Lunch: Chicken Tikka Masala

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Lemon

Health benefits of Chicken Tikka Masala

Lemons can help to prevent oxidative damage to the body, which women with PCOS are often susceptible to. Lemons are also rich in vitamin C, flavonoids, and other antioxidants. They can potentially support the immune system and have other health benefits. Lemons also have a low glycemic index, so they should not cause a rapid rise in blood sugar when consumed in natural form.

Ingredients

5 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
One 1 1/2-inch coin ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
2 teaspoons coriander seeds
2 teaspoons cumin seeds1 cup Greek yogurt
3 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons lemon juice (about 1/2 lemon)
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, halved into large chunks
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 serrano pepper, with or without seeds, thinly sliced into half moons
One 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes, quartered
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Steamed white rice, for serving

Instructions

Puree the garlic and ginger in a food processor or blender with 1/4 cup water. Toast the coriander and cumin seeds in a small skillet over medium-high heat until fragrant, about 3 minutes, and then pulse until finely ground in a spice grinder.
Whisk together 2 tablespoons of the ginger-garlic puree, 2 teaspoons of the cumin-coriander mixture, the yogurt, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the paprika, the lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon of the sugar, 1/4 teaspoon of the turmeric, the cayenne, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Toss in the chicken to coat and then cover the bowl with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for 2 to 4 hours.
Heat the butter in a Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed wide pot over medium heat. Add the onions and serrano peppers and cook until the onions are soft and tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons of the ginger-garlic puree and the remaining cumin-coriander mixture, paprika and turmeric constantly for about 3 minutes to cook the spices, and then add the remaining 1 teaspoon sugar, the tomatoes with all their juice and 1 1/2 cups water. Gently simmer partially covered for 25 minutes over medium-low heat.
Preheat the broiler. Scrape off the excess marinade from the chicken thighs and lay them spaced apart on a rack placed over a baking sheet. Lightly sprinkle the chicken with salt and place 5 inches from the broiler. Broil for about 5 minutes, and then flip the chicken pieces and broil until the chicken is just cooked through and registers 165 degrees F on a meat thermometer, 3 minutes longer. Transfer to a large bowl.
Stir the cream and garam masala into the sauce and simmer for an additional 5 minutes. Pour over the chicken and stir in the cilantro, combining to coat the chicken. Divide evenly among 4 plates and serve with steamed rice.

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