LOW CALORIE CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Hello everyone

Today I have recipe of a very popular chicken dish among chicken lovers. Though this is usually very rich and calorie loaded dish which we get in maximum hotels and dhabas , but I tried to give it a healthy touch by adding almonds and omitting cream , even then it came out so tempting and finger licking that you can't say it's low calorie and something is missing from traditional one. And the overnight marination of chicken gave it so tender and juicy texture that you can't deny for more and more pieces. Even my daughter, who is not very fond of chicken pieces, took more pieces and saying it's the best chicken I had ever.

Stepwise recipe is given below, hope you all will definitely love to try this.

LOW CALORIE CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

Serves: 3-4

Time: 1:30 hr 

Ingredients 

1/2 kg skinless chicken breast, cubed

1 cup colored capsicum, cubed

2 medium onions, cubed

For marination:

3/4cup thick yoghurt( curd)

1 1/2 tbsp corn flour 

1/2 tsp cumin powder

1/2 tsp tandoori masala 

1/2 tsp black pepper powder 

1/2 tsp chaat masala powder

1/4 tsp garam masala

1/2 tsp red chilli powder 

1/2 tsp ginger garlic paste 

1/2 tsp chicken masala

1/4 tsp turmeric powder 

1 tsp oil

1 pinch orange red edible color(optional)

Salt to taste

For gravy:

1 pinch orange red color 

1 tbsp kasoori methi

2/3 cup thick yoghurt, beaten

1 1/2 tsp tandoori masala

1/2 tsp chicken masala

1/4 tsp turmeric powder 

1 tsp Kashmiri red chilli powder 

2 green chillies, broken in halves

1/2 tsp sugar( completely optional)

Salt to taste

For paste

15 almonds

4 cloves

4 green cardamom 

2 inch piece cinnamon 

10-12 black pepper corns

4 medium tomatoes 

2 medium onions, sliced

5-6 cloves garlic

1 inch piece ginger

Method:

First of all marinate cubed chicken,capsicum and onions in paste of marination section ingredients and keep in fridge for at least 4-5 hr, but for best result,keep it overnight.

Now boil or pressure cook all ingredients given under, for paste section, let it cool and make smooth paste in grinder. 

After marination is done, arrange chicken, capsicum and onions in skewer as per your choice and grill till it get nice tender,smoky and little charred from all sides. You can also do it on direct flame for more smoky effect.

 Your tender chicken tikka is ready to serve as starter, just sprinkle some chaat masala and squeeze little lime juice on it and serve.

Now to serve it in main dish lets start making its gravy. Heat oil in a wok , add prepared paste and broken green chillies, fry for 5 mins now add turmeric powder, chilli powder, chicken masala and tandoori masala. Fry till it starts leaving sides of the wok and makes lump. Add beaten curd ,add rest of marination, if any , stirring constantly to get smooth gravy.  Add pinch of colour mix well , cook for 2 mins .

Add water to adjust gravy consistency as per your like. Let it boil then add grilled chicken and veggies.

Add salt ,sugar and kasoori methi. Simmer for 5 more mins and done.

Chicken tikka masala is ready to serve.

Soak skewer in water for at least 1 hr to avoid its burning while grilling.

It didn't use sugar , but if you find your curry a bit sour then can add it to balance the sourness.

Add water generously as the curry will thicken after cooling.

Always use fresh yoghurt and nice ripen red tomatoes to get nice red color and less sour gravy.

Your smoky tempting and tender chicken tikka masala is ready to go well with naan, roti or any rice. It can be included in any party menu. So cook and get everyone's praise with this guilt free yummy side dish cum starter. 

Hope you all will like this super yummy and healthy version of most adorable chicken dish. Pour your valuable comments and suggestions here, they meant a lot.

Happy cooking....