Chicken Tikka Recipe

A tomato-based, chicken curry dish served in Indian restaurants everywhere, Chicken Tikka Masala is also known as a national favourite in Britain. The dish features chunks or “tikka” of chicken, which are marinated in spices and yoghurt and served in a mixture of spices or “masala” sauce. There is no standard recipe for the dish. This moderately easy one is recommended by the Good Food Channel.

On the day prior to serving:

• 1

  Marinate the chicken. First, make two cuts across each chicken piece, before placing the meat, in a single layer, in a ceramic dish. Mix the lemon juice and chilli powder together and spoon over chicken. Make sure to coat both sides, leaving the first side at least 20 minutes before turning over.

• 2

  Toast cumin seeds over moderate heat in a heavy-based pan for approximately 30 seconds. Tip them into a mortar and grind until the seeds resemble a powder. It doesn't have to be a very fine powder.

• 3

  Roughly chop garlic, onion and ginger and grind, preferably in a food processor, until smooth. Stir in yogurt, garam masala, coriander and half the ground cumin. Place the rest of the cumin covered in the refrigerator to be used for the sauce the following day.

• 4

  Pour the yogurt marinate over the chicken. Cover with plastic film and chill overnight in the fridge. Turn the chicken once while marinating if possible.

Day of serving:

• 1

  Preheat your oven grill to the highest setting, with the grill tray in it. Arrange chicken on the heated tray. Grill near the top of the oven for 3-5 minutes on each side. Remove from grill, keep any cooking juices and place the chicken in warming tray.

• 2

  Make the sauce. Whisk tomato puree with enough hot water to take the total volume up to 200ml. Stir in cream, coriander, ginger, sugar, lemon juice and the remaining cumin from the day prior.

• 3

  Melt butter in a frying pan. Pour in the sauce. Bring to a simmer whilst stirring. When the sauce is hot add the cooked chicken pieces and left over cooking juices. Season to taste and serve with naan bread and/or rice.