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Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe

A classic Americanized Indian dish. It is famous for its use of curry, yogurt as a sauce, and delicious vegetables. This version is not very authentic but is made so that the average home cook can get a grasp on the flavors and have a new experience. Tasting Guidelines: Taste is spicy, savory, sweet, and tart with aromatic notes. Weight is medium but can be balanced with vinegar, lemon juice, and sugar. Texture is crunchy chicken and veggies in a medium consistency sauce. Good for people with low to moderate treatment side effects. Best categorized as home cooked Indian goodness.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Indian
Keyword: chicken, chicken tikka masala, indian food, recipes
Servings: 4 People
Author: Chef Ryan Callahan
Cost: $12

Equipment

  • Cutting board
  • Chef's knife
  • Large saute pan (high sided)
  • Cooking utensil spoon

Ingredients

Food Ingredients:

  • 3 lbs. chicken breast thinly sliced uncooked
  • 1 large can diced tomatoes
  • 1/2 red onion chopped
  • 1 yellow pepper chopped
  • 1 green pepper chopped
  • 2 c. Greek yogurt
  • 1 c. heavy cream
  • cooking oil

Flavor Balancers:

  • kosher salt to taste
  • 1 tbsp. black pepper
  • dash of cayenne pepper
  • 1 tbsp. red curry powder
  • 1 tbsp. lemon juice

Aromatics:

  • 2 tbsp. garlic minced

Instructions

  • Heat a large sauté pan to a medium heat. Add 1 tbsp. cooking oil (or just enough to lightly grease the bottom of the pan). Add garlic, peppers, onion, and chicken into pan and lightly sauté, stirring frequently to avoid sticking and burning. When chicken is about halfway cooked, add seasonings and half of cup of water. Stir vigorously to make sauce. Allow water to reduce and chicken to develop a nice sautéed texture.
  • When everything in the pan is cooked thoroughly, stir in tomatoes and cover, leaving at medium-heat to simmer for 15 minutes. After tomatoes have lost their bright red color, stir in cream, yogurt, and lemon juice mixing thoroughly. Allow to simmer at least 15 minutes to allow all flavors to meld together. Taste for flavor, adjusting seasonings as necessary. Should be sweet, spicy, savory, and have a nice, mellow curry flavor. Serve with basmati rice and pitas or naan bread.

Notes

Use Greek yogurt for a more authentic flavor, but be prepared to add honey or sugar as Greek yogurt tends to be very tart. Lemon juice lightens the dish and bonds all the flavors together. This dish is very flavorful and has a nice heat and warmth, but the yogurt had cream really tone down the spiciness of the dish. It is sure to be an instant classic.