Chicken Masala Recipe:

Chicken Masala is one of the most luscious dishes from the house of Indian Cuisine, full of rich spicy flavorful gravy. Since it is very versatile, and it makes Indians’ dinner first choice in most cases of either dinner parties for family get together or comforting food for the hectic week night of work. With tender pieces of chicken, spiced medley of aromatics, tomatoes and onions will certainly create a robust, full-savory Indian curry that serves well with any naan or roti/steamed rice.

It takes you through, step by step, making Chicken Masala from scratch. The dish you prepare by following this recipe is truly a restaurant-style preparation done in the comfort of your kitchen. Now let us delve into what makes Chicken Masala special-in other words, its ingredients and preparation methods.

Ingredients for Chicken Masala:

These are mixed fresh vegetables, spices, and herbs which give an extra depth of flavor to the dish. To make it you will need;

For the Marinade:
500g boneless chicken cut into bite-sized pieces
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
1 teaspoon red chili powder (adjust according to taste)
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon garam masala
Salt to taste
1 tablespoon lemon juice
For the Curry:
– 3 tablespoons vegetable oil or ghee (clarified butter)
– 1 large onion, finely chopped
– 2 tablespoons ginger-garlic paste
– 2 medium tomatoes, finely chopped or pureed
– 2 teaspoons ground coriander
– 1 teaspoon ground cumin
– 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder
– 1 teaspoon garam masala
– 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
– 1/2 cup water or chicken broth (for the curry consistency)
– Salt to taste
– Fresh cilantro leaves for garnish

Optional Garnishes:
Just a few spoons of fresh cream to add richness and smoothness to it
Juice of fresh lemon, to perk the whole dish

Chicken Masala: Preparation Steps.

1. Chicken marinade:

Marinade is that very step of making sure that the chicken absorbs all the spices and flavors right before the main course of preparation. The use of yogurt in marinade then softens and moistens the chicken.

Marinade Preparation: In a large mixing bowl, take boneless pieces of chicken, add yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, red chili powder, turmeric powder, garam masala, salt, and lemon juice.
Mix Well: Mix well the chicken along with the marinade using your hands or a spoon. Chicken should be nicely coated with the marinade.
Marinate the Chicken:** Cover the bowl and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour. You can marinate the chicken overnight if you have more time and want a more intense flavor.

2. Making the Curry Base:

All magic happens in this curry base that has been prepared through the process of softening onions and tomatoes along with spices in order to come up with that rich deep sauce that well mixes with the marinated chicken. Here is how to prepare the perfect curry base:

– Heat the Oil: Heat vegetable oil or ghee in a large, heavy-bottomed pan or pot over medium heat. Ghee is used to give an extra rich buttery flavor to most Indian cooking; however, vegetable oil is an acceptable alternative if you wish to use that.
Saute the Onions: Once the oil gets hot, put in the chopped onions. Let the onions cook till they become dark golden brown, caramelized, and around 8-10 minutes. It is one of the most important steps as it brings caramelized onions’ sweetness to the base of the curry.
Add the ginger-garlic paste to the pan and sauté for another 2-3 minutes. The aromatic oils from the ginger and garlic will come out, which will make the curry more fragrant.
Tomato Sauté: Add the chopped or pureed tomatoes to the pan. Let it cook for about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, till the tomatoes break down and soften. The oil must start separating from the tomato mixture, which means that the base is ready.

3. Add Spices:

It is the careful use of spices that gives Chicken Masala its true flavor. In fact, apart from the addition of heat, the spices have been known to evoke earthy flavors and complex depth in curry.

Add Ground Spices:** Now, when the tomato mixture is well-cooked add the ground coriander, ground cumin, red chili powder, turmeric powder, and garam masala into the pan. Stir very well to mix all spices, making sure to cook for 2-3 minutes over low medium flame, due to which it can emit all their essential oils and flavor which create a very rich base for your curry.
Thin the Consistency:** If the curry base is too thick, you can add a little water or chicken broth to thin it out. Add just enough liquid to make it smooth and pourable. Stir everything together to make a cohesive gravy.

4. Adding the Marinated Chicken:

Now that the curry base is ready, it’s time to cook the marinated chicken. This is the moment when the dish really comes together.

Add the marinated chicken pieces into the pan of curry base. Mix lightly for a good coating of the gravy to the chicken pieces. Stir carefully so the pieces of chicken are not broken.
Cook the Chicken: Let it cook for around 15-20 minutes in the curry, occasionally stirring it to make it soft and tender at the time of the gravy’s simmer cook within its juice. If the sauce gets too thick, add just a little water or broth so that it won’t stick on the pan.
Simmer and Blend:** Simmer the chicken in the curry for another 5 to 10 minutes. Make sure the flavors are well incorporated. The chicken is now fully cooked; tender; while the sauce is rich and dense.

5. Topping Chicken Masala:

Once the chicken is cooked and the flavors absorbed well, finish the dish by topping it with fresh herbs and other garnishes.

– Top with fresh cilantro. Fresh cilantro on top will not only add a splash of color to your Chicken Masala, but it also adds an exceptionally fresh and lovely flavor as well, brightening this richness.
Optional Cream:** This you can drizzle with cream, which in that manner gives over that extra creamy feel it otherwise misses, or you can stir in a few tablespoons of cream just right before serving. Of course, it is all up to you but the addition gives it that silky feel and makes it so really decadent.

6. Serving the Chicken Masala:

The best accompaniment to chicken masala is soft, tender naan, roti, or paratha. In fact, it goes extremely well with just steamed basmati rice or jeera rice (cumin rice). Of course, good-quality curry will go extremely well with any of these. You could follow it up with a raita that’s cooling, balancing out the spices and fresh cool element to the meal.
How to Make Chicken Masala Perfectly:

1. Fresh Spices: Fresh high-quality spices go a long way in the flavor of the dish. Use fresh ground spices at all times if you want a great taste to your dish.
2. Marinate Chicken:** Marinating chicken over a longer time will make the chicken more flavorsome. So, if time permits, do marinate the chicken for few hours or overnight.
3. Slowcook the Onions: Deep, sweet flavor building in the curry base requires caramelizing of the onions. So be patient and let them cook until they turn golden brown.
4. Control the spice level to your taste:** Use red chilli powder to your liking. The amount of red chilli powder can be reduced or completely omitted if you have a preference for a milder curry.
5. Cream adds richness: Add the cream during the final stages of cooking. This gives the curry a smooth, rich feel.
6. Balance the Flavours: Taste the curry before eating. Then season the curry. If the curry is too sour add a bit sugar to suit the taste buds as well

Chicken Masala is the yummier dish of all. It has richness, and the amalgamation that it gives on soft chicken works with aroma-spiced constituents and a thick, full-of-gravy just makes it fabulous. Be it caramelized onions or the mix of complex spices, a dish so develops that makes a grand occasion or meal for the family.

By following these steps in the recipe, you’ll easily re-make this great classic dish within your own kitchen. With an ideal balance of spices and the right curry base well cooked, your Chicken Masala will surely have rich flavors, and that will make this a staple for your cooking. Serve it with your favorite side dishes and let it be an enjoyable, memorably delicious meal!

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