Restaurant Style Tandoori Chicken

What goes into making the best and the most mouthwatering tandoor? Love for food and the right amount of spice. Yes, you don't need a traditional grill or tandoor to make this utterly delightful magic,which mesmerises all.

Tandoori Chicken originated in Delhi, but its super taste has led it to be a very popular dish throughout the world.

Now what if you can make it at home and delight everyone...the satisfaction is the reward!

Now before I give you the ingredients, there are a few points to remember. If you want restaurant style tandoori, no normal piece if chicken will do, you will have to go to the butcher and ask him to give you traditional skinless tandoori cut chicken pieces. They normally come from the thigh+leg pieces of the chicken. You can make tandoori pieces from the breast portions too. In that case include the wing+ribs.They will look like this ( this is not raw chicken, this is the chicken after marination.)

NOTE: The day you bring the chicken,take the pieces and make deep gashes on it, it should be deep enough to reach till the bones, on both sides of all the pieces.
Apply salt on the pieces and let it rest for that day or marinate it for 15 mins.

Restaurant Style Tandoori Chicken

Prep time: 8-10 mins   Cooking Time : 25-35 mins (for 4 pieces)

Makes: 1 kg tandoori chicken, Ideally around 6-8 pieces

INGREDIENTS

1.  1 kg Chicken cut into tandoori style ( ideally yields 6-8 pieces)
2.  Salt
3.  Juice of 2 lemon
4.  3 Tablespoon ginger + garlic paste ( fresh or store bought)
5.  3  Tablespoon Homemade Tandoori Masala Spice Mix
6.  1-3 Teaspoon Red chilli powder ( amount varies upon amount of spice you want in the chicken)
7.  6 Tablespoon Yogurt
8.  1 Tablespoon refined oil or melted butter ( for basting)
9.  1 Tablespoon Chat masala ( for garnishing, purely optional)
10.  Onion Rings ( for garnishing, purely optional)

METHOD

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degree centrigade
2. Apply lemon juice on the pre-salted chicken pieces and leave it for 15 mins.
3. Mix the ginger garlic paste, tandoori masala ,red chilli powder, yogurt and a little salt in a bowl.
4. Apply the marinade on the chicken pieces( take care not to apply too much marinade, marinade is just for the flavour, not to over power the chicken, refer to the picture given above on the amount of marinade that should be used.)
5. Let it rest for 1 hr to 8 hrs (Marinating time is completely up to you. If you have more time marinate the chicken in the morning and come back at night and roast it or just marinate it for 1 hour  minutes if you do not have any time. The only thing to remember, the longer it marinates the better it absorbs the flavour of the vibrant spices of the marinade)
6. Take the 4 pieces of chicken, shake out the excess marinade ( if any), and mount it on the high rack of your Microwave. If it is a OTG normal rack will do the trick. Remember to keep the largest pieces in the middle, i.e. the thigh side of the chicken.
7. Now put your rack in the OTG or Microwave and set a temperature of 200 degrees centrigade in the convection mode. (remember to use only convection mode and not combination cooking, the convection mode will help the chicken to be crisp from outside and tender within)
8. Bake it for 25-35 mins depending upon your oven. ( If you are a new user set your oven time to 20 mins first and take out the chicken to check its doneness. If you poke a fork it should go in smoothly and if you check inside, it should not be pink. If it is pink then give it some more time to bake. You have to try and test the time in your own oven)
9. Once the chicken is done let it rest in the oven for 5-10 mins.
10. Now comes the fun part, once you see the chicken is done, insert it on skewers, and burn it on your stove, gas or meethi angeethi...you will be delighted at the tandoor smell that fills your house...
11. That's it...your yummy Tandoori chicken is all ready...

Sprinkle some chat masala, chilli powder (optional) and serve it will onion rings, lemon wedges and chatpata green chutney...Enjoy yummilicious Restaurant Style homemade Tandoori Chicken!!!

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Homemade Tandoori Masala Spice mix

This is a traditional Tandoori Masala Spice mix. You can make it beforehand and store it in an airtight container. it can be used with paneer, mushrooms, potato, shrimps, prawns, chicken...any tandoori dish you want under the sun...

Homemade Tandoori Masala Spice Mix
Prep time: 3 mins  Cooking Time: 0 mins

INGREDIENTS

1. 1 teaspoon ground cloves (Lavang)
2. 1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg (Jaiphal)
3. 1 teaspoon mace (Javitri)
4. 1 1/2 tablespoons ground cumin (Jeera)
5. 2 tablespoons ground coriander (Dhania)
6. 1 teaspoon ground fenugreek (Methi)
7. 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ( Dalchini)
8. 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper (Kalimirchi)
9. 1 teaspoon ground brown cardamom (Elaichi) 
10. 2 teaspoon Chilli Powder ( purely optional) 
11. 1 teaspoon red food coloring 

METHOD:

1. Mix all together. (DO NOT ROAST)
2. Pass the mixture through a sieve.
3. Store in an airtight container.

Your Tandoori Mix is ready and waiting to be used.

 

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Easy Choco chip Muffins

There is nothing more comforting in life than biting onto a piece of freshly baked muffin...better still if you make it on your own...
They are called "Quick breads" mostly because they are very easy to whip... all you need are two bowls...one for wet and the other for the dry ingredients.
Once you combine the two...it gives you the most easy muffin batter...the MOST IMPORTANT part of this recipe is NO OVER-MIXING, as it can make the cake dry...
Here goes the recipe to surprise your friends and foes...hahahaha!!!

Choco Chip Muffins Recipe

Prep time: 10-15mins  Cooking Time : 18-20 mins
Makes: 12 Muffins

INGREDIENTS

1. 2 large Bowls
2. 1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled.
3. 2 eggs at room temperature.
4. 2/3rd cup Milk.
5. 1 &1/2 teaspoons vanilla essence.
6. 2 cups normal flour ( Don't use cake flour)
7. 1 cup normal sugar ( Don't use powdered sugar) 
8. 2 &1/2 teaspoon baking powder
9. 3/4th cup choco chips, any variant,(semi sweet, bittersweet, milk, or white chocolate chips)

METHOD

1. Preheat your oven to 180 degree centrigade.
2. Butter or Line with paper liners a 12 cup muffin tray. (I personally prefer muffin liners , as it makes clean up very easy)
3. In bowl no.1 whisk eggs, milk and vanilla essence.
4. In bowl no.2 whisk flour, sugar and baking powder.
5. Mix Choco chips in bowl no.2.
6. Add Melted butter to bowl no. 2.
7. Add bowl no.1 ingredients to bowl no. 2.
8. Fold in with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon. (DO NOT OVER MIX. MIX ONLY TILL ALL DRY INGREDIENTS ARE WET OR YOU WILL GET TOUGH MUFFINS)
9. Fill the muffin cups with a spoon or ice-cream scoop. (Take care that all the muffin cups have same amount of batter, otherwise each will cook at different times.)
10. Place in the OTG or Microwave and set a temperature of 180 degrees centrigade in the convection mode. (remember to use only convection mode and not combination cooking, the convection mode will help the cakes to be perfect, moreover place your muffin tray on HIGH RACK, for better browning and baking)
11.  Bake it for 18-20 mins depending upon your oven. ( If you are a new user set your oven time to 15 mins first and take out the cake to check its doneness. If you poke a  toothpick in its center it should come out with a few crumbles which means you need to bake it further for 3-5 mins. If it goes in smoothly stop baking. You don't want your muffins to be too dry.Try and test the timing in your own oven)
12. Take out the muffin pan and let the muffins cool for 10-12 mins before you pop it into your mouth.

Makes 12 delicious moist muffins.They can be covered and stored for a few days...Enjoy with a cup of steaming coffee, tea or milk. Give it to your friends and family. Give it to children in their tiffin boxes...No mess pieces of delight!

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Herb Butter Chicken Roast

This is the most easiest yet most satisfying dish one can make at home...all you need is a little butter, some herbs , salt, pepper and chicken..yes that is it..

You can use any part of the chicken that you have at home, but the best roast can be made( in my experience)with the leg piece or the leg+thigh piece.

This is an excellent dish if you are busy, tired, and not wanting to cook, but want to eat something GOOD!

Herb Butter Chicken Roast Recipe
 
Prep time: 10-15mins  Cooking Time : 30-40 mins

The best roast is cooked when the chicken has its skin...if you don't get it, your roast will not be very juicy but will be tasty...that's for sure.

INGREDIENTS

1. 1 kg Chicken, (2 breasts, 2 thighs, 2 wings, 2 legs)
2. Butter (4 Tablespoon)
3. Mixed Herbs (1 Tablespoon) ( I used dried mixed herbs)
4. Salt
5. Pepper
6. Garlic paste (1 teaspoon) 
7. Mixed Veggies like carrots, onions, tomatoes (this is purely optional)

METHOD

1. Preheat your oven to 200 degree centigrade.
2. Rub the chicken with salt and pepper and let it rest for 15-20 minutes
3. Mix the herbs with butter and add the garlic to it.
4. Marinate the seasoned chicken with the butter mixture and leave for 15 minutes to 8 hrs (Marinating time is completely up to you. If you have more time marinate the chicken in the morning and come back at night and roast it or just marinate it for 15 minutes if you did not do any prep. The only thing to remember, the longer it marinates the better it absorbs the butter and herbs flavour)
5.  If you have veggies, make a bed of it in your roasting pan which has been oiled. Your roasting pan can be either of aluminium or of steel.
6. Arrange the chicken pieces in such a way that the pieces are skin side up, and the largest pieces (breast pieces) in the middle. Keep some space in between the pieces, don't crowd them.
7. Now put your roasting pan in the OTG or Microwave and set a temperature of 200 degrees centrigade in the convection mode. (remember to use only convection mode and not combination cooking, the convection mode will help the chicken to be crisp from outside and tender within)
8. Bake it for 20-30 mins depending upon your oven. ( If you are a new user set your oven time to 20 mins first and take out the chicken to check its doneness. If you poke a fork it should go in smoothly and if you check inside, it should not be pink. If it is then give it some more time to bake. You have to try and test and see in your own oven)
9. Once the chicken is done let it rest in the oven for 5-10 mins before serving.

You will see the chicken leaves out a lot of juice. Baste the chicken with its juice to give the shine .If you want to have a gravy, take the juice, mix some cornflour, and give it a good boil on your gastop. Now drizzle the gravy on the chicken and enjoy with some Fried Rice, Parathas or French Fries...Enjoy!!!

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