Tandoori chicken served with coriander, lemon wedges and naan
Recipe

Traditional tandoori chicken

Tandoori Chicken is a popular traditional north Indian recipe made using marinated chicken grilled in an oven or tandoor. The dish originated during the Mughal era and has remained an even favourite centuries later.

It's a celebration of the fantastic spices of India, and now it's become one of the most famous Punjabi foods. The oven helps slow cooking the chicken, which leads to moisture retention. The smokiness also enhances the flavour of the oven. You can expect the chicken to turn out juicy, tender and full of flavour.

Ingredients

  • 4 whole chickens (each chicken divided into 4 equal parts)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp Kashmiri chili powder
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp turmeric powder
  • 1 cup plain yoghurt
  • 2 tbsp ginger paste
  • 2 tbsp garlic paste
  • 1 tsp coriander powder
  • 1 tsp cumin powder
  • 1 tsp garam masala
  • 1 tsp dry mango powder
  • 1 tsp black pepper powder
  • 3 tbsp vegetable oil

Directions

  1. 1
    Cut 3-4 slits into each chicken piece. Prepare a marinade by mixing the yoghurt, spices and oil together in a large bowl. Add the chicken and mix it well so that all the chicken is completely coated with the marinade. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.
  2. 2
    Take the chicken from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before cooking. Preheat the grill oven to 450 F or 260 C.
  3. 3
    Baste the chicken with some oil and place it on the grill for about 15 minutes. Change the settings to broil for the last 5 minutes to get a nice smoky flavour and char.
  4. 4
    Sprinkle with chaat masala and serve it with coriander or mint chutney, freshly sliced onion rings, and lemon wedges. Eat your tandoori chicken with saffron rice or butter naan to have the wholesome Indian meal experience.

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Ruma Dey Baidya

Author - Ruma Dey Baidya

Ruma is a traveller herself and has been backpacking for the last 20+ years. Photography and travelling have been her passion since childhood and she takes every opportunity she has to do both. Ruma isn't a solo backpacker and prefers group travel and budget travel to help her save on expenses.

Last Updated 18 November 2022

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