A long time ago I was under the horribly mistaken assumption that a trip to an Indian restaurant would equal a trip to the CVS to pick up some Pepto. Wrong, plain wrong.
If you want to try your hand at some really lovely Indian food but don't want to go too far out of your palate's comfort zone, here is a great place to start: Chicken Tikka Masala. The only two items in this recipe that might be a bit new to you are two wonderfully healthful Indian spices: Garam Masala (which in turn is really just a spice blend of common spices) and Turmeric.
But wait, it gets better: you can make it in your slow cooker.
If you are like me, this time of the year menu planning can rely heavily on the slow cooker. Here's a new recipe to spice things up and end your slow cooker blahs.
Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
2 tablespoons garam masala
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 large onion
2 tablespoons grated ginger
6 cloves garlic, minced
28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
1 - 2 cups frozen peas
1/2 cup light sour cream
rice
cilantro (for garnish--optional)
Place the chicken in a large bowl.
In a small bowl, mix the garam masala, salt and turmeric. Set aside.
Use 1/2 teaspoon of the spice mixture and add to the flour. Stir well. Pour over the chicken, tossing well to ensure the chicken is fully coated.
Add the tablespoon of oil to a large skillet and heat until very warm, but not smoking (use medium high heat). Add the chicken and brown on each side, about 3-4 minutes a side. Add the onion, garlic and ginger and cook for 1-2 minutes.
Pour the chicken, onion, garlic and ginger into a slow cooker. Add the tomatoes, peas and remaining spice mixture. Stir to incorporate the spices.
Cook on high for 4-6 hours, low 8-10.
Once ready to serve, remove the chicken pieces and add the sour cream. Stir well. Add the chicken back into the slow cooker.
Serve over rice with cilantro on top (if using).
Serves 4-6.
SPC
17 comments:
Ooo! Yum. My mom has a Chicken Tikka Masala recipe using rotisserie chicken that is too die for...but slow-cooker-ing it sounds intriging!
oooh my hubby would love this! he's big on indian food! i just made tandoori chicken last night and we enjoyed it on a spinach salad which was great! thanks for the recipe :)
This pregnant lady who craves Indian food thanks you!
I just found your blog and love it already! I can't wait to try out your recipes. This chicken one looks really good. My husband loves making chicken curry, so I had to show him this one. Thanks for having this blog! :)
Fearless--this is a great recipe, but for your palate (and mine), you may want to add a bit of cayenne and a bit more garam masala. Just my two cents...
Hey! We awarded you the Stylish Blogger Award. Come by The Executive Mom to collect it!
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I made this and it was delicious! I wanted to share with you my mom's quick and easy Raita recipe that was a great partner to your dish.
Greek style yogurt
Diced cucumber
A palm-full of cumin
Mix it all together and serve it alongside any Indian dish!
AJ's Mom: thanks for the tip on the Raita! I am going to try it soon!!
My husband and I have traveled in India and enjoy our local Indian Restaurant. So, learning to cook indian food fascinates me. I made this recipe yesterday and around 3, my husband called me at work and said, it smells and tastes like Indian food! I used Greek yogurt instead of sour cream, btw. I even made my own garam masala! thank-you!
I found your blog through Crock Pot Girls. This recipe sounds awesome. My husband and I love Indian. Do you think it would work with lamb? I am not a fan of chicken. Thanks for any ideas.
I think lamb would work great! Let me know what you think!!
Thank you so much for a kid-friendly recipe that is so yummy! Made this today for company and it was delicious! Wrote about it on my blog: http://thismommysmeals.blogspot.com/2011/10/tuesday-october-18-2011.html. I've tried many of your recipes & they've all been delicious! Thank you, so very much!
I couldn't find garam masala at the food store. Any hints?
Andrea, if you are local, the Bhavani Brother Indian store carries it, as do other Middle Eastern Stores as well as Penzey's Spices on Kenny Road.
Otherwise, you can google "homemade garam masala" because it is a spice blend, you might be able to make it that way. Sorry you are having trouble tracking it down!
Made this last night and loved it. Then brought leftovers into work for me and co-worker and she went bananas over it!
Thanks for sharing, Anonymous!
Made this yesterday - Everyone enjoyed it, including my 2 year old. Much better than the standard crock pot fare. Thank you! I'll be checking out some other of your recipes!
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