Prep Time::25 mins
Cook Time::45 mins
Total Time:: 1 hr 10 mins
Servings::4
Ingredients
1 ½ pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons garam masala
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom
2 tablespoons clarified butter (ghee), or more as needed
Tikka Masala Sauce:
1 onion, chopped
¼ cup tomato paste
4 cloves garlic, finely grated
1 tablespoon finely grated ginger, or more to taste
1 cup crushed tomatoes
1 (13 ounce) can coconut milk
½ cup chicken broth, or as needed
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
salt and ground black pepper to taste
Directions
Gather all ingredients. Place chicken in a bowl. Drizzle vegetable oil over chicken; toss to coat.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Whisk together salt, garam masala, cumin, coriander, paprika, turmeric, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and cardamom in a small bowl. Sprinkle over chicken and turn to coat evenly.
Melt clarified butter in a large, heavy skillet over high heat. Cook chicken thighs in hot butter until browned on all sides, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate. When cool enough to handle, cut chicken into bite-sized pieces.
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Make sauce: Place the skillet with chicken drippings over medium-high heat. Stir onion into the skillet; sauté until onion softens and turns translucent, 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and cook until paste caramelizes, about 5 minutes. Stir garlic and ginger into tomato-onion mixture; cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Pour crushed tomatoes into the skillet. Bring to a boil while scraping the browned bits of food off of the bottom of the skillet with a wooden spoon. Pour in coconut milk and chicken broth; bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook, stirring occasionally, until flavors blend and sauce is slightly reduced, about 15 minutes.
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Stir chicken and any accumulated juices into sauce. Add cilantro and red pepper flakes; bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until chicken is cooked through and tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper.
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Recipe Tips
You can substitute tomato purée for crushed tomatoes if desired.You can use 1 2/3 cups heavy whipping cream instead of coconut milk.