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Chicken tikka masala

A reasonable approximation that you can make at home.

Serves 4

Freezable

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Ingredients

8 bone-in chicken thighs

1 lime, juiced

For the marinade:

2 large pieces ginger

10 garlic cloves, peeled

400ml Greek yogurt

pinch chilli powder

1 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp garam masala

1 tsp turmeric

1 small green chilli

red food colouring (optional)

For the sauce:

3 tbsp butter or ghee

1 large onion, finely chopped

1 ½ tsp cumin seeds

1 ½ tsp mustard seeds

½ tsp powdered fenugreek

½ tsp powdered paprika

4 cardamom pods, lightly bashed

1 large piece cinnamon

1 tbsp tomato purée

50g ground almonds

pinch soft brown sugar

1 tbsp malt vinegar

680 ml passata

100 ml crème fraîche or double cream

To serve:

fresh coriander leaves

flaked almonds

garam masala

smoked salt (optional), to serve

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Method

Remove the skin from the chicken and slash each thigh two or three times. Put into a bowl or plastic container and toss with the lime juice and 1/2 tsp salt. Set aside while you make the marinade.

In a small food processor, blitz the ginger and garlic to make a paste, adding a splash of water if needed. Set aside half of the paste for the sauce. Tip the remaining marinade ingredients into the food processor, then blitz to a smooth paste. Pour the paste over the chicken and marinate for at least 4 hrs (overnight or 24 hrs is even better).

To make the sauce, heat 2 tbsp of the ghee or butter in a large shallow pan with a lid. Cook the onions for 15 mins over a medium heat until starting to brown. Add the spices and remaining garlic and ginger paste, and cook for 2 mins. Stir in the tomato purée, ground almonds, a pinch of sugar and vinegar. Cook for about 1 min. Pour in the passata, then fill the jar or carton halfway up with water and add this too. Bring to a gentle simmer, then cook for 2-3 hrs until you have a thick, red sauce. Can be kept chilled in the fridge for up to 48 hrs while you marinate the chicken.

Set the grill to its highest setting. Lift the chicken from the marinade, wiping off any excess back into the dish and reserve for the sauce. Arrange the chicken on a large baking tray cut-side up. Put under the grill for 10-15 mins until charred and starting to blacken. Remove the tray from the oven and set aside with the cooking juices. Reheat the sauce, adding the reserved marinade, then tip the chicken and any pan juices with the crème fraîche or cream into the curry sauce. Cook for 40 mins until the chicken is completely tender. Stir the remaining butter or ghee in at the end.

Leave the curry to sit for a few mins, then season with the garam masala and smoked salt, if using. Sprinkle with coriander and flaked almonds, then serve with naan bread and rice, if you like.

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Top tips

1. Use thighs for succulence

2. Fresh spices are the most aromatic

3. Marinate the meat for around 12 hours

4. Use a grill to char the meat for a more tandoori-style flavour

5. Add the cooking juices for more flavour

6. Use passata for a smooth tomato base without the fuss of preparing tomatoes from scratch.

7. If you want a vibrant red colour you can add a drop of red food colouring.

8. Crème fraiche brings acidity and creaminess but double cream works in a pinch.

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