Tandoori Chicken

Tandoori Chicken

Recipe Type: Appetizer

Cuisine Type: Indian

Serves: 2

Ingredients

1. Chicken 2 whole legs/ 2 large boneless chicken breasts

2. Butter 1 tsp

Ingredients For First Marinade 

1. paprika 1/2 tsp 

2. red chilli powder 1/2 tsp

3. Juice of 1/2 lemon

4. Salt 

Ingredients For Second Marinade

1. Tandoori Masala 13/4 tbsp

2. Ginger garlic paste 1 tbsp

3. Hung Yogurt 2 tbsp

4. Sesame oil 11/8 tbsp

5. Corn starch 1/2 tsp

Ingredients For Basting 

1. Sesame oil 2 tsp or more if needed

2. Tandoori masala  or paprika 1 or 2 pinches

Ingredients For Tandoori Masala

1. Cumin seeds 2 tsp

2. Coriander seeds 2 tsp

3. Cinnamon 2" stick

4. Black cardamom 2

5. Green cardamom 2

6. Bay leaf 1 small leaf

7. Cloves 2

8. Kasuri methi 1 tsp

9. Peppercorns 1 tbsp

10. Dry red chillies 3

11. Paprika 1 tsp

Method Of Preparation Of Tandoori Masala

1. Heat a skillet & dry roast all the above mentioned ingredients. Let it cool.

2. Once cooled, grind it to a fine powder.

Notes:

If u cannot or have no time to do the above step, then just add 1 tsp garam masala, 1 tsp red chilli powder, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp pepper powder, 1 tsp kasuri methi & 1 tsp each of roasted cumin powder & roasted coriander powder to the marinade mixture.

Method Of Preparation Of Basting Mixture 

1. In a small bowl, add a tsp of oil & add a pinch of tandoori masala or paprika. Mix it well & keep it aside. 

2. This is the mixture ur going to use for basting the chicken before putting it in the oven & while it is in the oven.

Method Of Preparation Of Chicken

1. Wash the chicken well & pat dry 

2. Using a sharp knife make three gashes on the chicken. Also with a fork, just poke the chicken here & there.

3. Put the chicken inside a bowl & add the ingredients mentioned under the first marinade.

4. Rub the chicken with the marinade nicely for about 2 minutes, rub a little it in the gashes/incisions that you made on the chicken.

5. Cover it & Allow it to rest for 15 minutes so that the juices & the spices seep into the chicken.

6. After 15 minutes, add the rest of the ingredients mentioned under the second marination to the already marinated chicken.

7. Mix together nicely so that all the spices get coated nicely on the chicken.

8. Cover it & leave it in the refrigerator overnight or atleast for a minimum of 5 hours.

9. Take it out of the fridge 30 minutes before u put it in the oven.

10. In the meantime prepare the basting mixture.

11. Preheat the oven at 550 F for 15 minutes.

12. Line a baking tray with aluminum foil & grease with non stick cooking spray.

13. Place the marinated chicken on the greased pan, using a pastry brush, baste it with the basting mixture & then put it in the oven at 500 C for 25-30 minutes or till done. Do not overcook the chicken as they may become dry & charred.

14. Bake the chicken for the first 15 minutes, then baste the chicken again & now turn the chicken to the other side. Baste it & put it back in the oven for another 5 minutes.

15. Again baste it, flip it to the other side & again bake it for another 5-10 minutes or till done depending on the oven & how tender ur chicken is.

16. To get the smokey or charred flavor, put the chicken on the top rack & broil it for a minute or two on each side.

17. Turn off the oven. 

18.  Let the chicken sit for a couple of minutes before u serve it so that the chicken becomes nice & juicy inside.

19.  Baste the chicken with some butter before serving.

20.  Serve the tandoori chicken with lemon wedges, onion rings & mint & coriander chutney.

Notes: 

1. The baking time varies from oven to oven, so u really need to keep an eye on the chicken all the time.

2. It may take anywhere between 20-30 minutes for the chicken to cook fully.

3. When u put it on broil, u really need to be right there in front of the oven as a little extra time in the oven can burn the chicken. So take it out at the right time.

4. Do not overcook the chicken as it will turn dry.

5. You need to flip & cook the chicken 2-3 times atleast so that both the sides get cooked well.