You don’t need a tandoor to make mouth-watering tandoori chicken
This tandoori chicken is so good!
This is a tandoori chicken recipe without the tandoor oven. Instead, I recommend barbecuing it though it can be cooked in the oven. It’s easy and the marinade only takes minutes to make.
One of the most difficult things about barbecuing chicken is the fat from the skin dripping into the coals and flaring up. You shouldn’t have that problem with tandoori chicken as the skin is removed. In Indian cookery, the skin is usually removed which is much better for you and still tastes awesome.
No… you won’t miss the skin. This tandoori chicken recipe is succulent and full of flavour.
If you like this recipe, you might like to check out my garlic and coriander tandoori chicken recipe too.
Over 100 new recipes!
Best Seller! Over 100 Curry House Recipes.
International & UK Orders
How to Make Easy Tandoori Chicken
I prefer cooking this recipe on the barbecue but the oven works well too. If cooking in the oven, set your oven to the highest heat. Place the chicken pieces on a rack and cook for about 25 minutes. Turn the pieces half way through the cooking time. The chicken is ready when the juices run clear when pricked with a fork and the edges are blackened slightly.
Ingredients
- 12 free range chicken thighs skinned and left on the bone
- Juice of two lemons
- 1 tablespoon salt
- red food colouring (optional)
- 2 cups plain yogurt
- 2 tablespoons garlic puree
- 1 tablespoon ginger puree
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 1 tablespoon ground coriander
- 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 green chillies finely chopped
- 1 bunch of coriander leaves finely chopped
Instructions
- Remove the skin from the chicken thighs.
- Using a sharp knife, make three slits in each thigh. This is done so that the thighs marinate better.
- Squeeze the lemon juice all over the chicken thighs and sprinkle with the salt and let sit while you make the marinade. You should also add a couple drops of food colouring at this stage if using.
- Place all the marinade ingredients in a food processor and blend to a fine paste. Cover the chicken pieces with the marinade and rub it with your hands deep into the flesh of the chicken.
- Allow to marinaded for six hours or up to 48 hours - the longer the better.
- When ready to cook, build a log fire in a kettle barbecue for best results. The flavour of the burning wood together with the marinated chicken is phenomenal!
- You are ready to grill when you can hold your hand two inches above the grill without it being unbearably hot. On a gas barbecue, set the grill to medium high heat.
- Cook the tandoori chicken turning occasionally until the chicken is cooked through and the edges are blackened.
I like to serve tandoori chicken with saffron rice and a green salad. I also use it in my restaurant style (BIR) curries instead of using pre-cooked chicken done the curry house way.
Tandoori chicken is the most popular Indian barbecue recipe so enjoy and have fun!
Gemma
Thursday 8th of June 2023
Does the leftover lemon juice mix go in the marinade?
Dan Toombs
Friday 9th of June 2023
Yes you can add that to the marinade. Thanks Dan
kj
Tuesday 28th of March 2023
what is red food coloring , where to buy it
Dan Toombs
Sunday 2nd of April 2023
You can buy this in most Asian grocery stores in powder form. It is also available on line. Thanks Dan
Sab
Wednesday 12th of October 2022
Hi Dan, I have cooked this recipe many times and it's a winner,as you say best done on a barbecue but I have had good success doing it under the grill. I like to serve it with yellow slit pea dhal and basmati rice. This one will really impress your friends, just don't tell how easy it is... Thanks Dan
Dan Toombs
Thursday 13th of October 2022
Thanks for your comments and agreed it works well cooking under the grill too.
Dan
Paul Salmon
Saturday 15th of August 2015
Hi Dan, would this recipe work just as well in a tandoor oven?? Loving your recipes.
Dan Toombs
Monday 17th of August 2015
Hi Paul
Sure would. I cook the same recipe in our tandoor oven. I just showed it on the BBQ for this recipe as most people don't have tandoor ovens. :-)
Thanks Dan
Jon Rickus
Wednesday 5th of August 2015
Dan
had the book for a fair while excellent recipes. just bought a wood burning oven for the garden just wondering if youve cooked these dishes in this type of oven
best regards Jon R
Dan Toombs
Sunday 4th of October 2015
Hi Jon
I sure have. I build a log burning oven in my garden last year. It's perfect for tandoori recipes and much easier to use than my tandoor!
Thanks Dan