Ingredients
- For the Chicken Marinade:
- 5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup D’light natural yogurt
- 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder (adjust to taste)
- Salt to taste
- For the Tikka Masala Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or ghee
- 1 large onion, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
- 1 can crushed tomatoes or tomato puree
- 1/2 cup D’light natural yogurt
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar (optional)
- Kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves) for garnish
- Fresh cilantro, chopped, for garnish
- Heavy cream or coconut cream (optional)
Instruction
- Marinate your chicken. In a large bowl, mix D’light natural yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, lemon juice, garam masala, turmeric, cumin, coriander, chili powder, and salt. Add the chicken pieces, coating them well, and refrigerate for at least an hour, or overnight for best results.
- When ready to cook, you can grill or broil the chicken on skewers until cooked and slightly charred, or pan-fry it in oil until browned and cooked through.
- While the chicken cooks, prepare the Tikka Masala sauce. Heat oil or ghee in a large pan and sauté chopped onion until golden.
- Add ginger-garlic paste and cook until fragrant. Stir in crushed tomatoes or tomato puree, garam masala, paprika, and salt. Cook until the sauce thickens slightly. For a richer sauce, add heavy cream or coconut cream at this point. Reduce the heat and stir in the remaining D’light natural yogurt, ensuring it’s well incorporated to prevent curdling.
- Add the cooked chicken to the sauce and simmer for 5-10 minutes. If desired, add a touch of sugar.
- Garnish with kasuri methi and fresh cilantro before serving hot with basmati rice or naan. Remember, when adding D’light yogurt to hot sauces, keep the heat low to avoid curdling. It adds a wonderful tanginess and creaminess to your Tikka Masala.
