Incredibly Easy and Delicious Tikka Masala

I love Indian food!  Well, I love all food but when I want something delicious and spicy, full of cumin, cardamom, coriander, etc. I reach for my Indian recipes.  Just the way the house smells when my family walks in tells them I have been cooking (they think it has been for hours but it hasn’t – Don’t tell!).  Make sure to have either naan (a traditional Indian flatbread) or a good loaf of French bread to dip in the creamy sauce.

Tikka Masala

Shrimp (cleaned and deveined) or Chicken, cut into chunks (I used two lbs.)

4 1/2 T finely grated ginger

1 1/4 T ground turmeric

2 t ground coriander

2 t ground cumin

2 t garam masala (an Indian spice mixture you can purchase at an Indian grocery store)

8 cloves of garlic, finely minced

1 c whole milk yogurt

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

1 can tomato paste

8 cardamom pods, crushed and pod hulls removed

1/4 c coconut oil

1 1/2 t crushed red pepper flakes

2 c heavy cream

Place the chicken or shrimp on a baking sheet and place in a 450 degree oven for 8 minutes.  Don’t worry about it being cooked all the way through.

Mix together the ginger, garlic, turmeric, garam masala, coriander, and cumin in a small bowl.

Heat the oil in a large heavy bottom skillet.  Add the tomato paste, cardamom, red pepper flakes, and onion and cook (stirring constantly) until the tomato paste is dark and the onion is translucent.  Add the yogurt with the ginger, garlic, turmeric, garam masala, coriander, cumin, and heavy cream.  Reduce heat and add the shrimp or chicken.  Cook until the meat is completely cooked (about 5-10 minutes).  Serve with steamed basmati rice and hot naan.