Chicken Tikka Masala

Ingredients

• •1.5 lbs (680g) boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1.5-inch pieces
• •1/3 cup plain full-fat yogurt
• •2 tsp garam masala
• •1.5 tsp ground cumin
• •1 tsp ground coriander
• •1/2 tsp turmeric
• •1 tsp paprika (or Kashmiri chili powder)
• •1 tsp salt
• •2 tbsp vegetable oil
• •1 tbsp butter
• •1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
• •4 garlic cloves, minced
• •1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
• •2 tbsp tomato paste
• •1 can (796ml) canned crushed tomatoes
• •1/2 cup heavy cream (35%)
• •1 tsp sugar
• •2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

Directions

1. 1In a bowl, combine chicken pieces with yogurt, 1 tsp garam masala, cumin, coriander, turmeric, paprika, and half the salt. Toss well to coat.
2. 2Heat oil in a large heavy skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add chicken in a single layer and sear 2–3 minutes per side until lightly charred. Remove chicken to a plate; it does not need to be fully cooked through.
3. 3Reduce heat to medium. Add butter and diced onion to the same pan and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes until softened and golden.
4. 4Add garlic and ginger; stir for 1 minute until fragrant. Add tomato paste and remaining 1 tsp garam masala; stir and cook 1–2 minutes until the paste darkens slightly.
5. 5Pour in crushed tomatoes, sugar, and remaining salt. Stir well and simmer on medium-low for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens.
6. 6Return seared chicken and any resting juices to the pan. Stir to coat, cover, and simmer 5–7 minutes until chicken is cooked through.
7. 7Stir in heavy cream and simmer uncovered for 2 minutes. Taste and adjust salt or spice.
8. 8Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve over basmati rice or with naan.

💡 Kashmiri chili powder gives the sauce its signature bright-red colour and mild heat — substitute with a mix of sweet paprika and a pinch of cayenne if unavailable at your local grocery store. For an even quicker weeknight version, use pre-made tikka masala spice blend (sold at most Canadian grocery stores) in place of the individual spices.

Cook this with Miamzi 👨‍🍳

Miamzi knows what's in your kitchen — it checks this recipe against your ingredients, adds what's missing to your grocery list, plans your week, and invents new dishes from what you already have.