Tandoori-Style Chicken

In the mood for a Tandoori-style chicken? Here's a great recipe that will have your guests wanting more!

By the way, notice that I said "Tandoori-style," which simply means I marinated it with yogurt and spices. It will not be the red chicken everyone expects it to be.

What makes Tandoori chicken red you ask? Cayenne pepper or red chili powder is used to give it a fiery red hue. A higher amount of turmeric produces an orange color. Sometimes in the milder versions, both red and yellow food coloring could be used to achieve bright colors.

There are many ways you can serve this dish. As an appetizer, you can cut them in strips and cook them on small skewers similar to the chicken satay. Or for dinner, serve with a basmati rice or if you prefer low-carb, serve with a side of vegetables. 

Ingredients
8 to 10 boneless chicken thighs, rinsed and pat dry
2 tablespoons lemon juice
11/2 cups Greek yogurt
1 small yellow onion, chopped
1 cup fresh mint leaves
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
2 teaspoons ground coriander
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon Hungarian paprika
1/4 teaspoon each ground turmeric, cardamom, and cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt to taste

Directions
1. Place all the chicken pieces in a bowl and brush them with the lemon juice.
2. To make the marinade, in a food processor, combine the yogurt, onion, garlic, ginger, coriander, cumin, paprika, turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon, and cayenne. Process until thoroughly combined. Pour the marinade over the chicken and stir to coat well. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate, turning occasionally, for at least 8 hours or overnight.
3. Preheat the oven to 500°F.
4. Select a baking pan large enough to hold the chicken in a single layer and line it with aluminum foil.
5. Transfer the chicken, with any clinging marinade, to the prepared baking pan. Drizzle with the oil.
6. Roast the chicken 20 minutes. Turn the chicken over and cook another 20 minutes or until you poke the chicken with a knife and clear juice comes out.