Stephencooks

Tandoori Chicken

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4 servings

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon mustard seeds
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon garam masala (see below)
• 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1" ginger root, peeled and minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 chicken legs, skinless
• 4 chicken thighs, skinless

Method

1. Place the oil in a small sauté pan and heat over a medium flame. Add the coriander, cumin, mustard seeds, cayenne and garam masala and cook, stirring, until the mustard seeds start to pop. 

2. Add the turmeric and cook, stirring, until the turmeric turns a darker color, about 30 seconds. Remove from heat and allow to cool. 

3. Make three deep cuts in one side of each of the chicken pieces. 

4. Mix the cooled spice mixture with the paprika, yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, ginger and salt. 

5. Smear the chicken with the yogurt mixture. Refrigerate, covered, 4 - 6 hours. 

6. Prepare a medium-hot grill (charcoal or gas). Remove chicken from marinade and shake off excess. Place chicken on hottest part of the grill and allow to cook, undisturbed, for about 3 minutes. 

7. Turn the chicken pieces and grill another 3 minutes undisturbed. The chicken pieces should be browned on all sides. 

8. Move the chicken to the cooler part of the grill, cover with a piece of aluminum foil and cook about 20 - 25 minutes more, to an internal temperature of 156º. Remove to a plate, cover with foil and allow to rest another 5 minutes before serving.

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Garem Masala

Garam masala is a spice mixture typical to Indian cuisine. Recipes for it differ slightly by their region of origin. Premixed garam masala may be purchased at Indian groceries or sometimes in the "Ethnic" section of large supermarkets, or you can make your own: 

(from Indian Vegetarian Cooking by Sumana Ray)

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons cardomom seeds
• 3" cinnamon stick
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
• 1/2 teaspoon cloves
• 1/4 of a nutmeg

Method

Grind spices together until pulverized. Store in a tightly closed container.

Nutritional Estimate: 4 Servings. Per serving: 329 Calories; 1 g Total Carbs; 0 g Dietary Fiber; 1 g Sugars; 15 g Fat; 139 mg Cholesterol; 142 mg Sodium; 40 g Protein. 

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