Tandoori-esque grilled chicken


My dad was from India and my mom hails from Kentucky. We ate Indian food occasionally but it was usually a sort of compromise between Bombay bazaar and Better Homes & Gardens.

This is a version of what my mom called "tandoori chicken" -- it never saw the inside of a clay oven, but the ingredients are true to the authentic item. No red food coloring here, but you can add a few drops if you want it to be restaurant red.

Two things are obnoxious about making this at a barbecue:
1. It takes a while (20 minutes for each batch).
2. Your hostess will get angry at you for stealing the show (but she'll keep emailing you for the recipe).

This recipe makes 12 pieces of chicken, and serves 6-10 people depending on what else is coming off the grill.

MEAT:

chicken leg quarters (drumstick+thigh) — 6 (skinned if desired; trimmed)

kosher salt — 1t
lemon juice — 1T

MARINADE:

yogurt — 2 cups
lemon juice — 1T

ground cumin — 1T
ground coriander — 1t
paprika — 2t
cardamom seeds (hulled) — 1/4 t
cloves (whole) — 1/4t
ground black pepper — 1/2t
kosher salt — 1t
turmeric — 1t
garam masala — 1t (can substitute 1/4 t each allspice, nutmeg and cinnamon)
onion powder — 1T
garlic powder — 1t
cayenne pepper — to taste (I usually use 1/2t)

FOR GRILLING:

garlic butter — 1/4 cup
oil — 1/4 cup


1. Make 2-3 shallow cuts (1/4” deep) on the fleshy side of each chicken leg. Dress both sides of each leg with lemon juice and salt and set aside (at least 20 minutes).

2. In a large bowl — whisk together the yogurt and lemon juice.

3. Grind together all the spices; add the spice mixture to the yogurt.

4. Pat the chicken legs dry and add to the marinade (big freezer bags work great for this).

5. Marinate in the refrigerator overnight, turning at least once.

6. Shake excess marinade off of the chicken.

7. Brush the chicken with a 1:1 mixture of garlic butter and oil.

8. On a generously oiled grill, cook the legs over medium-high flame for 20 minutes (4x5 minutes). Use a thin spatula to turn them, especially if they've been skinned, as they will stick.

Posted: Thu - February 10, 2005 at 01:00 PM          

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