Tasting Spoons

It was just a couple of days ago I was watching America’s Test Kitchen. I use my Tivo to record all the ATK programs. The show is broadcast on a different timetable around the country – i.e., not all shows you’d see are current – they may be year old re-runs. And sometimes the recipes have already dropped off the map when you go to the ATK website. Now I’m only recording new programs, so generally the recipes are available online.

Indian food is something I enjoy very much, although we don’t eat it as much anymore since we try to limit our rice consumption. But this version, shown recently on ATK, of Chicken Tikka Masala sounded so delicious, I had to try it. I’ve made it before, but never this well. The recipe is a real winner. I kid you not. If you enjoy Indian cuisine, you’ll likely enjoy this dish very much.

Chicken breasts are seasoned with ground cumin, coriander and cayenne, then dredged in a mixture of whole-milk yogurt, fresh ground ginger and minced garlic. The chicken is broiled while you make the Masala Sauce, which is composed of onion, more Indian spices, garlic, ginger, one moderately warm chile pepper, crushed tomatoes, and some heavy cream. Oh my. When my DH took his first bite of this his eyes rolled and he went into a bit of food rapture. I made a small amount of basmati rice, lapped some thick slices of the broiled chicken breast on top, and then scooped some of the Masala Sauce on top of that. Then sprinkled with mint (I didn’t have any cilantro on hand). I served it with some eggplant (recipe tomorrow) and a wedge of watermelon.

Chicken Tikka Masala

Recipe By: America’s Test Kitchen

Servings: 6

CHICKEN:

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon table salt

2 pounds boneless chicken — breasts, trimmed of fat

1 cup yogurt — whole-milk preferably

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 medium garlic cloves — minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)

1 tablespoon fresh ginger — grated

MASALA SAUCE:

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 medium onion — diced fine (about 1 1/4 cups)

2 medium garlic cloves — minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)

2 teaspoons fresh ginger — grated

1 serrano pepper — ribs and seeds removed, flesh minced (see note above), or one large jalapeno

1 tablespoon tomato paste

1 tablespoon garam masala

1 can crushed tomatoes — (28-ounces)

2 teaspoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon table salt

2/3 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves — chopped (or mint, if preferred)

1.  FOR THE CHICKEN: Combine cumin, coriander, cayenne, and salt in small bowl.  Sprinkle both sides of chicken with spice mixture, pressing gently so mixture adheres.  Place chicken on plate, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes.  In large bowl, whisk together yogurt, oil, garlic, and ginger; set aside.

2.  FOR THE SAUCE: Heat oil in large Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering.  Add onion and cook, stirring frequently, until light golden, 8 to 10 minutes.  Add garlic, ginger, chile, tomato paste, and garam masala; cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 3 minutes.  Add crushed tomatoes, sugar, and salt; bring to boil.  Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Stir in cream and return to simmer.  Remove pan from heat and cover to keep warm.

3.  While sauce simmers, adjust oven rack to upper-middle position (about 6 inches from heating element) and heat broiler.  Using tongs, dip chicken into yogurt mixture (chicken should be coated with thick layer of yogurt) and arrange on wire rack set in foil-lined rimmed baking sheet or broiler pan.  Discard excess yogurt mixture.  Broil chicken until thickest parts register 160 degrees on instant-read thermometer and exterior is lightly charred in spots, 10 to 18 minutes, flipping chicken halfway through cooking.

4.  Let chicken rest 5 minutes, then cut into 1-inch chunks and stir into warm sauce (do not simmer chicken in sauce).  Stir in cilantro, adjust seasoning with salt, and serve.

Serving Ideas: Basmati rice or a simple pilaf would be a good accompaniment.  Eggplant also makes a good side dish, with a small wedge of watermelon as a salad.

Per Serving: 416 Calories; 25g Fat (55.0% calories from fat); 38g Protein; 9g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 129mg Cholesterol; 751mg Sodium.

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