Madhur's chicken tikka masala

Probably created in Britain, chicken tikka masala - or CTM as it is often called - is easily most popular Indian curry in the UK today. Marks & Spencer claim to sell 18 tonnes of it every week; an estimated 23 million portions are sold in Indian restaurants each year; while 10 tonnes a day are produced by Noon products, to be sold in supermarkets. And yet nobody is quite clear about its origins. It is possible that a chef in Birmingham, with too many tandoor-roasted chicken pieces ("tikkas") left over, decided to reheat them in a quick stir-fried curry sauce. However it originated, it is here to stay. The tikkas need to marinate for six to eight hours, so bear that in mind when you come to make the dish. Serve CTM with Indian breads or rice. A black dal would go well with such a meal. I prefer chicken thighs but you may use breasts if you wish.

• serves

  4-6

• prep

  35 minutes

• cook

  50 minutes

• difficulty

  Easy

Ingredients

Chicken tikka

• 675 g (1lb 7oz) boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into 2½  centimeter (1 inch) chunks
• 1¼ tsp salt
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp peeled, finely grated root ginger
• 2 garlic cloves, finely grated or crushed
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp paprika
• ½-¾ tsp chilli powder
• 6 tbsp whipping cream
• ½ tsp garam masala
• 3 tbsp olive or sunflower oil

Masala

• 4 tbsp olive or sunflower oil
• 140 g (5oz) onions, halved and finely sliced
• 1 tbsp peeled, finely grated root ginger
• 5–6 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 tbsp ground coriander
• ½ tsp turmeric
• ¾ tsp chilli powder
• 2 tsp paprika
• 4 tbsp yogurt
• 2 medium tomatoes, peeled and very finely chopped
• 350 ml (12fl oz) chicken stock
• ¼ tsp salt, or to taste
• ¼ tsp garam masala
• 4 tbsp chopped coriander leaves

Marinating time 6-8 hours

Instructions

Start by marinating the chicken tikka. Put the chicken in a non-reactive bowl and rub in the salt and lemon juice. Prod the chicken pieces lightly with the tip of a knife and rub the seasonings in again, then set aside for 20 minutes. Add the ginger, garlic, cumin, paprika, chilli powder, cream and garam masala. Mix well, cover, and refrigerate for 6-8 hours (longer will not hurt).

When you’re ready to cook, make the masala: pour the 4 tbsp of oil into a large, preferably non-stick, lidded pan and set it over a medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, put in the onions. Stir and fry until they brown, 6 or 7 minutes. Add the ginger and garlic and continue to fry, stirring, for a minute. Add the ground coriander, turmeric, chilli powder and paprika. Stir for 10 seconds, then add a tbsp of the yogurt. Stir and fry until it is absorbed. Add the remaining yogurt in this way, a tablespoon at a time.

Now put in the tomatoes. Fry them for 3 or 4 minutes, or until they turn pulpy. Add the stock and salt, and bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer gently for 15–20 minutes. The sauce should turn thick. Stir in the garam masala and coriander leaves, taste for balance of seasonings and add more salt if you need it.

Shortly before you eat, preheat the grill to its highest setting. Thread the chicken on to 2-4 skewers (the flat, sword-like ones are best). Brush with the 3 tbsp of oil and balance the skewers on the rim of a shallow baking tray, so that the meat is suspended and does not touch the tray. Place about 13 cm from the source of heat and grill for 6 minutes on each side, or until lightly browned, cooked through and charred in places. (Cut a large piece of chicken to the centre to check there is no trace of pink.)

When the tikkas are cooked, reheat the sauce and fold in the chicken. Serve immediately.

Cook's Notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.