Sunday, January 8, 2012

Chicken tandoori - My Home version and the Best one!

This is one of the Microwave dishes  me and my husband tried when we started  experimenting with it  and I wasn't still comfortable cooking meat or chicken. So I would stick to a chicken curry and stay safe with the rice.  

But this  Tandoori was definitely magical - good times assured and some very satisfied diners. Every. Single. Time. Don't take my word for it - go ahead and try it. Its a great snack, a blissful apetitizer and a must hit in guests party.

I do have a confession though - THIS IS ENTIRELY MADE BY MY HUBBY , S. The taste definitely can compete with restaurant expertize.

The Tandoor is a clay oven and dishes cooked in it are called Tandoori dishes. When meat cooked in Tandoor it forms a light crust on the outside, sealing the juices of the meat, leaving the inside moist after it is cooked. It is possible to achieve perfectly satisfactory results by using a conventional gas or oven setting it at the highest temperature, though the distinctive flavor of the clay-cooked Chicken Tandoori will not be achieved.

Chicken Tandoori

What You Need  

Chicken (legs or breast or a combination of both) : 1/2 kg
Lemon juice : 1 tbl spoon
Garlic ~ 1 large clove coarsely chopped
Ginger ~ 1 tsp
Green Chillies ~ 3 slit

Yoghurt (thick and set) : 75 gms
Tandoori Color ( available at all Indian grocery shops) : 1/2 tea spoon. You may not add color,taste will be same .
Coriander powder :  ~1 tea spoon
Cumin powder ~ 1/2 tea spoon
Black pepper powder ~ 1/4 tea spoon(Optional)
Garam masala :~ 1 tea spoon
Salt to taste.

How he Did It 

Wash the chicken pieces thoroughly with  water. 

Make length-wise incisions (cuts) with a sharp knife on each piece

Make a paste of ginger , garlic , green chillies.Add coriander powder, cumin powder into it.

Add black pepper powder(Optional), garam masala,  Mix well. 

Prepare the marinade by adding some yoghurt, salt  to it.Yoghurt should not be watery, as much dry ,tight, hanger as possible.  

Now add 'tandoor food color' to the above prepared mixture. 

Coat the chicken with the freshly prepared marinade and allow it to marinate for atleast 4 hours in refrigerator.  

Place the marinated chicken pieces in Microwave Grill tool and arrange it in an oven tray. Place it in the oven.And allow it to cook for 15 mins at 320 degrees. 

Once the meat is cooked, turn the other side . 

Test with a fork.It will be tender to touch. 

Remove the meat from the oven and gently place the meat onto a plate. 

The juice of the lemon may be squeezed onto the meat .