Curried Yogurt Sauce Recipes

IRRESISTIBLE CHICKEN CURRY

Steps:

• Cut the chicken into 1-inch pieces, and then add to a bowl. If you'd like to leave the chicken uncut or if you are using bone-in chicken pieces, the chicken can be left whole.
• Scatter 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/4 teaspoon ground coriander, 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper over the chicken. Toss well and set aside to marinate for at least 20 minutes.
• Make ahead: The chicken can be left to marinate up to 24 hours, keep it covered and stored in the refrigerator.
• Add garlic, ginger, onion and 1/2 cup of water to a blender or food processor. Blend until mostly smooth. An immersion blender with cup attachment can also be used.
• Heat the oil or ghee in a wide skillet (with lid) over medium-high heat. Arrange the marinated chicken into the pan so that it is in one layer and brown on both sides. Remove the chicken from the pan and place the skillet back onto the heat.
• Add the onion-ginger mixture and cook, stirring often, until all of the water has evaporated, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the remaining 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, 1/2 teaspoon coriander and 1/4 teaspoon turmeric over the onion-ginger mixture, and cook for about 20 seconds. Stir in the tomato paste, turn the heat down to medium-low and then cook another minute.
• Add the yogurt, a tablespoon at a time, stirring it into the sauce before adding anymore.
• Return the chicken pieces and any accumulated juices to the pan along with the remaining cup of water and 3/4 teaspoon of salt. Bring to a boil, turn the heat down to a simmer, and then cover with a lid. Simmer, covered, for 20 minutes.
• Remove the lid and stir in the Garam Masala and cream. Taste the sauce and add the final 1/4 teaspoon of salt if you feel that it is needed (we almost always add it).
• Turn the heat back up to medium-high and cook, stirring gently every now and them, until the sauce has reduced a bit and thickened, 3 to 5 minutes. Serve with fresh cilantro scattered on top.

CURRIED YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• In a blender or small food processor blend together 1/2 cup of the yogurt, the chutney, and the lime juice until the mixture is smooth, transfer the mixture to a bowl, and whisk in the remaining 1/4 cup yogurt, the mayonnaise, the curry powder, the 2 tablespoons onion, and salt and pepper to taste. Chill the sauce, covered, for at least 8 hours and up to 3 days. Transfer the sauce to a serving dish and sprinkle it with the additional onion.

GRAIN BOWL WITH SPICED SQUASH, MUSHROOMS, AND CURRIED YOGURT

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Cook grains with 1/2 tsp. salt according to package directions.
• Meanwhile, whisk oil, pepper, cinnamon, and 3/4 tsp. salt with a fork in a large bowl. Add squash, mushrooms, and onion and toss to coat. Spread on a rimmed baking sheet and roast, tossing once halfway through, until vegetables are lightly browned and fork-tender, 25-30 minutes.
• Mix yogurt, lemon juice, curry powder, and 1/8 tsp. salt in a medium bowl. Divide yogurt mixture between 2 bowls, swooshing it along the side of the bowl if desired. Top with rice, then vegetables and greens. Squeeze with lemon and top with cilantro, if desired.

BASIC YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together yogurt, mint, oil, lime juice, salt and 1 to 2 tablespoons water. Use a rasp grater to finely grate garlic into the bowl. Stir, taste and adjust salt and lime juice as needed. Cover and refrigerate leftovers for up to 5 days.

CURRY-YOGURT DRESSING

Steps:

• Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add ginger, onion, and garlic, and cook, stirring often, until softened and beginning to turn translucent, about 9 minutes.
• Meanwhile, process cumin, coriander, fennel seeds, mustard seeds, and allspice in a spice grinder until finely ground. Place in a food processor, and add onion mixture, turmeric, yogurt, salt, lemon juice, and sugar; process until smooth.

CURRIED FISH FILLETS WITH YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Mix yogurt, cilantro and green onion in small bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
• Preheat oven to 500°F. Spray baking sheet with vegetable oil spray. Place in oven. Rub each side of each fish fillet with 1/4 teaspoon curry powder. Whisk egg whites in medium bowl until foamy. Place wheat germ on large sheet of waxed paper. Dip fish fillets into egg whites, then turn fillets in wheat germ, coating lightly. Place fish fillets on hot baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake until fish is opaque in center, about 8 minutes. Remove from oven; let stand 2 minutes. Transfer to platter. Serve yogurt sauce alongside.

GARLIC-CURRY CHICKEN THIGHS WITH YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• Mix garlic, oil, curry powder, 1 cup yogurt, 2 tsp. salt, and 1/4 cup water in a large bowl. Working in batches, add chicken thighs and turn to coat, using your hands to rub marinade under skin of each thigh. Transfer to a resealable plastic bag and chill at least 3 hours or up to overnight.
• Position a rack in upper third of oven and preheat to 425°F. Transfer marinated chicken, skin side up, to a 13x9" baking dish. Roast chicken until skin is browned and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of chicken registers 165°F, about 35 minutes. If chicken skin starts to burn, move pan to a lower rack to finish cooking.
• Transfer chicken to a serving platter, reserving pan juices. Whisk lemon juice, 1/4 cup pan juices, remaining 1 cup yogurt, and remaining 1/2 tsp. salt in a medium bowl. If sauce is too thick, add more pan juices. Serve sauce alongside chicken.
• Do Ahead
• Chicken can marinate up to 1 day before cooking. Keep chilled.

CRISPY-SKIN SALMON WITH CURRIED YOGURT SAUCE

Steps:

• For the salmon: Pat the fillets dry with paper towels. With the sharp edge of a knife, scrape the skin back and forth the length of a fillet over and over with light pressure. You will see moisture build up on your knife edge; wipe it away. Continue for about 1 minute, until there's almost nothing to wipe away. Cut a few 2- to 3-inch slits across the middle of the salmon skin. Repeat with the remaining fillet.
• Season the salmon with salt and pepper on both sides. Drizzle with the oil and set aside until ready to cook.
• For the yogurt sauce: Combine the yogurt, cilantro, lemon zest and juice, oil, garlic, garam masala and curry powder in a small bowl. Mix with a fork until well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
• Heat a 9- to 11-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat for 3 to 4 minutes. There is no need to oil the pan, because you oiled the fish. Add the fillets skin-side down, laying them away from you. Cook for about 3 minutes, or until golden brown. Shake the pan until the salmon releases from the bottom of the pan by itself.
• Carefully turn the salmon over and reduce the heat to medium-low so the flesh side cooks more slowly. Cook until a thin-bladed knife inserted into the flesh meets with just a little resistance or an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a fillet registers 125 degrees F, 2 to 3 minutes (thinner pieces will be done quicker than the thicker ones).
• Serve the fillets topped with some of the yogurt sauce.

SALMON WITH YOGURT-CURRY SAUCE

Steps:

• If yogurt is very thin, put it in a cheesecloth-lined strainer over a bowl. Cut cucumber in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds. Chop flesh, sprinkle it with salt and put in a strainer over a bowl.
• If making spice mix (see note), combine all spices in a skillet and toast over medium heat until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Grind to a coarse powder in a spice mill.
• Put a skillet over medium heat; if it is other than nonstick, add oil. Season fish with salt and pepper and add it to pan; raise heat to medium high. Combine cucumber with yogurt and one tablespoon of spice mix in a bowl; taste and adjust seasoning.
• After salmon has cooked for 4 minutes, turn it and cook on other side another 2 to 5 minutes. Serve, browned side up, with sauce and lime on the side.