TANDOOOOOORI chicken

i've always been a big fan of Gordon Ramsay's TV shows, especially Channel 4's The F Word. last season i tried his recipe for beef stew and it has been a hit every time. in the latest season to end (season 3), he had some very interesting dishes and i was very keen to try some of his recipes. i've only JUST got round to testing his tandoori recipe (he used halibut but i chose chicken instead) and was very eager to see my family's reactions (because if they liked it, it means that Ramsay's recipes are foolproof!)

TANDOORI CHICKEN

All you need is...

• 2 tsp cumin seeds
• 2 tsp coriander seeds
Toast in a frying pan over very low heat (to prevent from burning) until fragrant (a few minutes is all it takes). Then grind as finely as possible in a pestle and motar.

Mix the following with this powder mixture:
• 4 tsp garam masala
• 4 tbsp sweet paprika
• 2 tsp hot chilli powder
• Juice of a lemon
• 4 tbsp groundnut oil
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp turmeric
• 2 tbsp tomato puree
• 6 garlic cloves, crushed
• Large knob of fresh root ginger, finely grated

Once you get a paste-like consistency, add
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp caster sugar
• 200g tub natural yogurt

Marinade the chicken in the mixture (this makes enough for 4 legs) for several hours, making sure it is well-coated. Heat some vegetable oil in a hot pan and sear the chicken on both sides (till golden brown/brown). Transfer to roasting pan, pour remaining marinade over the pieces (as well as any oil and marinade left in the hot pan, and pop into a preheated oven (at 200 degrees Celsius). Turn the chicken occasionally so that both sides get evenly browned. Time in the oven is about 50mins.

i served my chicken with flavoured rice (simply chop some onions, heat up a frying pan with vegetable oil and fry the onions, some turmeric, cumin and nutmeg powder over low heat, add the washed rice and fry for a few minutes before transferring to the rice pot. add the appropriate amount of chicken stock and cook as usual. stir in raisins after the rice is cooked - this is so that they don't get mushy from soaking up the stock) and some stir-fried beans.

my family really enjoyed the chicken though the sauce - i.e. what is scrapped from the roasting pan, was too salty (strangely enough, the sauce looked like satay sauce!). but overall a good verdict.

so now i'm going to work my way through his other recipes that i've bookmarked to try. :)