Recipe #35: Chicken Tikka Masala

Chicken tikka masala is a classic dish and it’s usually people’s first taste of Indian food, but did you know this is actually a very British dish? All I can say is, whoever created this dish, thank you. It’s as comforting as it gets. It also seems simple enough to make, but it takes several steps, lots of ingredients, and hours to develop proper flavor.

For the marinade:

2 lb chicken breast, cubed

1.5 cups whole milk yogurt

1 tbsp garam masala

1 tbsp himalayan salt

1 tbsp black pepper

2 tsp paprika

2 tsp ground coriander

2 tsp cumin seeds

2 tsp ground cumin

2 tsp ginger powder

2 tsp garlic powder

2 tsp chili powder

For the curry:

1.5 cups tomato sauce

1.5 cups heavy cream

1/2 cup water

1/2 onion, chopped

2 tsp fresh ginger, minced

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 tsp garam masala

2 tsp turmeric

2 tsp himalayan salt

2 tsp black pepper

2 tsp cumin seeds

Directions:

• For the marinade: mix all ingredients in a bowl until spices and yogurt are evenly distributed. Cover with plastic wrap and keep in fridge for 12-18 hours (but I recommend at least 8 hours).
• If using your air fryer; preheat to 350. Grab the basket and line with parchment paper. Then place your chicken evenly on the baking sheet and cook for 12 minutes at 350.
• If using a pan: add 2 tsp of avocado oil to a pan and cook the chicken on medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes per side.
• Put a medium sized pan on medium heat and sauté the onion, ginger and garlic with 2 tsp of avocado oil 2-3 minutes.
• Next, add in the tomato sauce and the rest of the seasonings and keep stirring for 4-5 minutes, making sure to scrape the bottom as you stir.
• Add the chicken back to the pot and give it a quick stir.
• Then, add in the heavy cream and put the heat on low.
• Allow to simmer, stirring every 2-3 minutes, for 5-10 minutes (or longer if you have more time!) To save on carbs, eat on its own or with a tomato cucumber salad. If you’re open to a carb heavy side, I recommend some Basmati rice or buttery naan!

Click this link to see me make chicken tikka masala!

ENJOYYYY and let me know if you have questions! You can email me at hello@themoniquestory.com anytime!