Chicken tikka masala is a popular Indian dish that typically consists of marinated pieces of grilled or baked chicken in a creamy tomato-based sauce. The chicken is marinated in a mixture of spices and yogurt, then grilled or baked before being added to a sauce made with tomato puree, cream, and various spices such as cumin, coriander, garam masala, and turmeric. The dish is often served with rice or naan bread and is known for its rich and flavorful taste. While the origins of chicken tikka masala are debated, it is widely considered to be a popular Indian-inspired dish in many parts of the world.
Chicken tikka masala
Ingredients
Chicken marinade
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- ½ cup lactose-free plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
- salt and pepper to taste
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or ghee
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon red chili powder optional
- 2 medium tomatoes
- 1/2 cup lactose-free heavy cream optional
- salt and pepper to taste
- fresh cilantro for garnish
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the yogurt, grated ginger, ground cumin, ground coriander, garam masala, turmeric, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken pieces and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or overnight if possible.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
- Spread the marinated chicken pieces out in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and slightly browned.
- While the chicken is cooking, heat the olive oil or ghee in a large saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
- Add cumin seeds and the grated ginger. Cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add the tomatoes and sauté until tomatoes turn fully mushy.
- Add the ground cumin, coriander, garam masala, turmeric, red chili powder (if using), salt, and pepper. Mix well into the cooked tomatoes. and cook for another 1-2 minutes, until the spices are fragrant.
- Stir in the cooked chicken pieces. Cook for another 5-10 minutes, until the chicken is heated through, and the sauce thickens. (Optional – add in some lactose-free heavy cream and cook till the sauce is creamy.)
- Garnish with fresh cilantro, if desired. Enjoy the chicken tikka masala with rice or with roti/naan.
Notes
The Candor website is written and produced for informational purposes only. While we do our best to provide nutritional information as a general guideline to our readers, we are not certified nutritionists, and the values provided should be considered estimates. Factors such as brands purchased, natural variations in fresh ingredients, etc. will change the nutritional information in any recipe. Various online calculators also provide different results, depending on their sources. To obtain accurate nutritional information for a recipe, use your preferred nutrition calculator to determine nutritional information with the actual ingredients and quantities used.
