Tandoori chicken

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Tandoori chicken is a popular dish in Punjabi cuisine.

Tandoori Chicken is a Punjabi dish dating back to the time of the Mughal Empire in Southern Asia; it is still popular throughout that area, as well as Central Asia. The chicken is marinated in a yogurt seasoned with garam masala - garlic, ginger, cumin, cayenne pepper, and other spices depending on the recipe. It is traditionally moderately hot, but the heat is toned down to a "mild" taste level in most Western nations. Cayenne, red chili powder, or other spices give it its red colour. Turmeric produces a yellow-orange colour. In some modern versions red and yellow food colouring is used instead. It is traditionally cooked at high temperatures in an earthen oven (i.e. tandoor), but can also be prepared on a traditional grill.

Recipe Skin, wash and clean the chicken. Make incisions with a sharp knife on breast and leg pieces.

Apply a mixture of kashmiri red chilli powder, lemon juice and salt to the chicken and keep it aside for half an hour.

Remove whey of yogurt by hanging it in a muslin cloth for fifteen to twenty minutes. Mix Kashmiri red chilli powder, salt, ginger-garlic paste, lemon juice, garam masala powder and mustard oil to the yogurt.

Apply this marinade onto the chicken pieces and refrigerate for three to four hours.

Put the chicken onto the skewers and cook in a moderately hot tandoor or a pre-heated oven (200 degrees Celsius) for ten to twelve minutes or until almost done. Baste it with butter and cook for another four minutes.

Sprinkle chaat masala powder and serve with four onion rings and lemon wedges.

Chef’s Tip : To make Chicken tikka, use boneless chicken pieces cut into 1 ½” cubes and proceed same as Tandoori chicken.