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Tandoori dishes are a popular and flavorful part of Indian cuisine, often featuring marinated meats or vegetables cooked in a clay oven. But you don't need a tandoor to enjoy these mouthwatering flavors—here are 9 of the best tandoori recipes for home chefs to try!
1. Tandoori Chicken
This recipe is for juicy and flavorful oven-baked chicken that's been marinated in a blend of yogurt and spices. To make it, you'll need chicken legs or thighs, plain yogurt, lemon juice, ginger-garlic paste, cumin powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, garam masala, paprika, salt, and oil. To prepare the chicken, make deep cuts to allow the marinade to penetrate, then mix together the yogurt, lemon juice, ginger-garlic paste, and spices, and coat the chicken with the marinade. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, then brush with oil and bake at just over 200 °C for 25–30 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and slightly charred.
Taste: Spicy and Savory
Total time: 2 hours 45 minutes (including marinating time)
Prep time: 15 minutes
Calories per serving: 220
2. Tandoori Paneer Tikka
This recipe is for grilled cubes of paneer cheese that have been marinated in a spicy blend of yogurt and spices. The ingredients you'll need include paneer cheese, plain yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, cumin powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, garam masala, paprika, salt, and oil for brushing. To prepare the dish, mix together the yogurt, ginger-garlic paste, and spices, and then coat the paneer cubes in the marinade. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, then thread the cubes onto skewers, brush with oil, and grill for 2-3 minutes on each side until charred and crispy.
Taste: Spicy and Savory
Total time: 45 minutes (including marinating time)
Prep time: 15 minutes
Calories per serving: 180
3. Tandoori Fish Tikka
This recipe is for tender grilled fish chunks that have been marinated in a blend of yogurt and spices. The ingredients needed are white fish fillets, plain yogurt, lemon juice, ginger-garlic paste, cumin powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, garam masala, paprika, salt, and oil for brushing. To prepare the dish, mix together the yogurt, lemon juice, ginger-garlic paste, and spices, and coat the fish chunks in the marinade. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, then thread the chunks onto skewers, brush with oil, and grill for 2-3 minutes on each side until slightly charred and crispy.
Taste: Spicy and Savory
Total time: 45 minutes (including marinating time)
Prep time: 15 minutes
Calories per serving: 150
4. Tandoori Lamb Chops
This recipe is for tender and juicy grilled lamb chops that have been marinated in a blend of yogurt and spices. Lamb chops, plain yogurt, lemon juice, ginger-garlic paste, cumin powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, garam masala, paprika, salt, and oil for brushing are the things you will need. To make the dish, make deep cuts in the lamb chops to allow the marinade to penetrate, and then mix together the yogurt, lemon juice, ginger-garlic paste, and spices. Coat the lamb chops in the marinade and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Preheat the oven to 200 °C, place the lamb chops on a wire rack over a baking sheet, brush with oil, and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the lamb is cooked through and slightly charred.
Taste: Spicy and Savory
Total time: 2 hours 45 minutes (including marinating time)
Prep time: 15 minutes
Calories per serving: 300
5. Tandoori Shrimp
This recipe features succulent shrimp marinated in a flavorful blend of yogurt and spices and then grilled until slightly charred and crispy. To make the marinade, mix together plain yogurt, lemon juice, ginger-garlic paste, cumin powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, garam masala, paprika, and salt. Add the peeled and deveined shrimp to the marinade and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Then, thread the shrimp onto skewers and brush with oil. Grill the shrimp for 2–3 minutes on each side, until they are charred and crispy. This dish is perfect as an appetizer or a main course.
Taste: Spicy and Savory
Total time: 45 minutes (including marinating time)
Prep time: 15 minutes
Calories per serving: 120
6. Tandoori Aloo Tikka
To make roasted potatoes marinated in a blend of yogurt and spices, begin by mixing together 1/2 cup plain yogurt, 1 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste, and all the spices in a bowl. Add 4 peeled and cubed potatoes to the marinade and mix well to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 200 °C, and place the marinated potatoes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush the potatoes with oil and bake for 25–30 minutes, until the potatoes are crispy and slightly charred.
Taste: Spicy and Savory
Total time: 45 minutes (including marinating time)
Prep time: 15 minutes
Calories per serving: 150
7. Tandoori Chicken Tikka Masala
To prepare the chicken, mix together yogurt, lemon juice, ginger-garlic paste, and spices; add boneless chicken pieces; and marinate for at least two hours. Thread the chicken onto skewers and grill until slightly charred. For the sauce, sauté onions, garlic, and ginger in a separate pan until translucent, Add the chopped tomatoes and cook until soft. Mix in cumin powder, coriander powder, garam masala, paprika, salt, and heavy cream, and cook until the sauce thickens. Finally, add the grilled chicken to the pan and cook until the chicken is coated in the sauce.
Taste: Spicy and Savory
Total time: 2 hours 45 minutes (including marinating time)
Prep time: 15 minutes
Calories per serving: 350
8. Tandoori Naan
This recipe is for soft and fluffy naan bread that can be cooked in a tandoor oven, on a grill, or on the stovetop. To make the dough, mix together all-purpose flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, mix plain yogurt, milk, and oil. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients to form a dough, then knead it until smooth and elastic. Let the dough rest for 30 minutes, then divide it into small balls and roll them into thin ovals. Cook each naan for 2-3 minutes on each side, until slightly charred and puffed up. Brush with melted butter or ghee before serving.
Taste: Soft and buttery
Total time: 1 hour 15 minutes (including resting time)
Prep time: 30 minutes
Calories per serving: 150
9. Tandoori Fish
This recipe is for tandoori fish with mint chutney. Fish fillets are marinated in a blend of yogurt and spices, and then grilled until slightly charred. The ingredients for the fish marinade include fish fillets, plain yogurt, lemon juice, ginger-garlic paste, cumin powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder, garam masala, paprika, salt, and oil. For the mint chutney, you'll need fresh mint leaves, fresh cilantro leaves, a green chili pepper, a garlic clove, lemon juice, salt, and water. To make the dish, you marinate the fish fillets, grill them for 5-7 minutes on each side, and then blend together the ingredients for the mint chutney. The fish is served with a side of mint chutney.
Taste: Spicy and refreshing
Total time: 1 hour 30 minutes (including marinating time)
Prep time: 15 minutes
Calories per serving: 200
Tandoori cooking is a wonderful way to bring the flavors of India into your kitchen. Whether you are a seasoned chef or a beginner, these 9 tandoori recipes will surely impress your taste buds and your guests. Don't be intimidated by the long list of spices - once you try these dishes, you'll be hooked on the aromatic and delicious world of tandoori cooking. Enjoy!
