A First Attempt At Homemade Chicken Tikka Masala

And Indian Favorite: Homemade Chicken Tikka Masala

As a food blogger and obsessive home cook, I keep a running list of things that I want to attempt to make or recreate in my Small Boston Kitchen.  My list isn't anything fancy or super serious, it's just a bunch of random dishes or ingredients that I'd like to try.  Whenever I'm drawing a blank or having some trouble thinking of what to make, I turn to my list, pick something off of it, turn to my kitchen and get cooking.  Tonight, I'm happy to announce, I'm crossing one item off my list that's been on there for a while: Chicken Tikka Masala.

I love Chicken Tikka Masala.  I mean, what's not to love?  A rich, spicy tomato-y sauce hugging tender chunks of chicken and then served alongside rice, how can one pass that up?  Not easily I tell you, not easily.  Whenever I go out for Indian food I find it hard for me to pass it up.  I know it's common request but I think it's so popular for  reason, it's just so darn tasty and I knew I wanted to create my own version of this popular Indian dish in my Small Boston Kitchen.

When thinking about how I would tackle this recipe, I turned to Google and found a plethora of recipes and lots of variations however, me being me, I wanted to go without a recipe and create from instinct and taste and I was really happy with my results.  Once I had my spices and herbs laid out on the counter, the rest was pretty easy.  To help bring all the flavors together, I slowly simmered it in a tagine until the sauce got rich and flavorful and the chicken was tender that it was falling apart.  I suspect a crockpot set to low or a dutch oven would also do the trick and yield similar results.  Another adjustment that I made to the traditional recipe for this dish was that the I omitted the mass amounts of butter that are usually part of this recipe and instead, turned to Greek yogurt and tomato paste to provide a luxurious richness to the sauce.  Truth be told, I didn't miss the fat one bit and I plan to make this at home much more often.  What is it that is so satisfying about not only crossing something off your list, but making something that you've never made before, from scratch?

Homemade Chicken Tikka Masala

Restaurant Round-up

As much as I love creating my own meals, I do like to venture out of my Small Boston Kitchen every once in a while to grab a bite to eat. This helps to inspire me and also allows me keep tabs on whats new and exciting in the restaurant world. (So really, it's research!) Since Boston has secured itself a spot on the US culinary map, I'd like to devote this posting to a round-up of sorts of some local eateries. Recently visited and gaining my two thumbs up of approval, I think these are particularly good and definitely worth a try.

Happy eating!

Rani Bistro - I like to think of Indian food as one of my favorite types of food that I never even knew I liked. It wasn't until recently that I got hooked on this ethnic cuisine specializing in robust flavors and foreign spices. By chance one day I found myself at an Indian food restaurant and having no idea what it was all about. Me being me and always on the lookout for new flavors, I couldn't wait to start trying. I remember my first taste of Chicken Tikka Masala and have never looked back. With its tomato base and a mass of vibrant flavors and spices, I find myself craving this dish. Located at 1353 Beacon Street in Coolidge Corner, Rani Bistro makes an outstanding Chicken Tikka Masala. Complete with rich spices and a satisfying heat that leaves your lips tingling, this dish is accompanied by jasmine rice and a side order of daal (baked lentils, not my favorites but that's fine by me because it leaves a little extra room for the chicken and rice). With authentic Indian art of the walls, great service, and a pleasant and warm atmosphere, I definitely recommend Rani Bistro anytime the urge for Indian cuisine strikes.




The Coolidge Corner Clubhouse (AKA, "The Triple C's) - Simply put, I heart "The Triple C's" in a big way. When you first walk into this small and unassuming spot, you'll notice sports paraphernalia adorning the walls of this neighborhood joint. Once you wrestle your way to the dining area (good luck getting a seat at the bar, this place is always packed!), you won't be disappointed. Boasting high-definition TVs at every glance, this place is the ideal location to have a beer (they have 40 on tap) and watch a game. However, be forewarned, if you brave the crowds for a visit to The Triple C's, come hungry. No, I take that back. Come starving! With a menu that is at least 20 pages deep (not an exaggeration), there is certainly something to please even the pickiest of eaters. Here, you can get every sandwich/burger concoction imaginable (all named after popular sports figures and served along side a Mount Everest sized mound of curly fries), a mouth-watering starting line-up of appetizers (note to self: a half order of nachos is ALWAYS enough!) and fresh salads among other creations, your taste buds will never get bored. Humming along to the Dropkick Murphy's while watching the Pats take the lead, there really is no happier place in Brookline to catch a game.