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Tandoori Chicken with Chapati and Turmeric Sauce

17/11/2023

I will provide you with an adapted recipe with an Italian touch for the Tandoori Chicken with Chapati and a turmeric sauce.

Tandoori Chicken

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken thighs (you can also use breast or drumsticks, depending on preferences)
  • 200 ml natural yogurt
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 piece of fresh ginger (about 2 cm)
  • 1 lemon
  • 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon garam masala (typical Indian spice mix)
  • Salt to taste
  • Chili powder to taste (optional)
  • Extra virgin olive oil

Chapati

Ingredients

  • 200 g whole wheat flour
  • 100 ml lukewarm water
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • Extra virgin olive oil (to brush the chapati)

Turmeric Sauce

Ingredients

  • 200 ml fresh cream or natural yogurt
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
  • Salt to taste
  • Black pepper to taste
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon

Preparation:

  1. Start by marinating the chicken. Mix the yogurt with grated garlic and ginger, lemon juice and all the spices: paprika, cumin, coriander, turmeric, garam masala, salt, and chili if using. Add the chicken and marinate for at least an hour, better if overnight.

  2. While the chicken marinates, prepare the chapati. In a bowl, combine the flour and salt, gradually add the water and knead until you get a smooth dough. Divide the dough into balls and roll them out thinly. Cook on a hot pan for about 1 minute per side, until bubbles appear on the surface. Brush with a little olive oil after cooking.

  3. For the chicken, preheat the oven to 200 °C. Arrange the chicken on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, lightly grease with olive oil and cook for about 30-40 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.

  4. While the chicken is cooking, prepare the turmeric sauce by combining the cream or yogurt with turmeric, salt, pepper and lemon juice.

Serve the tandoori chicken together with the warm chapati and the turmeric sauce on the side.

*### Curiosity * The Tandoori Chicken takes its name from the “tandoor” clay oven in which it is traditionally cooked. This oven gives the chicken a particular aroma and texture. Adapting the recipe with an Italian touch, you could try adding aromatic herbs like rosemary or thyme for a Mediterranean note.