Easy Chicken Tikka Masala with Basmati Rice
Ingredients
- 2 cups Mahatma® Basmati Rice
- 3 tbsp canola oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 tbsp minced fresh gingerroot
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp paprika
- 1 tbsp curry powder
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp turmeric powder
- 1/2 tsp each salt and pepper
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 1 can (14 oz) coconut milk
- 3 cups cubed cooked chicken
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh cilantro
Instructions
Fill your kitchen with the delicious aromas of this Easy Chicken Tikka Masala served over fragrant and fluffy Basmati Rice from Mahatma® Rice, ready in just 35 minutes.
Step 1
Cook rice according to package directions.
Step 2
Meanwhile, heat oil in large saucepan set over medium heat; cook onion, ginger and garlic for 3 to 5 minutes or until slightly softened. Stir in paprika, curry powder, garam masala, cumin, turmeric, salt, pepper, cinnamon and cayenne; cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until fragrant.
Step 3
Stir in tomato sauce and coconut milk; bring to boil. Stir in chicken. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until flavors are blended.
Step 4
Stir in peas; cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until heated through. Garnish with cilantro. Serve with rice.
Substitutions
Substitute leftover cooked turkey for chicken if desired
International Made Easy
Although the true origins of this world-famous Tikka Masala dish are disputed among experts whether it was first eaten in India, Pakistan or even Great Britain, the truth is that it’s a dish everyone can enjoy around the table together. And, this simple version makes it accessible for all filled with spices like garam masala, curry, paprika and ginger with creamy coconut milk the rich sauce pairs perfectly with fragrant basmati rice as it absorbs all of that taste for flavor in every bite.
This recipe calls for precooked chicken so it is a great way to toss in leftovers or use a store-bought rotisserie chicken. It can even work as an incredibly tasty way to eat up any leftover Thanksgiving or holiday turkey.
Typical of Indian-inspired dishes, this recipe calls for Basmati Rice, however, one alternative is Thai Jasmine Rice.
Tips
Don’t skip the spices: The spices in this dish are important for creating amazing flavor. For best results use fresh and ground, dried seasonings as the recipe states, however, if you find you are out of any simply swap in their dried counterparts such as dried ginger or onion powder. If you’d like to keep exploring with similar spices, try out this Everyday Chicken Biryani dish. Our branch out and give traditional dishes like Mexican Rice or paella de marisco a go!
Get organized: If you are new to making Indian-inspired cuisine, make sure that you have all of your spices ready and ingredients prepared before beginning so that you can focus on the recipe and not on finding what you need next.