Best Tandoori Spiced Chicken Breasts Recipes

Grilled Tandoori-Spiced Chicken Breasts Over Mesclun Salad image

Yield Serves 6

Number Of Ingredients 17

For marinade
1 small onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
a 1-inch piece fresh gingerroot, peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon water
1/2 cup plain yogurt
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1/8 teaspoon each ground mace, cloves, cinnamon, and nutmeg
3 whole boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 2 1/4 pounds), halved
1 1/2 tablespoons white-wine vinegar
1/3 cup olive oil
10 cups packed mesclun (mixed baby greens, about 1/2 pound)

Steps:

Make marinade:
In a blender or small food processor grind onion with garlic, gingerroot, lemon juice, and water to form a paste. In a bowl stir together onion paste and remaining marinade ingredients.
With a sharp paring knife make three 1/2-inch-deep diagonal cuts in each chicken breast half, being careful not to cut all the way through. Rub chicken with marinade, rubbing it into cuts. In a large resealable plastic bag marinate chicken, chilled, overnight.
Prepare grill.
Grill chicken on an oiled rack 5 to 6 inches over glowing coals until cooked through, about 7 minutes on each side, and transfer to a platter. Let chicken stand while preparing salad.
In a large bowl whisk together vinegar and salt and pepper to taste and add oil in a stream, whisking until emulsified. Add mesclun and toss lightly.
Slice chicken 1/4 inch thick and serve over salad.

Tandoori-Spiced Chicken Breasts image

Yield Serves 4

Number Of Ingredients 20

For spice paste
1 large garlic clove
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
1 small fresh red or green chile such as serrano or cayenne
1/3 cup low-fat plain yogurt
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons grated peeled fresh gingerroot
1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander seeds
3/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
4 skinless boneless chicken breast halves (about 1 1/4 pounds total)
1 small red onion
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
For yogurt sauce
1/2 cup low-fat plain yogurt
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
a pinch cayenne

Steps:

Make spice paste:
Mince garlic with salt and mash to a paste. Wearing protective gloves, mince chile (including seeds for a spicier paste) and in a bowl stir together with garlic paste and remaining spice paste ingredients.
Make 3 diagonal cuts about 1/4 inch deep in each chicken breast and rub spice paste into cuts and all over chicken. Marinate chicken, covered, 30 minutes at cool room temperature.
Preheat broiler and line broiler pan with foil. Halve onion through root end and reserve 1 half for sauce. Thinly slice remaining onion half, separating layers, and in a small bowl soak onion slices in ice water to cover while broiling chicken.
Arrange chicken without crowding on rack of broiler pan. Brush chicken with 1 teaspoon vegetable oil and broil about 3 inches from heat 8 minutes. Turn chicken over and brush with remaining teaspoon vegetable oil. Broil chicken until lightly browned and just cooked through, about 6 minutes more.
Make sauce while chicken is broiling:
Mince enough reserved onion to measure 1 tablespoon and in a small bowl stir together with all sauce ingredients.
Drain soaked onion and pat dry between paper towels. Top chicken with onion slices and serve with yogurt sauce.