to high with the rack set 6 inches below broiler element. Wipe excess marinade off chicken and place on foil-lined pan, flesh side up. Broil until charred and blackened on surface, about 8 minutes (chicken will not be completely cooked through-this is ok). Transfer to cutting board and let rest 10 minutes.

SERIOUS EATS CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA - MAYBE THE BEST

Steps:

• Place the chicken pieces on a cutting board with flesh-side up. Score deeply at 1-inch intervals with a sharp knife. Pat dry and place in a large rimmed non-reactive baking dish.
• MARINADE:.
• Combine cumin, paprika, coriander, turmeric and cayenne in a small bowl and mix well. Set aside 3 tablespoons of spice mixture (for Step 10).
• Combine remaining 6 tablespoons of spice mixture, 8 cloves garlic, 2 tablespoons ginger, yogurt, 1/2 cup lemon juice and 1/4 cup salt in a large bowl and whisk to combine (or process all in food processor).
• Pour marinade all over chicken pieces, using hands to coat every surface. Cover loosely and refrigerate. Refrigerate and allow to marinate for at least 4 hours and up to 8 hours, turning occasionally.
• SAUCE:.
• Meanwhile, heat ghee or butter in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until melted and foaming subsides.
• In clean food processor, pulse garlic to yield 4 tablespoons (or crush in a garlic press). Remove excess of garlic from food processor and add about 2 inches fresh gingerroot cut in small chunks, and pulse until finely grated.
• Add onions and garlic-ginger mix to the Dutch oven. Cook, stirring frequently, until dark and beginning to char in spots, about 10 minutes.
• Add reserved spice mixture from Step 3. Cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Add tomatoes and 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, scraping up any browned bits from bottom of pan with a spoon.
• Simmer sauce for 15 minutes, then puree using a hand blender or by transferring to a tabletop blender in batches. (If you use a VitaMix, you will not need to allow the sauce to cool off first.)
• Stir in cream and remaining 1/4 cup lemon juice. Season to taste with salt, then set aside until chicken is cooked.
• TO COOK ON THE GRILL:.
• Light 1 chimney full of charcoal. When all of the charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and spread the coals evenly over half of a coal grate.
• Set cooking grate in place, cover grill and allow to preheat for 5 minutes.
• Clean and oil the grilling grate. (I recommend a GrillGrate.).
• Wipe excess marinade off chicken and place over hot side of grill, flesh-side down.
• Grill without moving until well charred, 5-7 minutes.
• Flip chicken and cook until second side is charred, 4-5 minutes. (Chicken will not be completely cooked through, which is okay). Transfer to a cutting board and allow to rest 10 minutes.
• TO COOK UNDER THE BROILER:.
• Line a broiler pan with heavy duty aluminum foil and preheat the broiler to high with the rack set 6 inches below broiler element.
• Wipe excess marinade off chicken and place on foil-lined pan, flesh side up. Broil until charred an blackened on surface, about 8 minutes (but if you have a professional oven broiler, it may take much less time). (Chicken will not be completely cooked through, which is okay.) Transfer to a cutting board and allow to rest 10 minutes.
• FINALE:.
• Remove chicken from bone using a sharp knife and cut into rough bite-sized chunks.
• Transfer chicken chunks to pot of sauce.
• Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook, stirring frequently, until chicken is just cooked through, about 10 minutes.
• Sprinkle with 1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves.
• Serve immediately with rice or grilled naan.

QUICK CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA FOR TWO

Steps:

• Stir together garam masala, salt and turmeric in a small dish. Place flour in a shallow dish. Sprinkle chicken with 1/4 teaspoon of the spice mixture and dredge in the flour. (Reserve the remaining spice mix and 1 1/2 teaspoons of the remaining flour.).
• Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken until browned, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.
• Heat the remaining 1 teaspoon oil in the pan over medium-low heat. Add garlic, onion and ginger and cook, stirring often, until starting to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the reserved spice mix and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Sprinkle with the reserved 1 1/2 teaspoons flour and stir until coated. Add tomatoes and their juice. Bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring often, until thickened and the onion is tender, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Stir in cream. Add the chicken and any accumulated juices to the pan. Bring to a simmer and cook over medium-low heat until the chicken is cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Garnish with cilantro.

SERIOUS EATS BARBACOA

Steps:

• Adjust oven rack to lower middle position and preheat oven to 275°F Place chilis in bottom of a large Dutch oven and heat over high heat. Cook, turning chilis with tongs occasionally until fragrant and toasted, about 3 minutes. Cover with 2 cups chicken or beef stock. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce to a simmer, and cook until chilis are completely tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from pot.
• Rub kosher salt and pepper lightly on roast. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in now-empty Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Sear chuck roast until well-browned on all sides, about 8 minutes total. Remove roast and set aside. Reduce heat to medium.
• Add onions, cook 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant (about 2 minutes). Add cumin, cloves, and oregano and cook, stirring constantly until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add chipotle chilis and sauce, vinegar, and remaining chicken or beef stock. Scrape up browned bits from bottom of pan, simmer until reduced by about half, then transfer entire contents to the jar of a blender (or use stick blender).
• Add soaked chilis and their liquid to the blender/pot. Start blender on low and slowly increase speed to high. Puree until smooth, about 1 minute. Set aside.
• Place beef chuck in Dutch oven. Add bay leaves and bring to a boil over high heat. Place lid on pot slightly cracked, then transfer to oven. Cook, turning beef occasionally, until completely tender, about 5 hours. Discard bay leaves and transfer chuck to a large plate. Return Dutch oven to stovetop and cook, stirring frequently, over medium-high heat until liquid is reduced to about 1 1/2 cups, about 5 minutes.
• Shred beef into large chunks with fingers or two forks. Return beef to a pot along with the sauce. Bring to a simmer and cook, gently stirring and folding until beef is hot, tender, and coated in sauce. Season to taste with salt. Serve immediately, piling the beef into warm corn tortillas with onions, cilantro, salsa, limes, or other condiments as desired.

SPICY CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA, GRILLED VERSION

Steps:

• Marinade:.
• Combine yogurt, lemon juice, cumin, red pepper, black pepper, cinnamon, salt and ginger in a medium bowl or zip lock bag. Stir in chicken. Marinate for one hour.
• Soak wooden skewers (can use metal) in water for at least 30 minutes prior to grilling.
• Thread chicken on skewers and discard marinade.
• For Sauce: (double).
• Melt butter in a large deep skillet over med/low heat. Add garlic and jalapeno, cook 1 minute.
• Stir in: coriander, cumin, paprika, garam masala and salt.
• Stir in tomato sauce, simmer 15 minutes.
• Remove from heat until 5 minutes before chicken is done grilling.
• Stir in whipping cream, simmer until sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile: heat grill to medium high or heat broiler. Grill or broil chicken, turning until done and no longer pink, about 8 minutes.
• Remove chicken from skewers and set aside. Add to sauce, simmer 5 minutes, and serve over Basmati rice.

TIKKA CHICKEN WITH PUMPKIN CURRY

Steps:

• Set the chicken breasts in a casserole with a tight-fitting lid. Mix the lime juice and honey together and pour over them. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
• Add dry spice to a heavy-bottomed frying pan on medium heat, stirring until they darken and become fragrant-this will take about 3-5 minutes. Remove the spices from the heat. Put this mixture into a medium sized bowl.
• Put the pan back on medium heat, and cook the shallots in the oil, stirring constantly until they turn deep golden. Add ginger, chili and garlic, and cook, stirring, until the shallots are a deep reddish brown, the garlic is golden. Remove the mixture from the pan, discard the chili and puree into a fine paste. Add to the spice mixture, then stir in the pumpkin and coconut milk.
• Using a whisk, beat the yogurt into the mix.
• Pour over the chicken pieces, and put a piece of foil over the top of the casserole before fitting the lid tightly over it. Allow chicken to marinate in the refrigerator.
• While chicken is marinating, preheat the oven at 450 degrees F.
• After marinating for an hour, put the casserole into the oven, and bake for 40 minutes.
• Scatter cilantro over the chicken. Best served over basmati rice.