Tandoor-Style Chicken with Quick Masala Sauce and Naan

If you like Indian food, this is the post for you! I decided to try Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution Tandoor-Style Chicken thanks to a food blog I check - Recipes from the Cookie Jar. I've tried making Indian food at home in the past with mixes and pre-made sauces, but the result was always way to salty. I found one recipe I liked, but this one is a ton easier and seems healthier too (especially since I made up the sauce using yogurt instead of heavy cream!). I also decided to try my hand at some homemade Naan. Eating Indian food just isn't the same without Naan! Everything came out great so I'm putting it all here for you to try :)

Tandoor-Style Chicken
(Click on the link for Jamie's recipe. Below are the amounts I used after a rough metric to US conversion.)

1/2 cup plain non-fat yogurt (greek would work well too)
2 T Olive Oil
1/4 cup roasted garlic flavored tomato sauce
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp garam masala (or curry powder)
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp smoked paprika (I really think the smoked version makes all the difference here)
1/2 tsp tumeric
2 garlic cloves finely chopped (I actually left this out since I was using the garlic tomato sauce. I think I may have put 1/4 tsp of garlic powder, though).
6-8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (I used 2 good-sized chicken breasts), cut into 1" cubes

Combine all ingredients except the chicken. Mix well. Then add the chicken, salt and pepper to taste and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours. Thread onto skewers and grill for about 12 min., turning often. Serve with Quick Masala Sauce and Naan and/or rice. Garnish with cilantro.

Sara's Quick, Cold Masala Sauce

1/4 cup plain non-fat yogurt
2-3 T roasted garlic flavored tomato sauce
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp smoked paprika
1-2 T chopped cilantro

Combine all ingredients, stir well, while waiting for the chicken to cook.

Homemade Naan

Be prepared - this recipe takes about 3 hours total to make, but is so worth it. Also, pay attention to the instruction to add just enough flour to make a soft dough as opposed to adding all the flour the recipe calls for. I only used about 3 cups vs. the 4.5 cups listed. Next time I plan to cut the salt in half. We were all dying of thirst the rest of the night and I know there wasn't much salt in the chicken or sauce.

We ate our dinner wrap-style - coated a piece of naan with sauce, then filled it with chicken. So tasty!!!

June 27 - July 3

I think I managed quite well with my "meals on the fly" week. I made one trip to Aldi and loaded up on whatever cought my eye that reminded me of something I've made before. Last week I made a short menu, but didn't get around to posting it. I'm going to do a separate post on our meal last night - it came out wonderfully!

Without anymore delay, here's my back-in-the-swing-of-things menu. Next week I'm going to attempt a 2 week menu to cut down on grocery trips.

Blackened Shrimp Po'Boys with Chips (had this tonight - delicious!)

Zesty Garlic Chicken Wraps with Bean Salad

Chicken Tenders with Cucumber Salad and Chickpea Couscous

Pesto and Tomato Pizza

BBQ Turkey Meatballs with Mashed Potatoes and Veggies (thanks Sarah!)

Tacos

Hot Dogs with Beans

Spaghetti

Taking a Break

I'm sure my faithful readers (all 2 of you! :) ) have noticed my absence the last week or so. Between our trip and another quick one this weekend, I've been off my menu making schedule. I actually went to the grocery store today without a plan! Hopefully I'll make it through the next few days pulling together meals on the fly. After that I hope to be back on track and posting menus for your guidance and enjoyment. Until then, feel free to post a menu in the comments here so I don't have to struggle next week! :)

May 31 - June 6

First of all, the Pepperoni Pizza Puffs were a big hit. They were easy to whip up and everyone loved them (Ari ate 5 of them!). I've already made a second batch and popped them in the freezer for quick lunches/dinners. I also have plans to make different "gormet" variations (i.e. substitue veggies for the pepperoni, etc.) - can't wait! :)

The Chicken Kebabs and Rice salad were also quite tasty and made for a nice, light, summery meal. It almost needs something else, but I'm not sure what. Bread maybe?

Our dear, sweet neighbor is taking is out to dinner this week for our anniversary! What a special treat! :)

Spaghetti (roll-over)

Fritatta Nests

Chipotle Mac 'n Cheese (I recommend cutting the sauce amount in half)

Lemon Pear Chicken Sandwich

Artichoke and Walnut Pesto Pasta

Bean Burritos (still have beans leftover)

May 24 - 30

Not much to report this week so I'll get right to it.

Pepperoni Pizza Puffs with Cesar Salad

Chicken Kebabs with Rice Salad

Beans and Cornbread

Smothered Bean Burritos

Spaghetti

Soy Glazed Salmon with Rice


Breakfast Treat: Raspberry Scones

May 17 - 23

Well my Real Simple Magazine delivered (no pun intended) and then some! All of the meals I prepared were fantastic! Keenan's favorite was the Spiced Chicken with Couscous Salad and mine was the Grilled Buttermilk Chicken, Potato Salad and Green Bean Salad. The Marinated Chickpea Salad from Tapas Night was also a favorite while the accompaniments did not go over so well. The Soy Glazed Fish with Squash and Zuccini was a wonderful, light summer dish and came together quickly. I need to keep this one in my "wheel-house" for crazy nights!

This week we have Keenan's parents coming in for a visit so more easy to please and feed a crowd meals are planned along with some stand-bys to get us through the week.

Maccaroni and Cheese with Cauliflower (roll-over)

Corn Dogs with Baked Beans

Chicken Taco Rice

Grilled Chicken with Marinated Chickpea Salad

Dip Night

Chicken Oscar

May 10 - 16

The only new recipe for us from last week was Eggs Benedict. I'm not sure if I just don't like that dish or if the recipe wasn't great, but that was a big 'no.'

On to happier thoughts. Kelsey and her family will be visiting us this week so I'm planning some meals that will feed all of us without a lot of fuss. We're planning a trip to the children's museum and just letting the kids hang out together. Should be fun!

My Real Simple magazine came to the rescue this week filling in the gaps. I hope they're good!

Macaroni and Cheese with Cauliflower

Tappas with Marinated Chickpeas

Soy Glazed Fish with Summer Squash

Spiced Chicken with Couscous Salad

Buttermilk Chicken, Green Beans with Pecans and Maple Vinegrette and Creamy Potato Salad with Bacon (RS - these recipes weren't online yet)

Hamburgers, Baked Beans and Corn on the Cob

Chicken Fajitas with all the fixin's