Tandoori Chicken and Turmeric Spiced Rice
SERVES FOUR
PREP TIME: MIN 2-3 HOURS (TO MARINATE)
COOK TIME: 45 MINS
Ingredients
FOR THE CHICKEN
3 TO 4 CHICKEN BREASTS, CUT INTO 5CM CUBES FOR SKEWERS
1/2 CUP GREEK YOGHURT (I USED A THICKER DOUBLE STRAINED ONE)
2 GARLIC CLOVES, MINCED
1 TBSP GINGER, FINELY GRATED
2 TBSP TOMATO PASTE
1 TBSP GARAM MASALA
1 TBSP CURRY POWER
2 TSP TURMERIC
2 TSP CUMIN
3 TSP GROUND CORIANDER
SALT AND PEPPER
2 TSP LEMON JUICE
FOR THE RICE
2 1/2 CUPS UNCOOKED WHITE RICE
1 TBSP OLIVE OIL
1/2 RED ONION, THINLY SLICED
3 1/2 CUPS WATER
2 TSP CUMIN SEEDS
2 TSP CORIANDER SEEDS
2 TSP TURMERIC
1 CUP (LARGE HANDFUL) GREEN BEANS, ENDS REMOVED AND FINELY CHOPPED
2 TSP FRESH LEMON JUICE
PINCH SALT
TO SERVE
2 TBSP GREEK YOGHURT
2 LARGE CARROTS (GRATED AND SET ASIDE TO LIGHTLY PICKLE WITH A SQUEEZE LEMON AND SOME SALT)
PICKLED RED ONION (MADE USING SLICED ONION, APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, SALT AND SUGAR, SITTING FOR AT LEAST 20 MINS)
LIME WEDGES
TORN CORIANDER LEAVES
SPRINKLE GARAM MASALA
Utensils
LARGE FRY PAN X2
BAMBOO SKEWERS (SOAKED IN WATER)
BARBEQUE (SUB GRIDDLE PAN)
SHARP KNIVES
GARLIC MINCER
Method
COMBINE ALL INGREDIENTS FOR YOUR CHICKEN IN A BOWL BEFORE PLACING CHICKEN (CUT UP INTO SMALLER PIECES) INTO A LARGE MIXING BOWL. POUR OVER YOGHURT MIX, MASSAGING ALL OVER TO COMBINE EVENLY. SET ASIDE FOR MINIMUM 2 HOURS UP TO OVERNIGHT
PLACE SKEWERS IN WATER TO SOAK
TOAST YOUR WHOLE CUMIN AND CORIANDER SEEDS IN A SMALL FRY PAN FOR A MINUTE OR TWO (UNTIL FRAGRANT). REMOVE FROM HEAT
ONCE MARINATED, REMOVE SKEWERS FROM WATER AND THREAD CHICKEN PIECES ONTO EACH SKEWER (DON’T OVERCROWD, MAYBE 4 TO 5 PIECES PER SKEWER)
WASH UNCOOKED RICE IN WATER UNTIL IT RUNS CLEAR. HEAT OIL IN A FRY PAN OVER MEDIUM HEAT. ADD YOUR ONION, COOKING FOR 4 TO 5 MINS OR UNTIL IT STARTS TO CARAMELISE
ADD YOUR SPICES, COOKING OFF FOR A MINUTE OR SO BEFORE ADDING RINSED RICE. TOSS TO COMBINE. ADD YOUR WATER WHILE STIRRING. BRING TO A SIMMER AND ADD A LID. COOK FOR 15 TO 16 MINS
AT THIS POINT BEGIN COOKING YOUR CHICKEN, EITHER ON A GRIDDLE PAN OR BBQ, PENDING WHAT YOU HAVE AVAILABLE. THESE WILL ONLY NEED A FEW MINUTES ON EACH SIDE AND YOU’LL WANT A NICE SMOKY SMELL COMING THROUGH. REMOVE FROM HEAT
TURN OFF HEAT ON RICE AND LET STAND FOR ANOTHER 5 TO 10 MINS
PREPARE YOUR OTHER INGREDIENTS TO SERVE BEFORE FLUFFING UP THE RICE AND TOSSING THROUGH GREEN BEANS, SALT AND JUICE OF LEMON
ADD SPOONFULS OF RICE TO EACH BOWL. ADD SOME GRATED CARROT BEFORE TOPPING WITH SKEWERS, YOGHURT, PICKLED ONION, TORN CORIANDER LEAVES AND LIME WEDGES. FOR PRESENTATION, DUST WITH A LITTLE GARAM MASALA AND ENJOY!