Tandoori Chicken Tikka

Photo: flickr user jbcurio

Ingredients

450 g/1 lb. boneless, skinned chicken breast

1 teaspoon salt

Juice of ½ a lemon

1/2 teaspoon tandoori color or a few drops of red food coloring mixed with 1 tbsp. 2 cloves garlic, peeled and coarsely chopped

½-inch cube of root ginger, peeled and coarsely chopped

2 teaspoons ground coriander

1/2 teaspoon ground allspice or garam masala

1/4 of a whole nutmeg, finely grated

1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric

125 g/5 oz. thick set natural yogurt

4 tablespoons corn or vegetable oil

1/2 teaspoon chili powder

Preparation

Cut the chicken into 1-inch cubes. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt from the specified amount, and the lemon juice. Mix thoroughly. Cover and keep aside for 30 minutes.

Put the rest of the ingredients into an electric food processor or liquidiser and blend until smooth. Put this marinade into a sieve and hold the sieve over the chicken pieces. Press the marinade through the sieve with the back of a metal spoon until only a very coarse mixture is left.

Coat the chicken thoroughly with the sieved marinade. Cover the container and leave to marinate for 6-8 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.

Preheat oven to 230 degrees C/450 degrees F/Gas Mark 8. Line a roasting tin with aluminum foil (this will help to maintain the high level of temperature required to cook the chicken quickly without drying it out).

Thread the chicken onto skewers, leaving 1/4-inch gap between each piece (this is necessary for the heat to reach all sides of the chicken).

Place the skewers in the prepared roasting tin and brush with some of the remaining marinade. Cook in the center of the oven for 6-8 minutes.

Take the tin out of the oven, turn the skewers over and brush the pieces of chicken with the remaining marinade. Return the tin to the oven and cook for a further 6-8 minutes.

Shake off any excess liquid from the chicken. (Strain the excess liquid and keep aside for Chicken Tikka Masala). Place the skewers on a serving dish. You may take the tikka off the skewers if you wish, but allow the meat to cool slightly before removing from the skewers.