Quick And Healthy Tandoori Chicken Recipes

TANDOORI CHICKEN RECIPE

Steps:

• To a mixing bowl, add greek yogurt or hung curd (thick curd). If you do not have it make your own following the notes below.
• Next add in ginger garlic paste, garam masala, red chili powder, salt, turmeric, kasuri methi, pepper powder and coriander powder.
• Pour oil and lemon juice as well.
• Mix everything well. The marinade has to be thick and not of dripping consistency. Taste it and add more salt and chili powder if needed.
• Make deep gashes over the chicken and add it to the bowl.
• Marinate the chicken well into the gashes.
• Cover and set aside for at least 6 hours. If you reduce the marination time, chicken will not turn soft and juicy. It may not get cooked well if making on tawa.
• Preheat the oven to the highest for atleast 15 to 20 mins. In my oven it is 470 F or 240 C. For the stovetop and air fryer method, please follow the step by step instructions above the recipe card.
• Place a foil on a oven tray to collect the drippings.
• Then keep a greased wired rack on the tray.
• Place the chicken pieces over the wire rack.
• Grill the chicken for about 15 mins.
• For spicy version mix together 1 tsp red chili powder with 1 tbsp oil.
• After 15 mins of grillling, baste the red chili oil over the chicken. You can also baste the left over marinade over the chicken.
• Turn the chicken to the other side and baste the red chili oil or marinade.
• Grill for another 6 to 10 mins or until the chicken is cooked through. You will need to adjust the timing as it depends on size of the chicken pieces.
• The last 5 mins, set to broil mode. Alternately you can move the entire tray with wire rack to the top most rack for the last 5 mins. This gives the charred effect.
• Brush the drippings all over the chicken. This keeps the chicken moist. You can also burn a char coal piece and place it in a small cup. Bring out the chicken tray from the oven and place the cup of char coal in the tray. Cover with a large bowl or foil. Allow it to smoke for 5 to 7 mins.
• Restaurant style tandoori chicken is ready. Serve with this Cilantro Chutney or Pudina Mint Chutney alongside onion and lemon wedges.

CHICKEN TANDOORI RECIPE

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, combine all the marinade ingredients. Whisk until smooth.
• Add in the chicken and stir until evenly coated on all sides. Allow the chicken to marinate for at least 1 hour to overnight in the fridge.
• Before cooking the chicken, take it out of the fridge and allow it to get to room temp, about 30 min should be enough.
• Heat a large heavy-bottom pan or a grill over medium-low heat. Lightly oil with some olive oil to prevent the chicken from sticking.
• Cook the chicken for 6 minutes per side, or until cooked through.
• Serve over cooked basmati rice with cilantro and lemon wedges if desired. Enjoy!

TANDOORI CHICKEN

Steps:

• To prepare each chicken: Rinse under cold water and remove all the skin. With a sharp knife, make 3 deep incisions in each breast, 3 in each thigh and 2 on each drumstick. Then with a butcher knife, cut each chicken into quarters. First, cut the chicken in half down the middle. Second, cut the legs off where the thigh meets the body. Lastly, remove each breast, keeping the wings attached. Place the pieces of chicken on a large plate.
• To prepare the spice rub: In a small bowl, combine the salt, chili powder and lemon juice to make a thick paste. Rub the paste evenly over the chicken legs and breasts. Set the chicken aside for 15 minutes to let the flavors absorb.
• To prepare the tandoori sauce: In a large bowl, combine the yogurt, heavy cream, ginger paste, garlic paste, cumin, garam masala, and saffron. Whisk everything together until it is well mixed. Rub the sauce evenly over the chicken legs and breasts, thoroughly covering the chicken. Cover and place in the refrigerator to marinate for 4 hours.
• Preheat an oven or charcoal grill to 350 degrees F.
• To prepare the garnishes for the dish: Wash and drain the salad greens and slice the onion and the lemon.
• Remove the chicken from the refrigerator. Skewer the legs starting from the drumstick end, through to the thigh so that the leg is spread out straight for even roasting. Skewer the breasts starting from the wing, through the breast so that the wing is spread out straight for even roasting.
• If cooking the chicken in an oven, place the chicken in a shallow roasting pan lined with foil to catch the drippings. If cooking the chicken on a grill, place the chicken directly on the grill with a pan underneath it to catch the drippings. Roast for 10 minutes, then remove and baste with the melted butter and drippings from the bottom of the pan. Return the chicken back to the heat and roast for another 30 to 40 minutes, or until juices run clear when pierced with a fork, basting a couple more times during cooking.
• To serve: Arrange 1 leg and 1 breast on each plate, with mixed salad greens, a lemon wedge, and onion slices in the middle.

QUICK TANDOORI CHICKEN

Steps:

• Make the marinade: In a bowl, mix together the yogurt, garlic, turmeric, cumin, sweet paprika, ginger,lemon juice, lemon zest and chopped cilantro if using. Set aside.
• Pat the chicken dry and cut into 8 pieces. Slash the thickest parts diagonally with a knife a couple of times. This will let the marinade penetrate the flesh.
• Lay the chicken in a dish in one layer. Pour the marinade over the chicken and turn to coat. Leave the chicken to sit in the marinade for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator, turning the pieces every so often to make sure they are marinating evenly.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees,
• Heat the grill or the broiler. Brown the skin of the chicken pieces, basting with marinade, and turning until well browned.
• Transfer to a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven, basting with the remaining marinade, for 10-14 minutes or until the juices run clear. When the chicken is ready, transfer to a warm dish, cover and let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

TANDOORI CHICKEN

Steps:

• Mix the lemon juice with the paprika and red onions in a large shallow dish. Slash each chicken thigh three times, then turn them in the juice and set aside for 10 mins.
• Mix all of the marinade ingredients together and pour over the chicken. Give everything a good mix, then cover and chill for at least 1 hr. This can be done up to a day in advance.
• Heat the grill. Lift the chicken pieces onto a rack over a baking tray. Brush over a little oil and grill for 8 mins on each side or until lightly charred and completely cooked through.

FAST TANDOORI CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat broiler or grill. Combine yogurt, ginger, garlic, paprika, coriander, half the lime juice and salt and pepper to taste in a large bowl. Dredge chicken in yogurt mixture and marinate 5 to 60 minutes, as time allows.
• If you're broiling, line a baking sheet with aluminum foil for easier cleanup. Put chicken breasts on pan, underside facing up; reserve marinade that does not cling to breasts. Broil 3 to 4 minutes, or until lightly browned. Turn chicken, and spoon remaining marinade over. Broil on smooth side another 3 to 4 minutes, or until lightly browned. Garnish, add remaining lime juice over chicken and serve, spooning the cooked marinade over the meat and, if you're serving it, over rice.
• If grilling, cut marinade by half. Cook 3 to 4 minutes a side, until chicken browns and is cooked through, at times brushing with marinade. Garnish, add lime, serve.