Description
Sizzling spices make this tandoori chicken a culinary masterpiece from Northern India. Marinated in yogurt and aromatic spices, the dish offers bold flavors that will transport diners straight to authentic subcontinental cuisine.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 whole chicken or chicken pieces
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) plain whole-milk Greek yogurt or hung curd
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) light cream, Amul cream, or ⅓ cup (80 milliliters) heavy cream plus 2 tbsps whole milk
- 1 tbsp Kashmiri red chile powder
- 2 tsp ground coriander
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground cardamom
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ medium lime
- 1 tbsp mustard seed oil
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter (if roasting)
- Vegetable oil (if grilling)
Instructions
- Marinade Fusion: Blend ginger, garlic, and lime juice in a large mixing bowl, incorporating kosher salt to create a vibrant base flavor profile.
- Chicken Preparation: Make strategic deep cuts into chicken pieces, allowing maximum marinade absorption, then fully immerse in the first marinade for one hour at room temperature.
- Spice Symphony: Whisk yogurt with chile powder, mustard oil, ground coriander, cumin, cardamom, cinnamon, black pepper, turmeric, and additional salt to craft a complex second marinade.
- Flavor Infusion: Transfer chicken from initial marinade into the spice-laden yogurt mixture, thoroughly massaging to ensure complete flavor penetration. Refrigerate for minimum two hours.
- Cooking Technique: Preheat oven to 400ºF or prepare grill at medium heat. For oven method, line baking sheet with foil and roast chicken for 15 minutes, then brush with melted butter.
- Final Preparation: Continue cooking until internal temperature reaches 165ºF, ensuring succulent and perfectly cooked tandoori chicken. Grill enthusiasts can rotate pieces every 10 minutes for even cooking.
Notes
- Maximize Flavor Penetration: Create deep cuts in chicken to help marinades seep into meat, ensuring every bite bursts with rich, complex spices.
- Marinating Magic: Allow chicken to rest in first and second marinades for optimal taste absorption, with refrigeration enhancing depth of flavor and tenderness.
- Temperature Precision: Use a meat thermometer to confirm internal chicken temperature reaches exactly 165ºF, guaranteeing safe and juicy results.
- Cooking Flexibility: Choose between oven roasting or grilling based on your equipment and preference, with both methods delivering authentic tandoori-style chicken.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg