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Chicken Tikka Masala

Classic Indian curry with marinated chicken in a creamy tomato sauce.

45 minutes cook 30 minutes prep 3 hours 30 minutes total 4 servings
main chicken curry indian dinner
Scale
Units

Ingredients

  • 600 g chicken thighs
  • 0.50 cup plain yogurt
  • 10 cloves garlic
  • 2 tbsp fresh ginger
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cumin
  • 3 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp oil
  • 2 tbsp oil or ghee
  • 1 large onion
  • 2 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tbsp garam masala
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 2 cups tomato puree
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • to taste fresh cilantro
  • to taste salt

Equipment

  • skillet

Instructions

Chicken Marinade

1

Combine 600 g chicken thighs (boneless, skinless, cut into 3 cm cubes), 0.50 cup plain yogurt (full fat), 6 cloves garlic (minced), 1 tbsp fresh ginger (grated), 1 tsp garam masala , 1 tsp salt , 1 tsp cumin , 1 tsp ground coriander , 1 tsp paprika , 1 tbsp vegetable oil , and 2 tsp lemon juice in a bowl.

2

Mix well to coat the chicken. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours , preferably overnight.

Cook the Chicken

3

Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large skillet over high heat. Add the marinated chicken pieces in batches, cooking for about 2 minutes on each side until charred. Remove and set aside.

Curry Sauce

4

In the same skillet , add 2 tbsp oil or ghee if needed. Sauté the 1 large onion (finely chopped) until softened, about 5 minutes .

5

Add 4 cloves garlic (minced) and 1 tbsp fresh ginger (grated), cooking for another 1 minute .

Add Spices

6

Stir in 2 tsp turmeric , 1 tbsp garam masala , 2 tsp ground coriander , and 1 tsp ground cumin . Cook for about 20 seconds until fragrant.

Simmer the Sauce

7

Add 2 cups tomato puree and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook on low heat for about 15 minutes , stirring occasionally.

Blend the Sauce

Finish the Dish

8

Add 1 cup heavy cream and the cooked chicken to the sauce. Simmer for a few minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and the sauce has thickened.

Serve

9

Garnish with to taste fresh cilantro and serve hot with basmati rice or naan bread. Season with to taste salt .

View Cooklang Source
recipe.cook
---
title: Chicken Tikka Masala
description: "Classic Indian curry with marinated chicken in a creamy tomato sauce."
servings: 4
total time: 3 hours 30 minutes
prep time: 30 minutes
cook time: 45 minutes
marinade time: 3 hours
tags: [chicken, curry, indian, dinner, main]
cuisine: Indian
difficulty: intermediate
---

== Chicken Marinade ==

Combine @chicken thighs{600%g} (boneless, skinless, cut into 3cm cubes), @plain yogurt{0.5%cup} (full fat), @garlic{6%cloves} (minced), @fresh ginger{1%tbsp} (grated), @garam masala{1%tsp}, @salt{1%tsp}, @cumin{1%tsp}, @ground coriander{1%tsp}, @paprika{1%tsp}, @vegetable oil{1%tbsp}, and @lemon juice{2%tsp} in a bowl.

Mix well to coat the chicken. Cover and refrigerate for at least ~{3%hours}, preferably overnight.

== Cook the Chicken ==

Heat @oil{1%tbsp} in a large #skillet over high heat. Add the marinated chicken pieces in batches, cooking for about ~{2%minutes} on each side until charred. Remove and set aside.

== Curry Sauce ==

In the same #skillet, add @oil or ghee{2%tbsp} if needed. Sauté the @onion{1%large} (finely chopped) until softened, about ~{5%minutes}.

Add @garlic{4%cloves} (minced) and @fresh ginger{1%tbsp} (grated), cooking for another ~{1%minute}.

== Add Spices ==

Stir in @turmeric{2%tsp}, @garam masala{1%tbsp}, @ground coriander{2%tsp}, and @ground cumin{1%tsp}. Cook for about ~{20%seconds} until fragrant.

== Simmer the Sauce ==

Add @tomato puree{2%cups} and bring to a simmer. Cover and cook on low heat for about ~{15%minutes}, stirring occasionally.

== Blend the Sauce ==

> For a smooth texture, transfer the sauce to a blender and puree until smooth. Return to the pan.

== Finish the Dish ==

Add @heavy cream{1%cup} and the cooked chicken to the sauce. Simmer for a few minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and the sauce has thickened.

== Serve ==

Garnish with @fresh cilantro{to taste} and serve hot with basmati rice or naan bread. Season with @salt{to taste}.