Chicken Tikka Masala

Curry Stand Chicken Tikka Masala Sauce       Nancy Harrison

A classic curry-stand recipe. This is not haute cuisine; this is the kind of nuclear-orange tikka masala that you crave when you stumble out of a pub at 2 a.m. I make vast quantities of the sauce at one time, and it freezes very well. I also added much more cayenne pepper than 1 teaspoon, but I give out the recipe like this for people who don't like heat.

Servings :6

Ingredients

2 tablespoons ghee (clarified butter)

1 onion, finely chopped 

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

¼ teaspoon ground turmeric

1 (14 ounce) can tomato sauce

1 cup heavy whipping cream

2 teaspoons paprika

1 tablespoon white sugar

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into bite-size pieces

½ teaspoon curry powder

½ teaspoon salt, or to taste (optional)

1 teaspoon white sugar, or to taste (optional)

Directions

Step 1

Heat ghee in a large skillet over medium heat and cook and stir onion until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic; cook and stir just until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir cumin, 1 teaspoon salt, ginger, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, and turmeric into the onion mixture; fry until fragrant, about 2 minutes.

Step 2

Stir tomato sauce into the onion and spice mixture, bring to a boil, and reduce heat to low. Simmer sauce for 10 minutes, then mix in cream, paprika, and 1 tablespoon sugar. Bring sauce back to a simmer and cook, stirring often, until sauce is thickened, 10 to 15 minutes.

Step 3

Heat vegetable oil in a separate skillet over medium heat. Stir chicken into the hot oil, sprinkle with curry powder, and sear chicken until lightly browned but still pink inside, about 3 minutes; stir often. Transfer chicken and any pan juices into the sauce. Simmer chicken in sauce until no longer pink, about 30 minutes; adjust salt and sugar to taste.