Chicken Tikka Masala is definitely my favourite Indian dish and it is actually one of the most popular curries in the world. Traditionally they are made in tandoor but but they can also be done at home and they are equally good. This dish require quite a few ingredients and is a literal flavor explosion! It is not too hot or spicy and is great serving them with warm Naan bread or basmati rice. Definitely the perfect comfort food in this cold weather!
For the chicken marinade:
- 800g boneless and skinless chicken thighs cut into bite-sized pieces (around 1.5 – 2 inches)
- 1 cup greek yogurt
- 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon ginger
- 2 teaspoons tikka masala
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon of salt
For the sauce:
- 2 tablespoons of canola oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 small onions (or 1 large onion) finely diced
- 1 1/2 tablespoons garlic finely grated
- 1 tablespoon ginger finely grated
- 2 teaspoons tikka masala
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 400g tomato puree
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/4 cups of heavy or thickened cream
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1/4 cup water if needed
- few stalks of fresh cilantro or coriander to garnish
Method
1) In a bowl, combine chicken and chicken marinade and let it sit for an hour or overnight.
2) Heat oil in a large skillet and brown chicken for about 2 – 3 minutes on each side depending on the size of the chicken.
3) Melt butter in the same pan. Fry the onions until soft, add garlic and ginger and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, then add tikka masala, cumin, turmeric and coriander. Fry for about 20 seconds until fragrant, while stirring occasionally.
4) Pour in the tomato puree and salt. Let simmer for about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally until sauce thickens and becomes a deep brown red color.
5) Stir the cream and sugar through the sauce. Add the chicken and its juices back into the pan and cook for an additional 8-10 minutes until chicken is cooked through and the sauce is thick and bubbling. Pour in the water to thin out the sauce, if needed.