Tandoori Chicken

Outrageously tender, succulent, and delicious! That’s the best way to describe Tandoori chicken. A traditional Pakistani/Indian recipe that has taken over the world. After you have read this recipe, you will be in awe of how simple and easy it is.

My recipe is developed with love and a healthy appetite! My family loves this recipe and over time I have added and removed various ingredients, and with many scrupulous trial and error runs, I finally found THE recipe!

So, if you have visited your local Desi restaurant on more than one occasion and thought to yourself: How good is this tandoori chicken!? This recipe is for you to try at home, at half the price, with little to no effort, and relish with your loved ones!

What is Tandoori Chicken?

Tandoori chicken, also called chicken tikka, has become a favourite recipe in many parts of the world because of its readily available ingredients, quick method, and not to forget its mouthwatering taste.

After marinating in various spices (which gives it, its unique red colour)mixed with yoghurt the chicken is baked in a big, bell-shaped, clay oven, called a tandoor: hence the name, Tandoori Chicken. The tandoor gives this chicken a one-of-a-kind, satisfying char!

But, don’t you worry! You don’t need a clay oven to make this delicious chicken recipe. You can make this over a grill, in the oven, or in a pan. In many homes, the same recipe is followed to make a grilled chicken. You can also bake this in an oven, making it healthy and easy!

Why You Will Love This Recipe

This recipe is a keeper! I’m sure that once you try this for a family dinner, your family is going to force you to make it regularly!

1. Easy Recipe: Not only are you going to love devouring this chicken, but you are going to love making it too! Because it is the easiest recipe to follow… ever! You can marinate the chicken a day before, and forget about it! All the ingredients are basic pantry staples, so you don’t need to run to the store to buy anything.
2. Freezer Friendly: This recipe is great to freeze. You could marinate and freeze the chicken and use it on a day when you are too busy to cook!
3. Family Favorite: Do I need to repeat myself? Your family is going to fall in love with this succulent and spicy chicken.

What Chicken Cut Should I Get for Tandoori Chicken?

The best chicken cut for this recipe is bone-in, skinless full leg, which contains the thigh and the leg. This cut gives the juiciest texture because of the fat content, and the bone makes it extra flavourful.

You can use other cuts such as the breast pieces, but because they are lean, they won’t result in the meat being as succulent.

Tandoori Chicken: Ingredient List

Here’s a list of the ingredients needed to make this recipe:

Ingredients:

• Chicken: The centre-stage ingredient. You must use skinless, bone-in full chicken leg for this recipe. This will result in the most tender and flavourful chicken. You can score the chicken pieces so the marination penetrates the chicken.
• Yoghurt: Yoghurt is the base of the marinade. Yoghurt adds a tangy flavour to the chicken and preserves moisture, resulting in a melt-in-mouth chicken.
• Oil: Oil helps to bind all the ingredients together, and adds a crispy outer coating to the chicken.
• Black pepper Powder: Add more if you like some heat!
• Cumin Powder (Zeera): Brings a delicious aroma and nutty flavour.
• Coriander Powder: Coriander is an essential spice without which the flavour and fragrance of the dish would be incomplete.
• Salt, to taste
• Garam Masala: Brings some depth and heat to the marination.
• Red Food Color: This is optional. By adding food colour, you ensure an even colour for the chicken.
• Ginger Garlic Paste: Another key ingredient in all Asian recipes. Ginger and garlic pastes help to eliminate any meaty odours and bring a delicious flavour to all dishes.
• Lemon Juice: Don’t skip the lemon juice! Combined with the yoghurt, this brings a mouth-watering tangy taste to the chicken.

See recipe card for quantity

Making Tandoori Chicken

Now, let’s get started and make Tandoori chicken!

Part 1: Preparing Masala, or Marination for Chicken Tandoori

1. In a bowl, combine 4 tablespoons of yoghurt, 1/4 cup of oil, 3/4 teaspoon of black pepper, 1 teaspoon of cumin powder, 3/4 teaspoon of coriander powder, 2 teaspoons of salt, 3/4 teaspoon of red chilli powder, 1/4 teaspoon of garam masala, 1/4 teaspoon of red food colour, and 1 tablespoon of ginger garlic paste.
2. Mix the ingredients thoroughly.
3. Add lemon juice and continue mixing until a uniform masala paste is formed.

Part 2: Marinating the Chicken

1. Add the chicken pieces to the masala mixture and ensure they are well-coated.
2. Allow the chicken to marinate for a minimum of 5 hours, preferably overnight for enhanced flavour.

Part 3: Baking the Chicken

1. Preheat the oven to 220-240 C. Now place the chicken on a greased baking grill, and place the grill on top of a baking sheet. Leave space between each chicken piece for easy handling. Bake the marinated chicken for 15-18 minutes. Then baste it with some butter or ghee using a brush. Turn the chicken pieces over and bake for another 15 minutes, so both sides cook evenly. You can also broil for an additional 5-7 minutes if you want a deeper colour on the chicken.

Part 4: Making the Raita

1. In a blender, combine 2 to 3 green chillies, 1/2 tablespoon of white cumin (zeera), 1/2 teaspoon of salt, fresh coriander, and 150 grams of yoghurt.
2. Blend the ingredients to create a smooth and flavorful raita.

Dish Out:

1. Arrange a platter and place freshly cut salad on it for a vibrant presentation.
2. Serve the prepared raita in a small bowl.
3. Arrange the cooked chicken on the platter to create an appealing and appetizing display.

How to Get A Delicious Smoked Flavor

Traditionally, in a tandoor when the juices from the chicken fall onto the coal or wood firing the tandoor, it releases an aromatic smokey flavor which is absorbed by the chicken. You can taste it in the char and it is downright delicious!

If you are like me, and you love that aromatic and mouthwatering smokey flavour in your chicken tandoori, then read on, because I’m going to tell you how you can do that without a tandoor!

At home, you can achieve this result by heating a piece of coal on a flame, placing it with the chicken in the oven, and dropping a little oil onto it. This will cause it to smoke, and the chicken will be infused with a deep barbeque essence.

You could also, hold the chicken pieces over an open flame on your stove to get that perfect char!

How to Serve Tandoori Chicken

Tandoori chicken can be served in various ways. As mentioned in the recipe, you can serve it with a cooling and refreshing yoghurt raita. You can also serve it with some mint and tamarind chutney, which will give it a drool-worthy tangy flavour!

Add on a mixed green salad, for a clean and crisp combination with the hearty chicken. Squeeze a few drops of lemon juice onto the chicken for an added kick!

If you are looking for some other delicious chicken recipes, don’t miss my mouthwatering Murgh Cholay recipe, or yummy Chicken Pakora recipe!

For the best taste, serve this chicken with a steaming hot tandoori naan! Heavenly!

Tips to Make the Best Tandoori Chicken

1. Using the leg and thigh cuts ensures a juicy and tender tandoori chicken
2. Scoring the chicken allows it to marinate properly
3. Let the chicken marinate for at least 5 hours, preferably overnight, so you can get the best results.
4. Using coal to smoke the chicken at the end of cooking will give you an authentic tandoori flavour.

Conclusion

Tandoori chicken is a recipe so famous throughout the Asian continent that you can find it in any restaurant, be it a high-end, fine-dining restaurant, or a simple street-side one. The deliciously rich flavours of the spices and the char on the chicken combine to produce a mouthwatering culinary masterpiece!

This recipe is a must-try! Not only is the result delicious, but it is easy to follow with simple ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry. Serve it with a fresh green salad, a tangy chutney or a refreshing raita, and you have a complete meal that everyone is going to love!

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