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 – from The Pioneer Woman – serves 6
Printable Recipe
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
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.
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 think it would be SO awesome to live in India…mostly for the food. Which places do you like in Boston? I used to live there and really want to move back at some point!
This chicken tikka masala looks so tasty. Wonderful for PFB!
Joanne – We love Punjab Palace in Allston for delivery and Tamarind Bay in Brookline for eating in.
So great that you made it through. I’m sure you will make it to the next round with this beauty. Your take on this Indian classic looks absolutely delicious!
Punjab Palace is my absolute FAVORITE Indian place in Boston. They actually make my dishes spicy unlike some other places in Boston. I’ve always wants to try Tamarind Bay as well. Delicious recipe!
kitchenmisfit – definitely try Tamarind Bay. They have a great little outdoor seating area so if you can get there before fall arrives in full swing, I’d definitely recommend it.
I love chicken tikka masala – I just made it about six months ago for the first time, and I’ve made it a dozen times since!
I have a version that takes 30 minutes – I found I couldn’t taste the difference of the chicken when it marinated in the yogurt, so just skip it!
http://mybizzykitchen.com/2010/03/09/more-indian-food/
I voted for you – good luck!
This is fantastic! I love chicken tikka masala and its great you can cross off another item on your list!
Chicken Tikki Masala is my go to Indian food too! I had a great meal at Rani in Brookline a few years ago. I just voted for you. good luck.
Also – how fun you are giving away the KAF treats!
looks fantastic–you got my vote
i’ll have to try this one next!
I made tikka masala too for this challenge! It’s so yummy and tasty. Yours looks really delicious, and I voted for you.
You can see mine at http://www.foodbuzz.com/project_food_blog/challenges/2/view/973
Yum, I love Chicken Tikka Masala…this looks delicious Jen and you got my vote!
Love love me some tikka masala! And totally cute photo of the monkey.
Got my vote! Good luck!
Is it rude if I request to be invited over next time you make this?! Chicken Tikka Masala is one of my favorites and your looks so goooood!
Best of luck in the competition…I’m rooting for you!!
u r so right bout indian food,..
platter looks yum,..good luck.:-)
this looks delicious
Good luck with project food and you got my vote for this one! Feel free to drop by 
Good luck and best wishes for making to the top !! WOOHOO
jen @ http://www.passion4food.ca
I love chicken tikka masala too, but haven’t ever attempted it. I’ll have to do it now, you made it look simple. You got my vote!
This looks awesome. I love Indian cuisine. Best of luck with round 2!!!
We love Indian food, I wish we had it more often. Our go to is also Tikka Masala and I am thinking we may need to revisit it again real soon. Great job you have my vote.
Voted for you and good luck with PFB
I would like to invite you to participate in my giveaway
http://atasteofkoko.blogspot.com/2010/08/mini-pistachio-tea-cakes-40.html
Here is my entry for PFB http://www.foodbuzz.com/project_food_blog/challenges/2/view/1039
What a fabulous dish you chose for the PFB challenge. Great job! I loved the monkey, but didn’t realize they were pick-pockets. Little rascals! I’ve not tried much Indian food, but would love to try your recipe. Sending you the best of luck in future challenges, along with my vote!
You’ve got my vote! I’m glad you were able to challenge yourself by cooking Indian food. Good thing you did, this dish looks amazing!!
That is so amazing that your husband has gotten to the opportunity to live in India.
Good luck, I know you are going to go far in this competition.
I voted!
Looks great! I love Indian food but unfortunately I’m the only one in my family and friends circle that loves it. In order to eat it I have to eat alone…haha.
Thanks for visiting my site.
I am panjabi ana love tikka. great post and voted by me.. I always use tikka flavoured chicken for my pizza…
Lovely post, placed my vote. Hope we both make it to the next round!
Your tikka looks great!! Don’t you love the Pioneer Woman? I cast a vote for you!
Lisa
I made this last Thursday. It was very good but way too spicy for my kids. When I make it again I am only adding one and a half T of garam masala and omitting the yogurt on the chicken.Thanks for all the yummy recipes!
not going to lie- mine didn’t taste so great. i was very hopeful, but i guess a year + of living in india puts my standards really high.
my favorite indian restaurant in boston is punjabi dhaba in inman square. lines so long they’re usually down the block, and there are always lots of desis there- that’s how you know it’s good. best dosa and chicken tikka masala i’ve had this side of the atlantic. silverware is optional.