Rogan Josh Sauce and how to make better Chicken Tikka

If you know the girlfriend then you'll know that I have to make curry sauces so mild that for example, any average five year old would stare at you in disbelief and erupt with, 'YOU FORGOT THE CHILLI!' Then there are days of, 'Smells like a Indian takeaway in this house', comments. But it's worth it, if you want to eat the sort of food you want to eat, you have to take some flack. 

So the masala mix for Rogan Josh is in two parts - so in a pan put some veg oil and get it really hot and throw in some cumin seeds - they should pop and crackle, add fenugreek seeds, cardamon pods, cloves, cinnamon stick, bay leaf, garlic clove and dried chilli. Remove chilli and garlic when browned. Add chopped onions and sliced red pepper, add a sprinkle of salt and fry until the onions become transparent. You could add a sliced fresh chilli or to taste at this point.

Now make up the second part of the masala, a teaspoon of chilli, turmeric, coriander, ginger, cumin, paprika, half a teaspoon of cinnamon. 

Next put a squirt of tom puree in the frying pan and move it around until you can smell it, add the spice mix and stir around for a minute. Your kitchen should smell awesome, not that she would think so. Now add a mug of water, and cut as many tomatoes as you have in half and add to the pan, I use a container of cherry toms. This sauce is all about the tomatoes, so it's okay to add a little water as you go along but not too much. Turn the pan to low and then simmer for about 40 mins or as long as you like. Add a teaspoon of garam masala a few minutes before serving. If you were making this with lamb already in, you could sprinkle the serving with sliced almonds.

Chicken Tikka

Using this tip you can make chicken like you get in a restaurant, so you need a jar of Patak's Tikka sauce, spoon and mix some over all of the chicken and then mix a masala mix, ginger powder, cumin, coriander, salt, garam masala and mix that with natural yoghurt and marinate the chicken with it for a while - I leave it overnight.

Put your grill on full. Put your oven on 180. Melt some butter or gee in the microwave. Put the chicken under the grill, about four minutes later take it out and brush the top with butter/gee, put it back under and after four more minutes take it out and turn it over, repeat. Then brush again and put in the oven for about 20 - 30 minutes, brushing once after 10 - 15 mins.

Enjoy!