Tandoori is one of the most popular dishes in Indian cuisine, noted for its colorful appearance and flavor. Although traditionally cooked in a clay oven called a tandoor, preparing tandoori food at home is a simple process in today's world with just a regular oven or grill. Here is a recipe for one of the most popular dishes cooked in a tandoor: Tandoori Chicken
Ingredients
Tandoori Chicken
- 4-6 pieces of chicken; thigh, drumstick, or breast with bone
- 1 cup plain yogurt (Greek yogurt works well)
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste (or 1 tablespoon each of minced ginger and garlic)
- 1 tablespoon tandoori masala (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon paprika, to get the color
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon red chili powder, adjust to taste
- Salt, to taste
- Fresh coriander leaves, to garnish
- Lemon wedges, to serve
Instructions:
- Get a large mixing
- Rinse the chicken pieces and pat them dry with paper towels.
- Make 2-3 deep gashes in each piece. This will help the marinade to seep in and flavor the chicken well.
Making the Marinade:
- Combine all the ingredients in the marinade list in a large mixing bowl. These include yogurt, lemon juice, vegetable oil, ginger-garlic paste, tandoori masala, ground cumin, ground coriander, paprika, turmeric, garam masala, red chili powder, and salt.
- Mix thoroughly to form a smooth and thick marinade.
Marinate the Chicken:
- Rub the marinade all over the chicken, making sure it gets into the slashes.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. The more time the chicken has to marinate, the better it will taste.
Cook the Chicken:
Oven Method:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top.
- Lay the chicken pieces on a rack, and let the excess marinade drip off. Bake for 25-30min, turning once halfway through, until the chicken is cooked and slightly charred. You can broil the chicken for further 2-3 min if you need a more tandoori-like char. Grill Method: Preheat your grill to medium high heat.
- Grill chicken 5-7 minutes per side, until cooked through and charred in spots, basting occasionally with oil or butter for added flavor.
Serve.
- The chicken should be removed from the oven or grill to rest for a few minutes. Garnish with a sprinkling of fresh coriander leaves and offer with lemon wedges on the side. Tandoori chicken is best served with warm naan bread, rice, or a spoonful of cooling raita on the side.
Enjoy your homemade tandoori chicken!