Description
A rich and creamy Indian-inspired chicken dish featuring tender marinated chicken in a flavorful tomato-coconut sauce with aromatic spices.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3–4 pieces (1 lb) boneless chicken breasts
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
- 2 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
Instructions
- Marinate Chicken: Combine yogurt, minced garlic, grated ginger, cumin, and turmeric in a large bowl. Cut chicken into 1-inch pieces and coat thoroughly. Refrigerate for minimum 1 hour, preferably overnight.
- Cook Chicken: Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Cook marinated chicken in batches, avoiding overcrowding. Brown each piece for 5 minutes per side until golden. Remove and set aside.
- Prepare Sauce Base: In same skillet, sauté diced onions until translucent (4-5 minutes). Add additional garlic and ginger, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Build the Sauce: Stir in crushed tomatoes, scraping up any browned bits. Add coconut milk and bring to gentle simmer. Cook for 10 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
- Combine and Finish: Return chicken to sauce and simmer additional 10 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Garnish with fresh cilantro before serving.
Notes
- Marinate chicken overnight for maximum flavor penetration and tenderness
- Use full-fat coconut milk for richest texture and authentic taste
- Don’t overcrowd the pan when browning chicken to ensure proper caramelization
- Serve over basmati rice or with naan bread for a complete meal
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 385 calories
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: chicken tikka masala, indian cuisine, creamy chicken curry, homemade tikka masala, coconut milk curry