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Weeknight Tandoori Chicken

Saucy chicken and spinach in white bowl on cement counter with grey and yellow batikprint cloth napkin.
Photo by Lindsey Rose Johnson

I almost never think to cook Indian food for some reason, but we received tandoori chicken in a Blue Apron box once and it turned out to be really good (love how those boxes help us branch out on occasion)! So I decided to make my own version of this flavorful recipe, and it’s quick and easy enough for any busy weeknight.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    30 minutes

  • Yield

    6 servings

Ingredients

1

1/2 teaspoons garlic powder

1

1/2 teaspoons ground coriander

1

1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

1

teaspoon ground ginger

1

teaspoon salt

1

/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1

1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs

1

tablespoon olive oil (or coconut oil)

1

(13-ounce) can coconut milk

1

(8-ounce) can tomato sauce

2

ounces fresh spinach (about 2 to 2 1/2 cups)

6

servings brown rice, cooked according to package directions

Suggested accompaniments: Cilantro, mint leaves, and plain yogurt

Need to make a substitution?

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    In a medium bowl, combine the garlic powder, coriander, cumin, ginger, salt, and cayenne with a fork. Dredge the chicken in the spice mixture and set aside.

    Step 2

    In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the chicken, sprinkle any remaining spices on top, and sear until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes on each side.

    Step 3

    Add the coconut milk and tomato sauce, bring to a boil, and cover with a lid. Reduce the heat to low and cook until the chicken is done all the way through (no longer pink), 8 to 10 minutes.

    Step 4

    Layer in bowls with brown rice on the bottom, then spinach, chicken, sauce, yogurt, and fresh herbs. Enjoy!

Cover of 100 Day of Real Food: On a Budget by Lisa Leake featuring the author's family in their kitchen.
From 100 Days of Real Food: On a Budget © 2018 by Lisa Leake. Reprinted by permission of William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers. Buy the full book from HarperCollins or from Amazon.