Quick & Easy Indian Dinner!

Hi this is Pranika! I got home from work a bit early this week and decided to make Indian food for dinner. No way that can be quick and easy, right? Wrong! And it’s not just any Indian food, it’s Chicken Tikka Masala plus a vegetable dish.

Chicken Tikka Masala is a favorite restaurant dish of most people that frequent Indian Restaurants. Below is my quick version of it, plus a hearty vegetable dish. I served the dishes with basmati rice, store-bought naan, and sliced cucumbers dressed with lime and sea salt.

Everyone’s stomachs were happy and my four-year old announced to everyone that “I was a good girl and Mommy did a good job.” Can’t beat that! Happy cooking and eating!

Chicken Tikka Masala

1 cup heavy cream
3 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp sea salt
½ tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp sugar
½ tsp cumin
1 tbsp garam masala
Juice of one lime
2 tbsp water
1 ½ tbsp canola oil
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp black mustard seeds
0.7 lbs chicken tenderloins, cut into bite-sized pieces

Make sauce first by combining cream and tomato paste into a bowl; stir well. Add salt, cayenne pepper, sugar, cumin, and garam masala. Mix well.

Add lime juice and water and whisk until smooth. Set aside.

Heat oil over medium-high heat in a non-stick pot and add black mustard seeds and cumin seeds. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring often.

Add chicken and cook for 3-4 minutes until chicken has begun to brown. Add sauce and turn heat to medium low. Cover and cook for 8-10 minutes. Serve with basmati rice and naan.

Chickpeas, Potatoes, and Peas

2 small red potatoes, diced
1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 small red onion, cut into large pieces
1 tbsp garlic, ginger paste
½ cup water
2 tbsp canola oil
1 tsp black mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tbsp garam masala
1 tsp sea salt
½ cup frozen peas
1 cup water

Blend small red onion, ½ cup water, and garlic ginger paste in a food processor, set aside. Heat oil in a non-stick pot over medium high heat and add cumin seeds and black mustard seeds. Cook and stir for 60 seconds.

Add onion paste from food processor and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Add potatoes, garam masala, and salt. Cook for 2 minutes. Add frozen peas and 1 cup water.

Stir, reduce heat to medium, cover and cook for 10 minutes. Enjoy!