Tikka Masala
- 30m Prep Time
- 1h 0mCook Time
- 8h Ready In
A rich and creamy chicken tikka masala made with bone-in chicken pieces marinated in spiced yogurt, then charred and simmered in a tomato-cream sauce. Serve with rice or naan.
Ingredients
- 2.27 kg bone-in chicken pieces (breasts, legs, or a mix), skin removed
- 44.4 ml toasted ground cumin
- 44.4 ml toasted paprika
- 29.6 ml toasted ground coriander seed
- 9.86 ml ground turmeric
- 4.93 ml cayenne pepper
- 12 clove garlic grated on the medium holes of a box grater, divided
- 44.4 ml fresh ginger grated on the medium holes of a box grater, divided
- 473 ml yogurt
- 177 ml fresh juice from 4 to 6 lemons divided
- Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- 59.1 ml butter or ghee
- 1 large onion thinly sliced
- 1 whole peeled tomatoes roughly mashed
- 118 ml roughly chopped cilantro leaves and tender stems
- 237 ml heavy cream
Nutrition (per serving, estimated)
Estimated based off 11 of 16 identified ingredients (per 100 g food data, scaled by amount).
Vitamins & minerals
- Calcium: 678 mg
- Iron: 7.58 mg
- Magnesium: 203 mg
- Phosphorus: 1367 mg
- Potassium: 2756 mg
- Zinc: 6.69 mg
Let's Prepare
Collect
Gather these ingredients — no prep needed yet.
- 2.27 kg bone-in chicken pieces (breasts, legs, or a mix), skin removed
- 44.4 ml toasted ground cumin
- 44.4 ml toasted paprika
- 29.6 ml toasted ground coriander seed
- 9.86 ml ground turmeric
- 4.93 ml cayenne pepper
- 473 ml yogurt
- Diamond Crystal kosher salt
- 59.1 ml butter or ghee
- 118 ml roughly chopped cilantro leaves and tender stems
- 237 ml heavy cream
Prepare
- 12 clove garlic, grated on the medium holes of a box grater, divided
- 44.4 ml fresh ginger, grated on the medium holes of a box grater, divided
- 177 ml fresh juice from 4 to 6 lemons, divided
- 1 large onion, thinly sliced
- 1 whole peeled tomatoes, roughly mashed
Let's Cook
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Step 1.
Place chicken pieces on a cutting board flesh-side up. Score deeply at 1-inch intervals with a sharp knife. Place in a large rimmed baking dish.
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Step 2.
Combine cumin, paprika, coriander, turmeric, and cayenne in a small bowl and mix well. Set aside 3 tablespoons of spice mixture.
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Step 3.
Combine remaining 6 tablespoons spice mixture, 8 cloves garlic, 2 tablespoons ginger, yogurt, 1/2 cup lemon juice, and 1/4 cup salt in a large bowl and whisk to combine.
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Step 4.
Pour marinade all over chicken pieces, using hands to coat every surface. Cover loosely and refrigerate. Refrigerate and allow to marinate for at least 4 hours and up to 8, turning occasionally.
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Step 5.
Meanwhile, heat butter or ghee in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until melted and foaming subsides. Add onions, remaining 4 tablespoons grated garlic, and remaining 2 tablespoons ginger. Cook, stirring frequently, until dark and beginning to char in spots, about 10 minutes.
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Step 6.
Add reserved spice mixture and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
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Step 7.
Add tomatoes and half of cilantro, scraping up any browned bits from bottom of pan with a spoon. Simmer for 15 minutes, then puree using a hand blender or by transferring to a tabletop blender in batches.
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Step 8.
Stir in cream and remaining quarter cup lemon juice. Season to taste with salt, then set aside until chicken is cooked.
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Step 9.
To cook on the grill: Light one chimney full of charcoal. When all the charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and spread the coals evenly over half of coal grate. Set cooking grate in place, cover grill and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. Clean and oil the grilling grate.
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Step 10.
Wipe excess marinade off chicken and place over hot side of grill, flesh-side-down. Grill without moving until well charred, 5 to 7 minutes. Flip chicken and cook until second side is charred, another 4 to 5 minutes. (Chicken will not be completely cooked through—this is ok). Transfer to cutting board and let rest 10 minutes.
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Step 11.
To cook under the broiler: Line a broiler pan with heavy duty aluminum foil and preheat the broiler to high with the rack set 6 inches below broiler element. Wipe excess marinade off chicken and place on foil-lined pan, flesh side up. Broil until charred and blackened on surface, about 8 minutes (chicken will not be completely cooked through—this is ok). Transfer to cutting board and let rest 10 minutes.
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Step 12.
Remove chicken from bone using a sharp knife and cut into rough bite-sized chunks. Transfer chicken chunks to pot of sauce. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook, stirring frequently, until chicken is just cooked through, about 10 minutes.
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Step 13.
Sprinkle with remaining cilantro, then serve immediately with rice or Grilled Naan.