Indian food made simple

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Looking to spice up your meals at home? You don't need to look very far to add new flavors to your food.

Chef B.K. Mehra, the head chef at Siri, visited ABC 7 to show off ways to incorporate tastes India to your dishes.

Chicken Tikki Masala

Chicken Marinate

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast cut into 1 inch pieces

2 teaspoons garam masala

teaspoon ground coriander

teaspoon ground black pepper

cup plain yogurt

Directions:

Mix all above seasoning and yogurt in a large bowl and add Chicken strips that have been cooked in oven. Refrigerate for 2 hours. Heat oil or butter in a large cooking pan over medium heat

Stir in:

1 teaspoon Cumin Seeds until lightly toasted

1 Large Chopped Onion

Mix this all together for about 3 minutes till onion begin to soften

Stir in

3 Cloves Minced Garlic

1 Tablespoon Grated Fresh Ginger

2 Green Chile Peppers, Minced

Stir all this together for about 5 minutes more till onion is browned.

Then add:

2 Roma Tomatoes, diced

cup Tomato paste

cup water

Let cook about 5-10 minutes

Let all this cook while adding:

1 teaspoon Garam masala

teaspoon Turmeric powder.

The chicken that has been marinated in the refrigerator,

cup or a little more of heavy cream

Stir everything together and let simmer for 10 minutes. Serve over rice, or naan. Makes about 4 servings.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup plain yogurt

2 teaspoons garam masala

2 teaspoons red chilli powder

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast - cut into 1-inch pieces

3 tablespoons vegetable oil or Butter as per your choice

1 teaspoon cumin seeds

1 large onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger

2 green chile peppers, minced

2 Roma tomatoes, diced

1/2 cup tomato paste

1/4 cup water

1/2 teaspoon coriander powder

1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 bunch cilantro for garnish

Directions:

Mix Yogurt, Garam Masala, Coriander powder paprika and black pepper in a large bowl and add chicken strips to it and keep in refrigerator for 2 hrs. In restaurants we usually work in Clay oven. At home you can cook in oven at 450 degrees.

Heat oil or Melt butter in a large cooking Pan over medium heat. Cook and stir cumin seeds until lightly toasted and aromatic, about 1 minutes. Add onion; cook and stir until onion begins to soften, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in garlic, ginger, and green chilies and continue to cook until onion is browned, 5 to 10 minutes. Cook and stir tomatoes, tomato paste, and water into onion mixture until tomatoes begin to break down and incorporate into the onion mixture, about 10 minutes.

Cook and stir 1 teaspoon garam masala, 1/2 teaspoon coriander, and turmeric into the tomato mixture. Mix in the cooked chicken, add cream, and stir to coat. Cover and let simmer for 10 minutes. Add salt to taste and garnish with cilantro