Make chicken tikka masala with Steven

Step 1/6

• 200 g chicken breasts
• 100 g full-fat plain yogurt
• ½ clove garlic
• 10 g ginger
• ½ tbsp vegetable oil
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp sugar
• 1 tsp sweet paprika powder
• ½ tsp ground coriander
• ½ tsp garam masala
• ¼ tsp ground cumin
• ¼ tsp smoked paprika powder
• ¼ tsp ground turmeric
• ¼ tsp dried fenugreek leaf
• pepper

• bowl (large)
• fine grater
• whisk
• knife
• cutting board
• plastic wrap

For the marinade, grate half of the garlic and ginger into a bowl, and then add yoghurt, some oil, salt, some sugar, half of the ground spices (sweet paprika, coriander, garam masala, cumin, smoked paprika, turmeric) and half of the dried fenugreek leaves, and some freshly cracked black pepper, and whisk everything together. Slice the chicken into fairly big (approx. 5cm) chunks, then add to the marinade, and thoroughly mix. Marinate for at least a couple of hours, preferably overnight (approx. 12 hours).

Step 2/6

• 10 g cilantro
• 2 onions
• ½ green chili
• ⅛ tsp black mustard seed
• ½ tsp cumin seed
• ½ cinnamon stick
• 1 bay leaves
• 1½ cardamom pods
• 2½ cloves
• salt
• pepper

• oven
• pot (large)

Preheat the oven to 250°C/480°F top/bottom heat. Pluck cilantro leaves from stalk, and set aside. Finely chop cilantro stalks, thinly slice onions and chili, and finely grate remaining ginger and garlic. Add the remaining oil to a wok or heavy pot and heat on medium. Add the mustard seeds to the hot oil and as soon as they start to bubble, add the cumin seeds and fry for 5 seconds. Then add the cinnamon stick, bay leaves, cardamom pods, and cloves, and fry for another 10 seconds and then add the onions and season generously.

Step 3/6

• 1 tsp sweet paprika powder
• ½ tsp ground coriander
• ¼ tsp ground cumin
• ¼ tsp smoked paprika powder
• ¼ tsp ground turmeric
• 1 tsp sugar

• cooking spoon

Fry the onions for approx. 15 minutes until nicely browned, occasionally deglazing with water and scraping the bottom of the pan. Add garlic, ginger, chilli and coriander stalks and fry for another minute, until fragrant. Remove from the heat and add the remaining sweet paprika, ground coriander, cumin, smoked paprika, turmeric (save the garam masala and fenugreek leaves for later) and the remaining sugar and stir through for a minute.

Step 4/6

• 200 g canned crushed tomatoes

• baking sheet

Return the pot to the heat and add the tomatoes. Simmer for another 15-20 mins., occasionally stirring and scraping the pan, until the sauce resembles a thick paste. Meanwhile, place the chicken on a baking tray and bake on the top shelf of the oven for approx. 8 mins., and then set aside.

Step 5/6

• food processor
• ladle

Add some water to thin the masala sauce and then remove from the heat and discard the cinnamon stick, bay leaves and cardamom pods. Transfer to a food processor or blender and blitz until smooth.

Step 6/6

• 100 ml cream
• ½ tsp garam masala
• ¼ tsp dried fenugreek leaf
• ¼ lemon
• salt
• sugar
• cilantro (for garnish)
• basmati rice (for serving)
• mango chutney (for serving)
• naan bread (for serving)

Return the sauce to the heat, add the cream and simmer for another couple of minutes, then add the remaining garam masala and fenugreek leaves. Add salt, sugar and lemon juice to taste, and add water to thin the sauce if necessary. Then stir in the chicken and coriander leaves and simmer for another minute. Garnish with more coriander leaves and serve with basmati rice, naan bread, poppadoms, and chutney. Enjoy!

Enjoy your meal!