Best 2 Chicken Tikka Masala Butter Chicken Recipes

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Tantalize your taste buds with a culinary journey to India, where aromatic spices and succulent flavors reign supreme. Chicken Tikka Masala and Butter Chicken, two of the most celebrated dishes in Indian cuisine, await your culinary exploration. These delectable dishes share a delightful tapestry of flavors, yet each possesses its own unique charm. Chicken Tikka Masala, a Northern Indian specialty, features tender chicken marinated in yogurt and spices, grilled to perfection and simmered in a creamy tomato-based sauce infused with fragrant herbs. Butter Chicken, originating from Punjab, captivates with its rich, velvety tomato gravy enveloping succulent chicken pieces, kissed by a hint of fenugreek and a generous dollop of butter. Whether you prefer the vibrant red hue of Chicken Tikka Masala or the creamy orange embrace of Butter Chicken, both dishes promise an explosion of flavors that will leave you craving for more. So, embark on this culinary adventure and discover the secrets behind these beloved Indian treasures.

Let's cook with our recipes!

THE BEST CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA



The Best Chicken Tikka Masala image

Chicken Tikka Masala is thought to have been created by a Bangladeshi chef in Glasgow in the 1960s. It's a spicy, tomato-based dish seasoned with garlic, ginger, fenugreek and garam masala. In this recipe we used fenugreek leaves for their nutty and slightly minty flavor. If you can't find them, substitute dried mint leaves and a pinch of ground fenugreek. Garam masala is a popular Indian spice blend that usually includes black and white pepper, cloves, cinnamon, mace, cardamom, bay, cumin and coriander. It's pretty easy to find in your local grocery store and most national spice companies.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     main-dish

Time 4h

Yield 6 to 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 24

1 1/4 cup whole milk yogurt
1 tablespoon finely grated ginger
4 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder (see Cook's Note)
1 teaspoon garam masala
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
2 cloves garlic, finely grated
8 boneless skinless chicken thighs (about 2 1/2 pounds)
4 tablespoons ghee (see Cook's Note)
1 large onion, sliced
2 serrano chiles, stemmed, seeded and chopped
Kosher salt
1 tablespoon finely grated ginger
4 cloves garlic, finely grated
2 teaspoons dried whole fenugreek leaves (see Cook's Note)
2 teaspoons garam masala
1 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
1 teaspoon Hungarian paprika
One 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes
1/4 cup heavy cream
Chopped cilantro leaves and tender stems, for serving
Basmati rice, for serving
Naan, for serving

Steps:

  • For the chicken marinade: Whisk together the yogurt, ginger, salt, chili powder, garam masala, pepper, turmeric and garlic in a large bowl until combined. Toss the chicken in the spiced yogurt marinade until evenly coated. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 3 hours and up to 24. (Overnight works best.)
  • For the sauce: Melt the ghee in a large Dutch oven or wide heavy pot over medium heat. Add the onions and serrano, season with 1 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are golden and beginning to caramelize, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the ginger and garlic and cook, stirring, until very fragrant and the ginger starts to turn golden and sticks to the bottom of the pot, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the fenugreek leaves, garam masala, chili powder and paprika and cook, stirring occasionally, until very fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, breaking them up into pieces with a spoon, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has reduced by half and the tomatoes are very tender, about 30 minutes.
  • Let the hot sauce cool for about 5 minutes or so, then transfer it to a blender filling no more than halfway. (If your blender is small, you may need to work in batches.) Remove the center cap from the lid and place it on the blender. Cover the lid with a kitchen towel to catch splatters, and pulse until smooth. Add 1/4 cup heavy cream and puree until creamy. Pour into a clean pot and bring to a simmer. Season with salt.
  • Meanwhile, position a rack directly under the broiler and preheat to high. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and set a wire rack inside.
  • Arrange the chicken in a single layer on the rack. Broil until the chicken starts to brown in spots, 3 to 6 minutes per side (it will not be cooked through). Remove from the broiler. When cool enough to handle, cut the chicken into 1-inch pieces. Add the chicken to the simmering sauce, cover and cook until the chicken is cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.
  • Top the chicken and sauce with cilantro. Serve with rice and naan.

CHEF JOHN'S CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA



Chef John's Chicken Tikka Masala image

I probably get more requests for Indian food than any other ethnic cuisine, so I was very excited to be posting this recipe for chicken tikka masala; until I found out it's actually a British recipe. This is usually done with heavy cream, but I like to use coconut milk instead; the subtle sweetness it provides works beautifully with the spices in the dish. Serve with steamed rice.

Provided by Chef John

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     Asian     Indian

Time 1h10m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 22

1 ½ pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons garam masala
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom
2 tablespoons clarified butter (ghee), or more as needed
1 onion, chopped
¼ cup tomato paste
4 cloves garlic, finely grated
1 tablespoon finely grated ginger, or more to taste
1 cup crushed tomatoes
1 (13 ounce) can coconut milk
½ cup chicken broth, or as needed
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
salt and ground black pepper to taste

Steps:

  • Place chicken in a bowl and drizzle vegetable oil over chicken; toss to coat.
  • Whisk kosher salt, garam masala, ground cumin, ground coriander, smoked paprika, ground turmeric, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and cardamom together in a small bowl. Season chicken with spice mixture and turn to coat evenly.
  • Melt clarified butter in a large, heavy skillet over high heat. Cook chicken thighs in hot butter until browned on all sides, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate. When cool enough to handle, cut chicken into bite-size pieces.
  • Reduce heat under the skillet to medium-high. Stir onion into skillet; saute until onion softens and turns translucent, 5 to 6 minutes. Add tomato paste and stir. Saute until paste caramelizes, about 5 minutes. Stir garlic and ginger into tomato-onion mixture and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  • Pour the crushed tomatoes into the skillet and bring to a boil while scraping the browned bits of food off of the bottom of the skillet with a wooden spoon. Pour in coconut milk and chicken broth; bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium low, and cook, stirring occasionally, until flavors blend and sauce is slightly reduced, about 15 minutes.
  • Stir chicken, any accumulated juices from the chicken, cilantro, and red pepper flakes into tomato mixture; bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until chicken is cooked through and tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 625.3 calories, Carbohydrate 19.2 g, Cholesterol 122.4 mg, Fat 48.2 g, Fiber 5 g, Protein 33.5 g, SaturatedFat 27.1 g, Sodium 1325.2 mg, Sugar 4.6 g

Tips:

  • Choose boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs for a leaner dish.
  • Use a food processor or blender to make a smooth marinade. This will help the chicken to absorb the flavors more evenly.
  • If you don't have time to marinate the chicken for a long period, you can still make a flavorful dish by marinating it for at least 30 minutes.
  • Use a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven for cooking the chicken. This will help to distribute the heat evenly and prevent the chicken from sticking.
  • Cook the chicken over medium heat until it is cooked through. This will help to keep the chicken tender and juicy.
  • Use a combination of yogurt, cream, and tomatoes to make a rich and flavorful sauce. You can also add other ingredients, such as onions, garlic, ginger, and spices, to taste.
  • Serve chicken tikka masala with rice, naan, or roti.

Conclusion:

Chicken tikka masala is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a great way to use up leftover chicken, and it can also be made ahead of time and reheated later. Whether you are a beginner cook or an experienced chef, you are sure to find a chicken tikka masala recipe that you will love.

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