Chicken Tikka Masala
First of all I’d like to say thanks SO much for everyone who voted for me in the Foodbuzz Project Food Blog. I made it through the first round and now it’s time for Challenge #2. For the second challenge, we are all supposed to tackle an ethnic food that we aren’t familiar with.
A little known fact about Hubby is that he lived in India for three months. A few years ago he had the opportunity to move there for a short term work assignment. He and two friends had a great time traveling the world while I held down the fort back in Ohio.
One of Hubby’s friends got pick-pocketed by a monkey!
Prior to Hubby living in India, neither of us had ever eaten Indian food more than maybe once or twice. But after his three month trip, he hooked! His new love of Indian food meant we had it in the house more often. Then I started to fall in love with Indian food as well. We have always just relied on restaurants to provide our Indian food fix (btw, we have tried quite a few places since moving to Boston and have found two favorites in the area).
As you may remember, I did challenge myself to make Indian food during my 30-by-30 and when this challenge was posted, I just knew I had to tackle Indian food. Hubby’s all time favorite Indian meal is Chicken Tikka Masala. He always gets it when we eat Indian (I always get chicken tikka saag).
I obviously don’t have a tandoori oven to cook the chicken in, but I made do with the oven I do have. The one main ingredient that we didn’t have in the house was Garam Masala. When you smell this spice, it takes you straight to India (that’s what Hubby always says at least). We are fortunate enough to live near a small Indian convenience shop. We stopped in for the first time ever and enjoyed the sights and smells that hit us at the door.
This dish turned out amazingly. It does require a bit of work, but it’s worth it in the end! If you haven’t tried Indian food at home, this is a great place to start. Of course, it’s great served with homemade Garlic Naan!
Chicken Tikka Masala
Yield: 6
Ingredients:
4 chicken breasts
Kosher Salt
Ground coriander
Cumin
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
6 Tbsp butter
1 whole large onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 piece (approximately 2 Inches) fresh ginger, peeled and minced
3 Tbsp Garam Masala
Chili peppers (optional)
1 can (28 Ounce) diced tomatoes
1 Tbsp sugar
1 1/2 cup heavy cream
2 cups Basmati rice
Fresh cilantro
Turmeric
Frozen peas
Directions:
Season the chicken with kosher salt. Sprinkle both sides with coriander and cumin. Cover the chicken completely with the yogurt.
Place a metal cooling rack over a foil lined baking sheet. Place chicken on the cooling rack. Place the baking sheet about 10 inches below a broiler for 5-7 minutes per side. Be sure to watch the chicken so it doesn't burn - it should be slightly blackened on the edges.
Remove the chicken from the oven.
In a large skillet melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Toss in the onions and saute until they are slightly browned. Add the garlic and ginger to the onions and 1 Tbsp of salt.
Add the garam masala to the onions. If you want some heat, add hot chili peppers. Then add the can of diced tomatoes. Continue to cook, scraping the bottom of the pan to deglaze it. Add the sugar and let simmer on medium for a few minutes.
Cook the Basmati rice in a rice cooker with 4 Tbsp butter, 1 tsp salt, 1 tbsp Tumeric, and 4 cups of water.
After the Tikka Masala sauce has had a chance to simmer for a little bit, add in the heavy cream.
Chop the chicken breasts into chunks and stir them into the Tikka Masala sauce. Add a handfull of chopped fresh cilantro. Throw frozen peas into the cooked rice, and stir. The heat of the rice to cook the peas. Serve the rice with the Chicken Tikka Masala over top. Serve with Garlic Naan.
Recipe from The Pioneer Woman
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
I love making a bunch of different recipes and having them come together in one awesome meal! This looks so delicious, especially with the heat we’ve been having!
Next time I come over, I insist we either have these delicious looking Gyros or go to the Turkish restaurant you talked about.
Wow, I love that addiction to the stove! Your chicken gyros look super flavorful and like the perfect hot day lunch!
Sues
I love that every aspect of this meal is homemade… yum! What is the name of the Turkish restaurant? I need to check it out :).
I just made something similar and they were great! LOVE the sauce! Thanks!
Can’t wait for you to post the recipe – I am putting it on my menu for next week. 😀
I used to make tzatziki sauce too -until my grocery store started selling it for .99 cents for a 16 ounce container – so cheap!
Hope you have a great weekend!
I love me a traditional, good, lamb gyro- but these look delicious! I might have to break out of my comfort zone 🙂
I love me a traditional, good, lamb gyro- but these look delicious! I might have to break out of my comfort zone 🙂
We definitely have to try these…yum!
Those look delicious, I will have to try those!
Can the pita bread dough be made in advance and kept in the fridge overnight? I want to make these tomorrow for dinner but will not have time for the 90 minute and then 20 minute rise times. Any advice would be great. Thanks!
welcome to the bandwagon! love Elly’s recipe!
Manne – sounds like a plan
Lauren – It’s called Brookline Family Restaurant and it’s on Washington St in Brookline Village. Definitely check it out if you’re in the area.
Sheena – I’m not sure about freezing the pita bread dough. I’m sure it would be fine as other bread doughs can be frozen and used later. Let me know how it goes if you try it!