My niece came over yesterday afternoon and I had her help me make the Chicken Tikka Masala I mentioned the other day. I wanted to test it out before my shirt arrives so that when it gets here and I invite my friends to my Indian dinner, I won't have to worry that the recipe won't work. As Ina counsels, I don't make things I've never made before when peeps are coming for dinner.
I read some of the reader comments on that recipe (which was just the first one that looked good when I Googled it) so I knew that 1) it was spicy and 2) it was way too salty as written. I had Arden make the marinade — basically yogurt with lemon juice and ginger and lots and lots of different spices — but we only used 1 t. salt, instead of the recommended FOUR.
The marinade is perfect for a kid to do. I love discovering what she doesn't know. For instance, it was slightly challenging to grasp both the relationship and the difference between the 1/4 teaspoon and the teaspoon, not to mention a spoon (often called a teaspoon), but so much fun to investigate it. When you use a butter knife to smooth the top of your measuring unit, you should use the top of the knife, not the curved edge. Stuff like this. Beautiful. There was a collective sneezing incident when 2 teaspoons of cayenne pepper got measured, and a potential "I got pepper in my eye!" scare, but it passed (and hands were washed again all around).
You make the marinade then leave the chicken to soak it up for an hour in the fridge. We went out to the yard, wrote two poems, drew a cat, watered the plants, and watched Uncle Andy mow the lawn. Then it was time for my charge to go home. She assured me she would not have been interested in eating this for dinner. . . .
When the chicken is fully saturated with its spicy elixir, you grill it up, then add it to the creamy, jalapeno-y, tomato-y sauce (to which, again, I only added 1 teaspoon of salt, not THREE), and plop it all on some basmati rice. I could tell just by looking and smelling that it was going to be good. One bite and I couldn't stop talking: "Ohmygosh. Ohmygosh! Wow. This tastes just like the restaurant! I can't believe it. I've never, ever made anything that tasted like the thing from the restaurant! Ever. Ever! But this does. Doesn't it? Wow! I'm so excited? Are you psyched honey? Are you as psyched as I am???" All said with my mouth full.
People, it was just like it is at the restaurant.
Hurry, daisy blouse! Hurry!
Thanks for the link because mine never taste like the restaurant either. I would be equally psyched about a butter chicken recipe that tasted even a little bit like the restaurant. Let us know if you happen across one :)
How Exciting! I can think of several restaurant dishes that I'd love to duplicate exactly. The smokey hummus from the Lebanese restaurant, the stuffed grape leaves dish that didn't taste slimy, the Indian dish of lentil balls with yogurt drizzled with tamarind sauce.
Congrats!
Oh, and BTW I love how you just toss out this phrase....."We went out to the yard, wrote two poems, drew a cat..."
Have a super day :)
How Exciting! I can think of several restaurant dishes that I'd love to duplicate exactly. The smokey hummus from the Lebanese restaurant, the stuffed grape leaves dish that didn't taste slimy, the Indian dish of lentil balls with yogurt drizzled with tamarind sauce.
Congrats!
Oh, and BTW I love how you just toss out this phrase....."We went out to the yard, wrote two poems, drew a cat..."
Have a super day :)
How Exciting! I can think of several restaurant dishes that I'd love to duplicate exactly. The smoky hummus from the Lebanese restaurant, the stuffed grape leaves dish that didn't taste slimy, the Indian dish of lentil balls with yogurt drizzled with tamarind sauce.
Congrats!
Oh, and BTW I love how you just toss out this phrase....."We went out to the yard, wrote two poems, drew a cat..."
Have a super day :)
well, i now know what i want for breakfast. that looks really, really good.
How Exciting! I can think of several restaurant dishes that I'd love to duplicate exactly. The smoky hummus from the Lebanese restaurant, the stuffed grape leaves dish that didn't taste slimy, the Indian dish of lentil balls with yogurt drizzled with tamarind sauce.
Congrats!
Oh, and BTW I love how you just toss out this phrase....."We went out to the yard, wrote two poems, drew a cat..."
Have a super day :)
How Exciting! I can think of several restaurant dishes that I'd love to duplicate exactly. The smoky hummus from the Lebanese restaurant, the stuffed grape leaves dish that didn't taste slimy, the Indian dish of lentil balls with yogurt drizzled with tamarind sauce.
Congrats!
Oh, and BTW I love how you just toss out this phrase....."We went out to the yard, wrote two poems, drew a cat..."
Have a super day :)
mmmm that even look delish at 9 am!
Yum, yum, yum!!! I'm going to be having cravings now. Gorgeous apron that Arden is wearing too.
Sorry! It wasn't posting, so I kept pushing the post button! Aargh. Oh well, at least you get to see "How Exciting" over and over :)
Sorrysorrysorry....
I want to learn how to make the Baja Chicken Tortilla Spring Rolls from California Pizza Kitchen - but wouldn't you know that would be the ONE recipe they DIDN'T put in their cookbook!
I've never had Chicken Tikka Masala before but that picture looks YUMMY!!!
I SOOOOOO have to make some cute aprons.........
I'm anxious now to try the recipe!! congrats and I can't wait to see your beautiful blouse when it comes!
My daughter makes something like this except you don't have to grill the chicken. You saute the chicken and then add almost the same ingredients and toss cashew pieces on top. Looks just like your recipe when it's done and it is so good. I'm going to have to try your recipe now.
You never fail to make me hungry!
:)
Okay, YUM!!! I want some, and haaaa ha ha ha, your picture looks WAY more appetizing than the one they have representing the recipe over on allrecipes.com.
methinks I must try it.
I suggest adding some dried methi leaves to the sauce and garnish with a bit of punjabi garam masala and the taste is really taken up a notch.
Beautiful photos!
Oooh yummy! I'll have to try this one. I know what you mean about the salt- when my Indian husband makes a dish I have to avert my eyes while he *pours* the salt in. He insists you can't taste it through all the spice. :)
Yum! Looks delish and it sounds like you had as much fun making it as eating it.
I have written and presented a scholarly paper on silverware, the different pieces of it, and how they came to be called what they are. If you're interested in reading it, let me know, I'll email over. Teaspoons usually are teaspoons, but tablespoons are not tablespoons.
I LOVE chicken tikka masala, I'll definitely try this recipe. Without 4 tsps of salt.
I'm so glad that your recipe turned out as good as the restaurant's! I loooove it when that happens (which isn't often)!
Have a good day!
God bless :)
this will save me, since i just realized i haven't had my favorite style o' food since coming down here...and i can make some at home! (the empanadas and pastas here are just too good...i forgot my dear indian...and now i'm suddenly hungry)
:) love that spice jar label.
I totally get your excitement! I once made a veggie burger taste just like a Whopper...I was ecstatic! :)
Yum, sounds super yummy!
oh, i absolutely must try that recipe sometime!