Main Course

Indian Chicken Tikka Masala

Tender chunks of chicken tikka swimming in a rich, creamy tomato-based curry sauce. This restaurant-style recipe brings authentic Indian flavors to your home.

Liam Henderson

Cook Time

Servings

reviews

Medium

Difficulty

Instructions

Marinate chicken

Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. Mix with yogurt, lemon juice, half the garam masala, cumin, turmeric, cayenne, and salt. Marinate for 1-2 hours or overnight.

Cook the chicken tikka

Thread marinated chicken onto skewers. Grill or broil for 12-15 minutes, turning once, until charred and cooked through. Set aside.

The char is essential for authentic flavor - don't skip the high heat step.

Make the sauce base

In a large pan, melt butter and sauté finely chopped onions until golden, about 8 minutes. Add ginger-garlic paste and remaining garam masala, cook for 2 minutes.

Build the masala

Add tomato puree and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add cream and simmer for 5 more minutes. Season with salt and sugar to balance acidity.

Combine and finish

Add grilled chicken pieces to the sauce. Simmer for 8-10 minutes to allow flavors to meld. Adjust consistency with water if too thick.

Garnish and serve

Finish with a swirl of cream and garnish with fresh cilantro. Serve hot with naan bread or basmati rice.