Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Chicken Tikka Masala

Serves 4-6
This could easily become a vegitarian dish by substiuting the chicken for something like peas, garbonzo beans and coliflower.
Ingredients:

For the chicken marinade:
  • 2 lbs chicken - cubed
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger
  • ½ cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt
For the masala sauce:
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 cup finely diced onion
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 2 teaspoons garam masala
  • 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
Directions:
  1. Marinate the chicken: Mix together cumin, coriander, cayenne, and salt. Cut chicken into bite sized pieces and place in ziplock or bowl. Mix in spices and refrigerate so that spice mixture is absorbed into the chicken for 1 hour. Whisk the garlic, ginger and yogurt in a bowl, cover, and refrigerate until ready to cook.
  2. Make the masala sauce: Heat butter in a large, tall-rimmed Dutch oven set over medium heat. Add onion and saute for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Add garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander, and garam masala. Stir and allow the mixture to cook, stirring constantly, for 3 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes, sugar, and salt; bring to boil. Turn heat down to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in cream and return to simmer. (I will also throw in the remaining 2 oz. of yogurt leftfrom the merinade.)Take the Dutch oven off of the burner, cover to keep warm, and set aside while you make the chicken.
  3. Start you rice. I like to use Jasmine rice and use about 2 1/2 cups uncooked.
  4. Make the chicken: Preheat your broiler. Place your top oven rack about 10 inches from the heating coils. Line a baking sheet with foil, grease well with canola oil. Mix chicken into yogurt mixture, leaving a thick layer of yogurt clinging to it, and lay the chicken onto the sheet. Broil chicken until it is lightly charred in spots, about 15 minutes, flipping halfway.
  5. Remove the chicken from the oven and let it sit on the baking sheet for five minutes to cool slightly and retain its juices. Stir into warm sauce. Stir in cilantro and serve.