{"format":"dagwood/rgf@1","slug":"chicken-tikka-masala","title":"Chicken Tikka Masala","blurb":"Charred, yogurt-marinated chicken simmered in a spiced tomato cream sauce, with fluffy basmati rice alongside.","servings":4,"tags":["chicken","curry","rice","weekend"],"cuisine":"Indian","difficulty":"medium","image":"/img/chicken-tikka-masala.webp","imageAlt":"A bowl of creamy orange-red chicken tikka masala with charred chicken pieces and chopped cilantro, next to a bowl of white basmati rice","methods":[{"id":"broiler","label":"Broiler"},{"id":"skillet","label":"Skillet"}],"lines":[{"id":"masala","name":"Masala sauce"},{"id":"chicken","name":"Chicken tikka"},{"id":"rice","name":"Basmati rice"}],"ingredients":[{"id":"ghee","name":"ghee","qty":3,"unit":"tbsp","line":"masala","subs":[{"name":"unsalted butter","qty":3,"unit":"tbsp","note":"Just as rich. Keep the heat at medium so it doesn't scorch"}]},{"id":"onion","name":"large yellow onions","qty":1,"unit":"","line":"masala"},{"id":"sauce-garlic","name":"garlic","qty":4,"unit":"clove","line":"masala"},{"id":"sauce-ginger","name":"fresh ginger","qty":1,"unit":"tbsp","prep":"peeled","line":"masala"},{"id":"serrano","name":"serrano chiles","qty":1,"unit":"","prep":"minced","line":"masala","optional":true},{"id":"sauce-garam","name":"garam masala","qty":2,"unit":"tsp","line":"masala"},{"id":"sauce-cumin","name":"ground cumin","qty":1,"unit":"tsp","line":"masala"},{"id":"coriander","name":"ground coriander","qty":1,"unit":"tsp","line":"masala"},{"id":"sauce-chili","name":"Kashmiri chili powder","qty":2,"unit":"tsp","line":"masala","subs":[{"name":"sweet paprika plus a pinch of cayenne","qty":2,"unit":"tsp","note":"Same deep red color, a little less fruity"}]},{"id":"turmeric","name":"ground turmeric","qty":0.5,"unit":"tsp","line":"masala"},{"id":"tomato-paste","name":"tomato paste","qty":2,"unit":"tbsp","line":"masala"},{"id":"tomatoes","name":"crushed tomatoes","qty":1,"unit":"can","prep":"28 oz","line":"masala","subs":[{"name":"tomato puree","qty":1,"unit":"can","note":"Smoother sauce, so you can skip blending"}]},{"id":"sauce-salt","name":"kosher salt","qty":1,"unit":"tsp","line":"masala"},{"id":"cream","name":"heavy cream","qty":0.75,"unit":"cup","line":"masala","subs":[{"name":"full-fat coconut milk","qty":0.75,"unit":"cup","note":"Dairy free, with a light coconut flavor"}]},{"id":"methi","name":"dried fenugreek leaves","qty":1,"unit":"tsp","prep":"kasuri methi, crushed between your palms","line":"masala","optional":true},{"id":"sugar","name":"sugar","qty":1,"unit":"tsp","line":"masala","optional":true},{"id":"cilantro","name":"cilantro","qty":0.25,"unit":"cup","prep":"chopped","line":"masala"},{"id":"chicken","name":"boneless, skinless chicken thighs","qty":2,"unit":"lb","line":"chicken","subs":[{"name":"boneless, skinless chicken breasts","qty":2,"unit":"lb","note":"Leaner and quicker to dry out. Pull them as soon as they char"}]},{"id":"yogurt","name":"plain whole-milk yogurt","qty":0.75,"unit":"cup","line":"chicken","subs":[{"name":"plain Greek yogurt","qty":0.75,"unit":"cup","note":"Thicker coating that chars a little more"}]},{"id":"lemon","name":"lemon juice","qty":2,"unit":"tbsp","line":"chicken"},{"id":"mar-garlic","name":"garlic","qty":3,"unit":"clove","prep":"grated","line":"chicken"},{"id":"mar-ginger","name":"fresh ginger","qty":1,"unit":"tbsp","prep":"peeled and grated","line":"chicken"},{"id":"mar-garam","name":"garam masala","qty":2,"unit":"tsp","line":"chicken"},{"id":"mar-chili","name":"Kashmiri chili powder","qty":1,"unit":"tsp","line":"chicken"},{"id":"mar-cumin","name":"ground cumin","qty":1,"unit":"tsp","line":"chicken"},{"id":"mar-salt","name":"kosher salt","qty":1.5,"unit":"tsp","line":"chicken"},{"id":"skillet-oil","name":"neutral oil","qty":2,"unit":"tbsp","line":"chicken"},{"id":"basmati","name":"basmati rice","qty":1.5,"unit":"cup","line":"rice","subs":[{"name":"jasmine rice","qty":1.5,"unit":"cup","note":"Softer and a little sticky. Cut the water to 2 cups"}]},{"id":"rice-water","name":"water","qty":2.25,"unit":"cup","line":"rice"},{"id":"rice-salt","name":"kosher salt","qty":0.5,"unit":"tsp","line":"rice"}],"steps":[{"id":"chop","line":"masala","verb":"Chop","text":"Finely chop {onion}. Grate {sauce-garlic} and {sauce-ginger}.","min":6,"hands":"on","after":[],"uses":["onion","sauce-garlic","sauce-ginger"]},{"id":"soften","line":"masala","verb":"Cook","text":"Cook the onion in {ghee} in a large pot over medium heat, stirring now and then, until soft and golden.","min":10,"hands":"off","after":["chop"],"uses":["ghee"],"heat":"medium","tool":"large pot or Dutch oven","checks":[{"at":4,"text":"Stir the onion"},{"at":7,"text":"Stir, and lower the heat if the edges are darkening"}]},{"id":"bloom","line":"masala","verb":"Bloom","text":"Add the garlic and ginger plus {serrano} and stir for 1 minute. Stir in {sauce-garam}, {sauce-cumin}, {coriander}, {sauce-chili}, {turmeric} and {tomato-paste} and cook 1 minute more.","min":2,"hands":"on","after":["soften"],"uses":["serrano","sauce-garam","sauce-cumin","coriander","sauce-chili","turmeric","tomato-paste"],"heat":"medium","why":"Frying spices in fat before the liquid goes in deepens their flavor."},{"id":"simmer","line":"masala","verb":"Simmer","text":"Add {tomatoes} and {sauce-salt}, bring to a simmer and cook until thick and the fat starts to pool at the edges.","min":15,"hands":"off","after":["bloom"],"uses":["tomatoes","sauce-salt"],"heat":"medium-low","checks":[{"at":5,"text":"Stir, scraping the bottom"},{"at":10,"text":"Stir again. Add a splash of water if it's catching"}]},{"id":"blend","line":"masala","verb":"Blend","text":"Blend the sauce smooth with an immersion blender.","min":2,"hands":"on","after":["simmer"],"uses":[],"optional":true,"tool":"immersion blender","why":"Gives the silky, restaurant-style sauce instead of a chunky one."},{"id":"mix-marinade","line":"chicken","verb":"Mix","text":"Stir {yogurt}, {lemon}, {mar-garlic}, {mar-ginger}, {mar-garam}, {mar-chili}, {mar-cumin} and {mar-salt} together in a large bowl.","min":3,"hands":"on","after":[],"uses":["yogurt","lemon","mar-garlic","mar-ginger","mar-garam","mar-chili","mar-cumin","mar-salt"]},{"id":"cut-chicken","line":"chicken","verb":"Cut","text":"Cut {chicken} into 1 1/2 inch pieces, trimming off any large bits of fat.","min":6,"hands":"on","after":[],"uses":["chicken"]},{"id":"marinate","line":"chicken","verb":"Marinate","text":"Toss the chicken in the marinade until coated, cover and let it sit at room temperature.","min":30,"hands":"off","after":["mix-marinade","cut-chicken"],"uses":[],"why":"The yogurt tenderizes the chicken and gives the char something to cling to."},{"id":"preheat-broiler","line":"chicken","verb":"Preheat","text":"Heat the broiler with a rack about 6 inches below the element.","min":5,"hands":"off","after":[],"uses":[],"method":"broiler","heat":"high broil","tool":"broiler"},{"id":"arrange","line":"chicken","verb":"Arrange","text":"Set a wire rack in a foil-lined sheet pan and spread the chicken on it in a single layer, letting excess marinade drip off.","min":2,"hands":"on","after":["marinate"],"uses":[],"method":"broiler","tool":"sheet pan and wire rack"},{"id":"broil","line":"chicken","verb":"Broil","text":"Broil the chicken until charred in spots and just cooked through, flipping halfway.","min":12,"hands":"off","after":["arrange","preheat-broiler"],"uses":[],"method":"broiler","heat":"high broil","tool":"broiler","checks":[{"at":6,"text":"Flip the chicken"}]},{"id":"heat-skillet","line":"chicken","verb":"Preheat","text":"Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until very hot.","min":4,"hands":"off","after":["marinate"],"uses":[],"method":"skillet","heat":"medium-high","tool":"cast iron skillet"},{"id":"sear","line":"chicken","verb":"Sear","text":"Add {skillet-oil} and sear the chicken in two batches, shaking off excess marinade, until charred on two sides and just cooked through, about 5 minutes per batch.","min":10,"hands":"on","after":["heat-skillet"],"uses":["skillet-oil"],"method":"skillet","heat":"medium-high","tool":"cast iron skillet","why":"A crowded pan steams the chicken instead of charring it."},{"id":"rinse","line":"rice","verb":"Rinse","text":"Rinse {basmati} in several changes of cold water until the water runs almost clear.","min":2,"hands":"on","after":[],"uses":["basmati"],"why":"Washing off surface starch keeps the grains separate instead of gummy."},{"id":"cook-rice","line":"rice","verb":"Cook","text":"Bring the rice, {rice-water} and {rice-salt} to a boil in a saucepan, then cover and cook over the lowest heat.","min":20,"hands":"off","after":["rinse"],"uses":["rice-water","rice-salt"],"heat":"high, then low","tool":"saucepan with lid","checks":[{"at":5,"text":"Once it boils, cover and turn the heat to low"}]},{"id":"rest-rice","line":"rice","verb":"Rest","text":"Take the pan off the heat and let it stand, covered, without lifting the lid.","min":10,"hands":"off","after":["cook-rice"],"uses":[]},{"id":"fluff","line":"rice","verb":"Fluff","text":"Fluff the rice with a fork.","min":1,"hands":"on","after":["rest-rice"],"uses":[]},{"id":"combine","line":"masala","verb":"Combine","text":"Stir {cream}, {methi} and {sugar} into the sauce, then add the chicken and any juices.","min":2,"hands":"on","after":["simmer","blend","broil","sear"],"uses":["cream","methi","sugar"]},{"id":"finish","line":"masala","verb":"Simmer","text":"Simmer gently until the chicken is hot through and the sauce clings to it. Taste and adjust the salt.","min":6,"hands":"off","after":["combine"],"uses":[],"heat":"low"},{"id":"serve","line":"masala","verb":"Serve","text":"Scatter {=cilantro} over the curry and serve it with the rice.","min":1,"hands":"on","after":["finish","fluff"],"uses":["cilantro"]}],"serve":"serve","notes":["For even more tender chicken, marinate it in the fridge for 4 to 24 hours. Let it sit out 20 minutes before cooking.","Kashmiri chili powder is mild and very red. If you use hot chili powder instead, use half as much.","The curry is even better the next day. Reheat gently with a splash of water."],"license":"CC BY 4.0"}