August 01, 2024
I TAKE EVERY COOKING EVENT AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN.
This recipe was inspired by the lead chef of the Niemann Harvest Market deli in Carmel, Indiana. I was showing him how to create my recipe for easy butter chicken using our jarred Tikka Masala sauce with 2 pounds of chicken.
My specialty is perfecting homestyle recipes for taste and spice - while he is really good at scaling. And all of a sudden we were in a whirlwind prepping ingredients for 20 pounds of chicken. I was nervous - but in good hands. To successfully do that and get all the other food prepped for the day - the steps have to be easy and accessible.
While at home we may grab a pan and cook on a stovetop, in a commercial space like that they use ovens to get it done. One dish goes in and while it's cooking another is being prepped. The pace is fast so there's a need for efficiency.
We baked the chicken, added the additional ingredients, and then baked again for a recipe that matched the taste of the stovetop version. I find collaboration in the kitchen purely exhilarating! And, if you are in the area, head in and ask for Indian As Apple Pie butter chicken and saffron rice. It's now in the deli!
The recipe below uses 2 pounds of chicken for the oven method, but know that you can use the steps to scale up for a large dinner party when needed. Another option is to cook your chicken trays for the initial 15 minutes ahead of time, add the additional ingredients, and set them aside to pop into the oven again just before serving dinner. More than one tray can go into the oven at a time without the stovetop mess.
The key is our jarred Tikka Masala which makes everything as easy as pie ... Indian As Apple Pie! xoxo Anupy.
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