Hyderabadi Chicken Tandoori recipe
If you love smoky, spicy, and juicy chicken, then this restaurant style Tandoori Chicken recipe is just for you ! Once you try this tandoori chicken recipe, it will excite all your senses just like that ! When one can make this recipe at home with simple ingredients and an easy method, why always go to restaurants ?
About Tandoori Chicken
Tandoori chicken stands as one of the most loved dishes by Indians. It is so because of its rich flavour, smoky flavour, and juicy texture. It is prepared by marinating the chicken in yogurt, adding the whole spices which makes the chicken flavourful, and then cooked in a clay oven at high heat which is known as “Tandoor”.
Tandoori chicken is not only known for its taste, but also it is relatively a healthy dish. As it is cooked by grilling and roasting the chicken,it uses very little oil.
Tandoori chicken can be prepared without a tandoor
You can still make tandoori chicken at home even if you don’t have a traditional tandoor. It just needs the right marination, and cooking method.
The most common ways to make tandoori chicken without using a tandoor are by using an oven, stovetop pan, or grill.
Oven method
If you’re using an oven, you will have to preheat the oven at high temperature. Then place the marinated chicken inside it and cook until the chicken is properly cooked.
Stovetop Pan Method
If you’re using a stovetop pan, you have to heat the pan or grill on medium to high heat and continue by placing the marinated chicken until it is cooked.
Grill Method
If you want to use the grill method, you just have to place the marinated chicken directly on the grill and cook on medium heat. Just keep turning the chicken pieces regularly so they are well cooked.
Smoky Flavour Tip
If you want a smoky like tandoor just like the restaurants at home, then you can place a small piece of hot charcoal in a bowl and keep it inside the pan along with the cooked chicken. Then add a drop of ghee to the charcoal.
Let’s get into the recipe and see how to make it step by step without any delay.
Ingredients List
For marination
- Chicken (bone-in pieces) – 1 kg
- Thick curd / yogurt – 1 cup
- Ginger-garlic paste – 2 tbsp
- Kashmiri red chilli powder – 2 tsp
- Red chilli powder – 1 tsp
- Turmeric powder – ½ tsp
- Garam masala – 1 tsp
- Cumin powder – 1 tsp
- Coriander powder – 1 tsp
- Lemon juice – 2 tbsp
- Salt – as per taste
- Kasuri methi – 1 tsp (optional)
- Food colour – a pinch (optional)
For cooking
Oil or melted butter – 2 tbsp
Chaat masala – ½ tsp (optional)
Lemon wedges – as per required
Onion rings – as per required
Process to make Tandoori Chicken
I will explain to you the whole step-by-step method to make tandoori chicken at home. You can follow the oven method,or the pan method.
- Firstly, clean the chicken pieces well by washing them. Then mark deep cuts onto the pieces of chicken. Cuts are made to properly and deeply allow the marinade of the chicken.
- Now, take a large bowl and add 1 cup of thick curd or yogurt. To the same add, ginger-garlic paste, Kashmiri red chilli powder, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, garam masala, cumin powder, coriander powder, lemon juice, salt, and crushed kasuri methi. Mix everything well together as this is the most important step.
- To this mixture, add the chicken pieces and rub them properly so the mixture is deeply settled into the pieces. Make sure every piece must be properly coated.
- Just cover the bowl and allow it to marinade for at least 6-8 hours in the refrigerator. And before you start cooking, take out the chicken and allow it to sit for about 15 minutes.
Below are the different methods you can use for tandoori chicken :
The oven method
- Make sure to preheat the oven at a high temperature before placing the marinated chicken pieces.
- Simply place the chicken on a wire rack or a baking tray which is lined with a foil.
- Now brush a little amount of oil or butter on top of the pieces and bake it until the chicken is fully cooked and nicely browned.
- If you want the extra color, then grill it for a few more minutes.
The pan method
- Take a heavy-bottomed pan or a grill pan and grease it with a little amount of oil.
- Now place the chicken pieces in it and cook on medium flame. Start turning the pieces slowly so they are evenly cooked on all the sides.
- Then cover the pan for a few minutes with a lid and allow the chicken to cook properly.
To get smoky flavour
- To get the smoky flavour just like in the restaurants, you can heat a piece of charcoal until it gets red.
- Then place the charcoal in a small bowl and place it inside the pan with the cooked chicken.
- Add a few drops of ghee on the charcoal and cover the pan immediately for a few minutes.
- After a few minutes, remove the lid and let the chicken rest for a few minutes and you can finish it off by sprinkling chaat masala.
- Your tasty tandoori chicken is now hot-ready and can be served with onion rings, lemon wedges, or mint chutney.
Helpful cooking tips
- Always use thick curd for marinating the chicken pieces as using watery curd can make the marinade watery and prevents proper coating.
- Allow the chicken to marinate properly. Let it rest for at least 6-8 hours or overnight for the best flavour.
- Make sure to deep cuts on the chicken pieces as this allows the marinade to settle properly inside and gives the best taste.
- Tandoori chicken is always cooked on medium-high heat. This is to give the proper grilled texture to the pieces.
- Allow the chicken to rest for a few minutes before serving as it helps the juices to settle properly.
Commonly asked questions
Is tandoori chicken spicy?
Tandoori chicken is usually medium spicy but you can always adjust the heat by reducing the amount of red chilli powder during the marinade.
Can I make tandoori chicken without a tandoor?
Yes, you can make tandoori chicken without the tandoor. It can be cooked using different methods like oven, grill pan, or stovetop pan.
Which chicken cut is best for tandoori chicken?
Bone-in chicken pieces, specifically the thighs and the legs are best for the tandoori chicken.
Can tandoori chicken be eaten on a low-oil diet?
Yes, tandoori chicken is a low-oil diet. Since the chicken is cooked without deep frying and a very little amount of oil is used, it is considered as low-oil diet food.
