Chicken Tikka Masal with Yogurt

Name: Chicken Tikka Masal with Yogurt
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 2 h
Yield: 4-6 serving(s)
Ingredients: 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin; 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander; 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1 teaspoon table salt; 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of fat; 1 cup plain yogurt; 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; 2 medium garlic cloves (minced or pressed through a garlic press,about 2 teaspoons); 1 tablespoon fresh ginger (grated); 3 tablespoons vegetable oil; 1 medium onion, diced fine (about 1 1/4 cups); 2 medium garlic cloves (minced or pressed through a garlic press, about 2 teaspoons); 2 teaspoons fresh ginger (grated); 1 serrano chili (fresh, ribs and seeds removed, flesh minced); 1 tablespoon tomato paste; 1 tablespoon garam masala; 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes; 2 teaspoons sugar; 1/2 teaspoon table salt; 2/3 cup heavy cream; 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves (chopped)

Submitted by Eliza S

"This recipe was in a recent issue of Cook's Illustrated. My husband and I both LOVED it. A few notes as well as some changes I made: They suggest using whole milk yogurt, I could only find lowfat and it still tasted fine. I did not have the serrano chile it calls for, but I did put in a bit extra cayenne and it was still delicious. If you do not have the garam masala they suggest you substitute the following: 2 teaspoons ground coriander, 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper. (I had the garam masala on hand so I'm not sure if the substitute is good or not.)"

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photo by Oliver1010

Ready In:: 2hrs
Ingredients:: 21
Serves:: 4-6

ingredients

Chicken Tikka
¹⁄₂ teaspoon ground cumin
¹⁄₂ teaspoon ground coriander
¹⁄₄ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon table salt
2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of fat
1 cup plain yogurt
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 medium garlic cloves (minced or pressed through a garlic press,about 2 teaspoons)
1 tablespoon fresh ginger (grated)
Masala Sauce
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium onion, diced fine (about 1 1/4 cups)
2 medium garlic cloves (minced or pressed through a garlic press, about 2 teaspoons)
2 teaspoons fresh ginger (grated)
1 serrano chili (fresh, ribs and seeds removed, flesh minced)
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon garam masala
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 teaspoons sugar
¹⁄₂ teaspoon table salt
²⁄₃ cup heavy cream
¹⁄₄ cup fresh cilantro leaves (chopped)

directions

FOR THE CHICKEN: Combine cumin, coriander, cayenne, and salt in small bowl. Sprinkle both sides of chicken with spice mixture, pressing gently so mixture adheres. Place chicken on plate, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes. In large bowl, whisk together yogurt, oil, garlic, and ginger; set aside.
FOR THE SAUCE: Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until light golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Add garlic, ginger, chile, tomato paste, and garam masala; cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add crushed tomatoes, sugar, and salt; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in cream and return to simmer. Remove pan from heat and cover to keep warm.
While sauce simmers, adjust oven rack to upper-middle position (about 6 inches from heating element) and heat broiler. Using tongs, dip chicken into yogurt mixture (chicken should be coated with thick layer of yogurt) and arrange on wire rack set in foil-lined rimmed baking sheet or broiler pan. Discard excess yogurt mixture. Broil chicken until thickest parts register 160 degrees on instant-read thermometer and exterior is lightly charred in spots, 10 to 18 minutes, flipping chicken halfway through cooking.
Let chicken rest 5 minutes, then cut into 1-inch chunks and stir into warm sauce (do not simmer chicken in sauce). Stir in cilantro, adjust seasoning with salt, and serve.
Serve with rice.

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Reviews

Great recipe CB, my DH was requesting a tikka masala recipe that reminds him of a favorite Indian restaurant we frequented when living in Saudi Arabia. This was it! While it looked pretty involved to put together it was easy with clear directions. Served this over steamed white rice and it was great. Will be making this many times in the future I'm sure.<br/><br/>As an update: We continue to use this recipe and it's never let us down - great flavors and always enjoyed

Bonnie G #2
Went to enter this recipe, and found it was already here! I subbed yogurt for the cream in the sauce, but otherwise made as written. Delicious tender chicken, well-balanced sauce. Served with rice and curried cauliflower. I definitely will be making this again.

dianegrapegrower
YUM! First off, the chicken itself is super awesome! I actually cut the breast into quarters so more flavor would penetrate, rubbed the spices on it, and then mixed it into the yogurt mixture and marinated it in that for a hour. I am glad I did that. I used coconut milk in place of cream for my lactose intolerant husband. I served it with some rice, cucumber yogurt sauce and warm flour tortillas. It was DEEEE-Licious! My husband said that it tasted just like he had in India! I will make this again, thanks for posting it!!!! UPDATE: Made again and used half tomato sauce and half chopped tomato-I enjoyed the texture of the curry better this way. Also made it veggie by just adding cooked yellow lentils and not making the chicken. I used heavy cream this time; the coconut milk is good, but the heavy cream is better

Japanese Delight
We make this all the time - I have the original magazine, and at least one ATK "best of" that reprints it. Yummy and totally crave-worthy. It is really easy, too. My daughter made it for me this last time (she's 16 and not an experienced cook) with no trouble and very little help. Thank you for posting this! The original recipe calls for whole milk yogurt, but my new podunk town has no store that sells it so I can say that nonfat is almost as good.

evewitch
This goes straight into my Best of the Best Cookbook! I made the recipe as posted, except I did not have any crushed tomatoes, so I used a can of diced tomatoes and juice, and blended the sauce smooth with an immersion blender when the sauce was cooked and before adding the cream. The chicken was so very tender, and so much easier to cook this way, rather than fiddling with skewers and raw cubes of chicken.

Sweet Baboo

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Tweaks

Sub the cream with whole coconut milk

Douglas W.
Went to enter this recipe, and found it was already here! I subbed yogurt for the cream in the sauce, but otherwise made as written. Delicious tender chicken, well-balanced sauce. Served with rice and curried cauliflower. I definitely will be making this again.

dianegrapegrower
YUM! First off, the chicken itself is super awesome! I actually cut the breast into quarters so more flavor would penetrate, rubbed the spices on it, and then mixed it into the yogurt mixture and marinated it in that for a hour. I am glad I did that. I used coconut milk in place of cream for my lactose intolerant husband. I served it with some rice, cucumber yogurt sauce and warm flour tortillas. It was DEEEE-Licious! My husband said that it tasted just like he had in India! I will make this again, thanks for posting it!!!! UPDATE: Made again and used half tomato sauce and half chopped tomato-I enjoyed the texture of the curry better this way. Also made it veggie by just adding cooked yellow lentils and not making the chicken. I used heavy cream this time; the coconut milk is good, but the heavy cream is better

Japanese Delight