Do you want to cook something warm and full of flavor for your family tonight? I love making Chicken Tikka Masala when I want a cozy meal at home. The chicken is soft, and the sauce is rich and creamy. It tastes just like your favorite restaurant meal, but you get to make it right in your own kitchen.
Cooking this dish is easier than you think. You do not need fancy skills to get a great result. Once you try it, you will want to add it to your weekly meal plan all the time. Sometimes, after a long day of work, I also like to plan a sweet breakfast for the next morning like Warm Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal for a Happy Morning to keep my mornings just as simple and delicious. Let us get into the kitchen and make some magic happen.
Ingredients Needed
To make this tasty dinner, you will need a few basic things from the grocery store. Here is your shopping list:
- One and a half pounds of chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
- One cup of plain yogurt
- Two tablespoons of lemon juice
- Two teaspoons of ground cumin
- One tablespoon of paprika
- One teaspoon of salt
- Two tablespoons of butter
- One large onion, chopped fine
- Three cloves of garlic, minced
- One tablespoon of fresh ginger, grated
- One can of tomato sauce
- One cup of heavy cream
- Fresh cilantro for top garnish
Step By Step Making
Follow these easy steps to get your dinner ready in no time. Take your time and enjoy the cooking process.
Step 1: Put your chicken pieces into a big bowl. Add the yogurt, lemon juice, cumin, paprika, and salt. Mix everything well so the chicken is fully coated. Let it sit in the fridge for about thirty minutes so the flavors soak in.
Step 2: Warm a large pan over medium-high heat. Add a little bit of oil. Cook the chicken pieces until they turn brown on all sides. You do not need to cook them all the way through yet. Take the chicken out of the pan and set it aside on a clean plate.
Step 3: Turn the heat down to medium. Add the butter to the same pan. Toss in your chopped onion and cook until it gets soft and golden brown. This adds a sweet flavor to your sauce.
Step 4: Add the minced garlic and grated ginger to the onions. Stir constantly for about one minute until you can smell them. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
Step 5: Pour in the tomato sauce. Let it bubble gently for about ten minutes. Stir it every now and then so it does not stick to the bottom of the pan.
Step 6: Pour in the heavy cream and stir well. The sauce will turn a lovely orange color. Put the cooked chicken back into the pan. Let everything simmer together for ten more minutes until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
Step 7: Sprinkle fresh cilantro on top. Serve this warm meal over a big bed of fluffy white rice or with warm flatbread. If you want to find more recipes like this one, you can always visit Azeely for inspiration.
Nutritional Value
Knowing what goes into your food helps you stay healthy. Here is a close look at the numbers for one serving of this dish:
- Calories: About 450 calories per serving
- Protein: Around 32 grams
- Carbs: About 12 grams
Health Benefits
Eating home-cooked meals is great for your body and your mind. This chicken dish gives you a good amount of protein to keep your muscles strong and your belly full for a long time. The spices like ginger and garlic are known to help your immune system stay healthy. Cooking at home also lets you control the salt and sugar that goes into your food, which is a big win for your heart.
Disclaimer: This recipe information is provided by azeely.com for general informational purposes only.
