This rooster tikka masala recipe ensures juicy, tender, yogurt-marinated rooster simmered in a creamy, spiced tomato sauce that’s simply so good. Spoon it over rice or scoop it up with naan. Both means, you’re in for a deal with.

In case you’re a fan of Indian curries or any form of curry, that is your pleasant nudge so as to add every thing for this rooster tikka masala recipe to your procuring record proper now. We love this one a lot that we developed it to make sufficient for leftovers. Belief me, you’ll be glad you probably did.
Don’t let the ingredient record scare you! Plenty of the identical issues go into each the marinade and the sauce, so it’s not as a lot because it appears. Plus, hands-on time is lower than you’d anticipate. You’ll be able to marinate the rooster the night time earlier than or simply 20 minutes earlier than you begin cooking, no matter works for you! Nonetheless you do it, you’ll find yourself with one thing scrumptious. For extra like this, see our household’s favourite rooster curry!
Key Elements
- Rooster: I often go along with boneless, skinless thighs since they end up so tender. In case you solely have rooster breast, that works too, however remember that rooster thighs are far more forgiving with regards to overcooking. In case you use rooster breasts, barely undercook them within the oven earlier than ending them within the sauce.
- Yogurt: Use plain yogurt for the marinade. I want a thick, full-fat yogurt like Icelandic or Greek. It helps tenderize the rooster and provides nice taste.
- Ginger, Garlic, and Onion: Each the marinade and the sauce use ginger and garlic, and also you’ll want a beneficiant quantity of every. It truly is price it for the flavour. The onion goes within the sauce. Yellow or candy onions work greatest.
- Spices: You’ll use most of the similar spices in each the marinade and the sauce. Collect garam masala, curry powder (any fundamental type is ok, simply make sure that it’s not additional spicy), cumin, candy paprika, smoked paprika, and salt. This curry is delicate as written, however you possibly can add cayenne or sizzling chili powder for extra warmth. We’ve shared ideas for this under the recipe.
- Lemon: Use the juice of 1 lemon (3 to 4 tablespoons) for the marinade.
- Ghee: That is used to prepare dinner the onions. Ghee is clarified butter. I often purchase it, however you can also make your individual. In case you don’t have ghee, use a mild-flavored oil as an alternative.
- Tomato Paste and Crushed Tomatoes: Tomato paste and canned tomatoes are the tomato parts of our creamy tomato sauce. You’ll want a 15-ounce can of crushed tomatoes, but when your retailer solely has bigger cans, simply use a part of one. You can too mix a smaller can of entire or diced tomatoes.
- Broth and Cream: Use your favourite rooster broth, store-bought or do-it-yourself. Then, use heavy cream. Milk gained’t work right here as a result of it could possibly separate because the sauce cooks. Cream is certainly price it.
- Cilantro: Elective, however pretty for serving.
Discover the complete recipe with measurements under.
Find out how to Make Rooster Tikka Masala
Tip 1: Marinate the rooster. For probably the most flavorful, tender rooster, marinate rooster thighs in a mixture of yogurt, ginger, garlic, and spices. Even simply 20 minutes in our tikka masala marinade works wonders, however when you’ve got additional time, let it hand around in the fridge for as much as 8 hours. The longer, the higher!


Tip 2: Make the curry sauce. Our tikka masala sauce comes collectively actually simply. You’ll begin with ghee (or oil) and prepare dinner the onions till candy and comfortable, then add a number of taste with contemporary ginger, garlic, and most of the similar spices you used for the rooster marinade. As soon as the spices are toasty, you possibly can stir in tomato paste, which actually advantages from a couple of minutes of stirring round within the pot.
Now pour within the crushed tomatoes, broth, and cream. Let all of it come to a delicate simmer and bubble away till the sauce thickens up and smells wonderful.






Tip 3: Bake the rooster in a sizzling oven. Because the sauce simmers away, it’s time to bake the rooster. Historically, the rooster will get grilled or cooked in a tandoor for that smoky taste, however at residence, roasting in a super-hot oven does the trick. Let it prepare dinner till you see some golden brown spots. Broiling works too, however I’ve set off my hearth alarm greater than as soon as, so roasting is my favourite technique for this one.
Tip 4: Simmer the baked rooster within the sauce. As soon as your sauce is thickened and the rooster is cooked, carry them collectively. As you do, just remember to pour in all of the tasty juices from the baking sheet. Let every thing simmer collectively for a couple of minutes so the flavors can actually mingle, then you definitely’re able to serve.


Tip 5: Serving it. Spoon every thing over fluffy rice (long-grain Basmati is my favourite for this!) and don’t neglect some naan or flatbread for scooping up each final little bit of sauce.
Extra Curry Recipes


Rooster Tikka Masala
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PREP
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COOK
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TOTAL
This recipe makes quite a lot of curry, however that’s intentional. Each time we make it, we all the time want we had extra for a second night time, so we developed this recipe to repair that. With rice and naan, this recipe ought to serve 8 folks, possibly 6 if they’re actually hungry.
Rooster thighs are greatest for this one, as they end up far more tender in the long run. That stated, you should use rooster breast; simply watch the baking time and think about underbaking barely earlier than simmering it within the sauce on the finish.
8 Servings
You Will Want
For the marinade
3 kilos boneless, skinless rooster thighs, reduce into ½ inch cubes (1.4 kg)
1 ½ cups whole-milk plain yogurt, 12 ounces (340 g)
2-inch piece of ginger, finely grated on a microplane, 1 ½ tablespoons
3 garlic cloves, finely grated on a microplane, 1 tablespoon
1 ½ tablespoons garam masala
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 teaspoon floor cumin
1 teaspoon candy paprika
1 teaspoon superb sea salt
1 lemon, juiced
For the sauce
3 tablespoons ghee or clarified butter (or a impartial oil like avocado)
1 medium onion, diced small
2-inch piece of ginger, finely grated on a microplane, 1 ½ tablespoons
5 cloves garlic, finely grated on a microplane, 1 ½ tablespoons
1 tablespoon garam masala
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon floor cumin
½ teaspoon curry powder
6 tablespoons tomato paste (85 g)
1 (15-ounce) can crushed tomatoes, see ideas
1 ¾ cups rooster broth (415 g)
1 ¾ cups heavy cream (420 g)
Salt, to style
¼ cup packed cilantro leaves, for serving
Cooked basmati rice, for serving
Instructions
1Marinate the rooster: In an enormous bowl, stir collectively the yogurt, ginger, garlic, garam masala, curry powder, cumin, candy paprika, salt, and lemon juice. Add your rooster items and provides every thing a great combine so the rooster is properly coated. Let it marinate for at the least 20 minutes, or refrigerate, lined, for as much as 8 hours.
2Prep: Preheat the oven to 450°F (232°C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. In case you shouldn’t have a rimmed baking sheet, use 2 baking dishes as an alternative (because the rooster releases quite a lot of liquid because it bakes).
3Make the sauce: In a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium warmth, soften the ghee and add the onions. Prepare dinner them till they’re comfortable and odor candy. Stir within the ginger, garlic, garam masala, smoked paprika, cumin, and curry powder. Preserve stirring for another minute to get up all of the spices.
4Stir within the tomato paste and prepare dinner for two to three minutes. Pour within the crushed tomatoes, rooster broth, and cream. Whisking helps the tomato paste incorporate and smooths out any lumps. Deliver to a simmer, then cut back the warmth to a delicate bubble (too vigorous and the sauce could separate). Let it prepare dinner till the sauce has thickened and decreased by a 3rd, about half-hour. Because it simmers, style and test for seasoning, including salt if you happen to assume it wants it. Because it reduces, the tomato and spice flavors come by much more (the rooster and juices from cooking it bump up the spice taste afterward, too).
5Bake the rooster: Whereas your sauce is simmering, unfold the marinated rooster out in a single layer in your ready baking sheet (or within the baking dishes). Scrape any leftover marinade from the bowl and unfold it excessive of the rooster. Bake till the rooster begins to brown across the edges, about 20 minutes.
6To complete: When the rooster is completed, let it relaxation whereas your sauce finally ends up. Then add the rooster and all of the juices from the baking sheet into the sauce. Let every thing simmer collectively for five minutes. Serve over fluffy basmati rice and scatter loads of contemporary cilantro on high.
Adam and Joanne’s Ideas
- Storing: Preserve in hermetic containers, within the fridge, for as much as 4 days. Reheat slowly on the range.
- Tomatoes: In case you can’t discover crushed tomatoes, use a 15-ounce can of entire peeled tomatoes or diced tomatoes and pulse them in a blender. We use our immersion (stick) blender and thoroughly mix them proper within the can.
- The diet info offered are estimates and don’t embody rice.
Diet Per Serving
Serving Measurement
1/8 of the recipe
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Energy
417
/
Whole Fats
22.9g
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Saturated Fats
11.6g
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Ldl cholesterol
208mg
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Sodium
798.8mg
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Carbohydrate
12.2g
/
Dietary Fiber
2g
/
Whole Sugars
7.2g
/
Protein
37.8g
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