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Tandoori Chicken

Traditionally made using the clay tandoor oven, this delicious recipe can be mimicked at home using the oven and smoking with charcoals in a closed container.

Ingredients

1 whole chicken cut up into big pieces.


For the brine

Water to submerge the chicken

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon salt


For the spice paste

10 red dried kashmiri chilies ( for color )

6 red spicy cayenne chilies ( for spice )

1 teaspoon coriander seeds

1 piece mace

1 bay leaf

3 pieces cinnamon

10 cloves

1 teaspoon fennel seeds

1 teaspoon dried fenugreek leaves

3 cardamoms

1/2 teaspoon ajwain seeds ( carom seeds )

1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste

1/4 cup hung yogurt ( strained over a cheesecloth )

1 teaspoon minced green chilies 

2 tablespoons minced cilantro

salt



Coconut shell charcoal or any charcoal  for smoking.



Steps

Brining the chicken

  1. Submerge the chicken in water. Add salt and sugar and let in brine for atleast 1 hr. Longer the better.

For the spice paste.

  1.  Toast the chilies with a few drops of oil till crisp.

  2. Add this to a blender.

  3. Toast the rest of the spices, leaving the ginger garlc paste, yogurt, green chillies and cilantro.

  4. Add the toasted spices to the blender along with the chilies. Add the ginger garlic paste, yogurt, and salt to the blender and blend into a smooth paste. Optionally red food coloring and turmeric can be used.

For the marination.

  1. Drain the chicken well.

  2. In a bowl, add the chicken,  the green chilies, cilantro and the spice paste. 

  3. Marinate the chicken for atleast 1 hr.

Roasting the chicken

  1. Layer the chcken on a roasting pan with a grill grate.

  2. Roast in a pre-heated 375° F oven for 35 mins, giving it a turn after 15 mins.

  3. Broil the chicken on high for 4 mins on each side till you get a good char.

Smoking the chicken

  1. Prepare a couple of coals until red hot.

  2. Place the chicken on a platter. 

  3. Place the coals on an aluminium foil in a small cup , place it on the platter with the chicken.

  4. Add a teaspoon of ghee or oil , and let it smoke .

  5. Close the platter with a dome and let it smoke for 5 mins. 

  6. Tandoori chicken is ready.

Hope you enjoy.

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