Dry Chicken Tikka or Chicken Masaaledaar



Dry Chicken Tikka or Chicken Masaaledaar

1 lb. boneless chicken breast, cut into 1 in. pieces
2 Tbs yogurt
3 Tbs sour cream
2 Tbs bbq sauce (or 2 Tbs pureed tomato (chop 1/4 cup of tomato and puree it)
1 tsp vinegar
1 TBS soy sauce
1 Tbs honey
1 Tbs adrak lassan (ginger/garlic paste)
1 tsp oil (canola or olive oil)
1/4 tsp haldi/turmeric
1 tsp red chili powder
1 tsp dhanna zeera (corriander/cumin powder)
to taste salt
2 TBS shaan tikka boti masala (for flavor and color. Optional)

2nd marinade
1/2 onion (about 1/2 cup) chopped
1/2 cup of fried onions (birasta/what u use for biryani)*
1 tsp zeera (cumin seeds)
1 green chili (or to taste. The chilies here are very spicy)
a litle bit of water

Garnish
Chopped cilantro (kothmir, harra dhaniya, corriander leaves)
Sliced onions
Chopped green chilies
Lemon/lime wedges

Mix together all the wet ingredients (from the 1st list) and then add the masalas and mix together. Add the chicken breast and marinate in the fridge for 7-8 hours or preferably overnight. When ready to prepare chicken, remove marinated chicken from fridge and let come to room temperature while you proceed to the next step.

Put 2nd marinade ingredients in a mixer and blend to fine paste. Add this paste to the previously marinated chicken. Heat a non stick** fry pan or skillet over medium-high heat and add a little bit of oil. When the oil is semi hot, add chicken and marinades. Stir ocassionally and let cook for about 5-7 minutes. When the chicken is almost done (meat thermometer reads about 145- 150 degrees F or about 7 minutes), remove only the chicken pieces.

Increase heat to high (partially cover the pan, if necessary to reduce splatter) and continue cooking and reducing the gravy until all water is evaporated. Keep stirring, because without the chicken, the gravy burns FAST!!! Once there is just a little gravy left, add the chicken back in and stir to coat. I like to turn up the heat a little now (mine goes past high) and let the chicken sit for a minute or so, without turning it. It gets this really nice roasted looking color on it. If the chicken looks sort of brownish, you can add a pinch of biryani color (in the final minutes of cooking) to enhance the look. Garnish with cilantro, onions, green chilies and lemon or lime. Serve with roti, paratha, or pita, rice, and raita. Serves 2-3.

*If you generally fry your own onions, do so as usual, but make sure onions become brown (not just golden brown). Put on a paper towel and then add to 2nd marinade as stated above.

**Because we are completely drying out the gravy, it is important to use a non stick pan. This also allows for minimum use of oil when frying the chicken. If you must use a pan which doesn't have a non stick coating, more oil will be necessary when preparing the chicken.


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