The Ultimate Makeover 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.

MARINARA MAKEOVER CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• Whisk together the yogurt with half of the curry powder, ginger and garlic in a large bowl. Coat the chicken in the curried yogurt mixture, cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours and up to overnight.
• Preheat the broiler to high. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Arrange the chicken on the prepared baking sheet and broil until blackened in spots and about three-quarters of the way cooked through, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and remaining curry powder, ginger and garlic. Cook, stirring, until the onion turns translucent, soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add the broiled chicken, any collected juices from the baking sheet and the marinara and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the half-and-half and season to taste with salt.
• Sprinkle with cilantro and serve with basmati rice or naan.

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.

ULTIMATE CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Steps:

• Place the chicken in a bowl with the yoghurt & tandoori paste and stir. Marinate for at least 15 minutes, or covered in the overnight in the fridge.
• Preheat the grill to high. Take the chicken out of the marinade(reserving the liquid for later) and spread over a baking sheet. grill for 6 minutes each side until lightly charred.
• Melt the butter in a casserole dish or large frying pan over a low heat and soften the onions for 10 minutes , stirring occasionally until just golden.
• Stir in the garlic, ginger, bay leaves, salt and all the spices.Cook for 1-2 minutes until the spices release their aroma. Stir in the passata, reserved yoghurt marinade and the water.Simmer very gently fro 5 minutes until the sauce thickens until sauce thickens, adding extra water should it get to thick.Stir in the cooked chicken.
• Serve with basmati rice or naan bread.