Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe -- an Indian Favorite

Chicken Tikka Masala is one of the most popular Indian recipes in the world, and for good reason.
I like chicken tikka masala with a rich, creamy sauce--plenty to mix in with the rice and scoop up with some warm flatbread. Give this dish a try and let me know what you think--it's one of my favorites.
Ingredients for chicken tikka:

2 lbs boneless, skinless CHICKEN
1 cup plain YOGURT
1 tsp GARLIC (minced)
1 tsp GINGER (minced)
2 Tbsp LEMON JUICE
1 Tbsp CORIANDER POWDER
1 Tbsp GARAM MASALA
1 Tbsp CUMIN
SALT

Ingredients for masala sauce:
1 ONION (chopped well)
2 tsp GARLIC (minced)
2 tsp GINGER (minced)
1 JALAPENO PEPPER (finely chopped, optional)
or ½ tsp RED PEPPER FLAKES (optional)
1 Tbsp TOMATO PASTE
1 28oz can CRUSHED TOMATOES
1 pint HEAVY CREAM
½ cup CILANTRO (chopped)
2 tsp CORIANDER POWDER
½ tsp CHILI POWDER
1 tsp TURMERIC
1 tsp CUMIN
1 tsp GARAM MASALA

Use 2 lbs of skinless, boneless chicken. You can use dark or light meat as you prefer. For this recipe, I like to cut the meat into strips that are easier to handle while marinating and cooking--later I'll cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces to add into the creamy masala. Mix a marinade of plain yogurt, ginger, garlic and lemon juice. Season the chicken strips with garam masala, cumin, coriander, and salt and coat with the marinade. Set in the fridge to marinate for at least a few hours, ideally overnight.

After the chicken has marinated, lightly coat a baking pan with oil. Remove as much of the marinade from the chicken as possible and arrange on the pan. Bake the chicken in a 400 degree F oven for 15-20 minutes or until nearly cooked through--adjusting the cooking time as needed depending on the size of the chicken strips; finish the chicken under the broiler to add a slight char to the outside. While the chicken is cooking, prepare the creamy masala.
In a skillet, on med high heat, heat 2 Tbsp of oil and 1 Tbsp of butter. Add minced ginger and garlic and saute 1 minute. Then add onion--also a fresh hot pepper, or red pepper flakes if you want to add a little heat to the dish. The onion and pepper should be chopped up well for a smoother sauce. Continue sauteing for 5-6 minutes. Add coriander, cumin, turmeric, and chili powder; stir into the onion mixture. Add tomato paste (or don't--it'll be good either way--just a little more or less rich and tomatoey, so adjust according to your personal taste). Add 28oz can of crushed tomatoes.
Add salt to taste and mix ingredients thoroughly. Allow ingredients to come to a bubble, then reduce heat, cover, and let simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
After 15 minutes, stir in garam masala and heavy cream and continue cooking on low heat for 5 minutes. Add chopped cilantro.
Chop the cooked chicken strips into bite-sized pieces and stir into the masala. Remove from heat and serve over rice.
I hope you give this chicken tikka masala recipe a try, I think you'll love it.
Another Indian favorite of mine is Eggplant Curry (Baingan Bharta)

Easy Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

This quick chocolate chip cookies recipe makes a perfect weekend treat--it's a super quick and tasty recipe that I have never mucked up--which is saying something. Chocolate Chip Cookies Ingredients:
½ cup SUGAR
¼ cup BROWN SUGAR
½ cup BUTTER (soften)
2 tsp VANILLA EXTRACT
1 EGG
1½ cup ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR
½ tsp BAKING SODA
¼ tsp SALT
1 cup CHOCOLATE CHIPS
(or ½ cup chocolate chips and ½ cup chopped nuts)
directions:
Set out butter to soften and egg to come to room temperature.
Combine sugars, butter, vanilla extract, and egg in a bowl and mix well; you can use a mixer if you like, but I never have--just stir with a spoon to a smooth-ish consistency, do it as well as you can and that will likely be good enough (most things in life are like that, I find).
In another bowl, add flour, salt and baking soda (just ½ tsp BAKING SODA, if you add too much the cookies will be bitter, dude). Add chocolate chips and nuts--or if you don't want nuts, just add chips--but that would be nuts. Mix ingredients well.
Add the sugar/butter combo to the dry ingredients and mix until incorporated. The dough should stick together when pressed.
Arrange spoonfuls of dough on an ungreased cookie sheet--about two inches apart. The recipe makes about 18-22 cookies, I usually get 17 or 18 cookies, cause I like mine kinda big.
Slide cookie sheet into an oven heated at 350 degrees F and let bake 10-12 minutes. When cookies are brown around the edges and lightly golden on top, they're finito. Cool on cooling rack or eat them hot out of the oven with a glass of milk or a White Russian, depending on how your day is going.
Give this easy chocolate chip cookies recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appetit!
And for another sweet tooth fix, try these heavenly Caramel Oatmeal Squares.

How to Make General Tso's Chicken

General Tso's Chicken is a delicious dish you'll find at most Chinese restaurants--and you can make the very same dish in your own kitchen at home. The chicken in this recipe is baked instead of deep fried, which is a little healthier and a lot less messier, if you're into that kinda thing. Give this recipe a try and let me know what you think.
Ingredients:
3 cups crushed CORN FLAKES (or panko crumbs)
1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless CHICKEN
1/2 cup ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR
2 EGGS, whisked
2 tsp SESAME OIL
5-6 GARLIC cloves (minced)
1 Tbsp GINGER (minced)
1/4 tsp RED PEPPER FLAKES
1/3 cup SOY SAUCE
1/4 cup APRICOT JAM
3 Tbsp HOISIN SAUCE
2 Tbsp CORNSTARCH
1 Tbsp BALSAMIC VINEGAR
1 2/3 cups WATER
SESAME SEEDS and GREEN ONION for garnish
Toast sesame seeds (make extra, 'cause they're a great addition to all kinds of dishes). You'll need about 1 1/2 pounds of chicken cut into roughly 1" pieces--dark or white, whichever you prefer. We're gonna bread and bake the chicken 'cause it's healthier and less messy than frying.
Set up a breading station:
In a bowl, season 1 cup of flour with salt and pepper. In another bowl, whip 2 eggs.
And in a third bowl set out your breading--use panko flakes or crushed cereal. Coat each piece of chicken in flour, then egg, and then roll and coat with bread crumbs and arrange on a greased baking sheet. When all the chicken is breaded and arranged on the pan, coat the top lightly with an oil spray. Slide the chicken into an oven heated at 400 degrees F and allow to bake 20 minutes. When the chicken is golden and crispy, remove from oven and set aside.
In a bowl, combine soy sauce, hoisin sauce, vinegar, cornstarch and water. Mix well. Heat sesame oil in a skillet on medium high heat. Add pepper flakes, garlic and ginger. Saute for 2 minutes and then add sauce. Constantly stirring, allow the sauce to come to a simmer. When the sauce begins to bubble, continue stirring a few minutes until the sauce thickens into a syrupy consistency--this will happen quite quickly. Add the chicken and stir, tossing the chicken until it is well coated with sauce. Transfer chicken and sauce to a serving dish and garnish with toasted sesame seeds and chopped green onion. Serve with rice or noodles.
And that's it...give this General Tso's Chicken recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appétit!
And maybe you'll like this Moroccan Chicken Recipe, too--give it a look.

Black Eyed Pea Salad Recipe

Black eyed peas are beans, dude! Try out this Black eyed peas recipe the next time you're in the mood for a healthy and tasty salad; beans are a great way to turn a salad into a meal, especially garbanzo and kidney beans, but give black eyed peas a go...I bet you'll like 'em. This salad is a nice complement to a spicy meal--in fact it's based on a dish we get all the time at an Indian restaurant where it's served to balance out the spiciness of other dishes.
Ingredients:
2 15oz cans BLACK-EYED PEAS
3-4 GREEN ONIONS (chopped)
1 stalk CELERY (chopped)
1 CUCUMBER (sliced)
1 CARROT (shredded)
3 PLUM TOMATOES (cut)
zest and juice of 1 LEMON
1 cup CILANTRO (chopped)
4 Tbsp BALSAMIC VINEGAR
2 Tbsp OLIVE OIL
1 ½ tsp CUMIN
½ tsp CHILI POWDER
2-3 Tbsp HONEY HOT SAUCE, to taste
SALT and PEPPER, to taste

 In a small bowl, mix balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Season with spices. Toss into the beans, onion, vegetables (EXCEPT tomato). Cover, and chill in the refrigerator at least 1 hour, or overnight....longer the better. Remove from fridge, mix in tomato, add additional seasonings if desired, and serve.

 And if you've never tried jicama, give this Jicama Salad Recipe a try.

Oatmeal Squares -- Easy Caramel Chocolate Chip Treat!

Caramel Oatmeal Squares make great dessert treats--or bribes, if you need to motivate someone.



Ingredients:
Bars:
1 3/4 cup OATS
1 1/2 cup FLOUR
3/4 cup BROWN SUGAR
1/2 tsp BAKING SODA
1/4 tsp SALT (optional)
3/4 cup BUTTER (melted)
1 tsp VANILLA EXTRACT
1 cup PEANUTS
1 cup CHOCOLATE CHIPS

Caramel Sauce:
3/4 cup BUTTER
1 1/2 cups BROWN SUGAR (firmly packed)
2 Tbsp WATER
1/4 tsp SALT
3/4 cup EVAPORATED MILK
1 Tbsp VANILLA EXTRACT
1/4 cup FLOUR (added after caramel has cooled)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Then, make the caramel sauce.
Combine butter, brown sugar, water, and salt in a medium sauce pan, over medium heat, stirring constantly. Bring to boil and continue to stir for 5 minutes depending upon thickness desired. The longer it boils, the thicker your caramel sauce will eventually be. If you don't stir the pot while the caramel is cooking, it will be a disaster, not as bad as knocking over the cake at a wedding, but the caramel will burn, which will kinda suck.
After 5 minutes, remove sauce from the heat and stir in evaporated milk and vanilla. Set aside to allow caramel to cool and thicken.
Grease a 9 x 13 baking pan.
In a bowl, mix oats, flour, brown sugar, baking powder, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir in butter until well blended.
Reserve one cup of mixture to use as a topping later.
Press remaining mixture into bottom of greased pan. Bake 10-12 minutes until light brown. Let cool 10 minutes. Top with peanuts and chocolate pieces.
Take your caramel sauce and stir in 1/4 cup flour until smooth. Drizzle over nuts and chocolate (keep within 1/4 inch of pan edges). Bake an additional 18-22 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool. Then cut into squares. Give this oatmeal squares recipe a try and let e know what you think.                                                                Enjoy! (chocolate, peanuts, caramel...what's not to enjoy?)

Need a dessert lickety split? Try this Quick Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe.

Chana Masala Recipe with Quinoa

A Chana masala recipe with a quinoa twist! It's already a great tasting chickpea curry, and adding quinoa into the mix will turn this Indian favorite into a complete protein. This dish is easy to prepare and a perfect vegetarian entree.



Ingredients:
15oz can CHICKPEAS
15oz can DICED TOMATOES
1 lg ONION (chopped)
½ cup QUINOA
1 HOT PEPPER (finely chopped)
4-5 cloves GARLIC (finely chopped)
½ cup CILANTRO (chopped)
1 tsp CUMIN SEEDS
1 tsp CUMIN
1 tsp CORIANDER
½ tsp CHILI POWDER
½ tsp TURMERIC
1 tsp GARAM MASALA
2 Tbsp OLIVE OIL
1/8 tsp ASAFOETIDA (optional--really OPTIONAL!!!--don't NOT make this dish because you don't have this ingredient.)
SALT and PEPPER, to taste
1½ cups WATER

In a skillet, heat your oil on med. high heat. Add cumin seeds and asafoetida--the asoafoetida (also called "hing") is OPTIONAL. Stir until seeds brown and crack--this will happen really fast, so don't walk away from the skillet. Add garlic and continue stirring. Add chopped onions and hot pepper. Saute ingredients for 3-5 minutes.
Add turmeric, coriander, cumin, and chili powder. Stir thoroughly into onion mix.
Add quinoa and diced tomatoes.
Stir and allow skillet to come to a simmer.
Add chickpeas (rinsed and drained), salt to taste, and 1½ cups water. Bring skillet to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer, cover and let simmer for 15 minutes (without stirring).
After the 15 minutes, stir in the garam masala. Using a fork, smash half the chickpeas in the skillet--this will add a nice texture to the dish.
Stir in the chopped cilantro.
And that's it. Chana Masala with a quinoa twist.
Hope you like it.

And for another tasty Indian inspired dish, try this Eggplant Curry Recipe.

Bhindi Curry Recipe - Spicy Okra

This okra curry makes a great side dish or awesome entree when served over rice. Okra is a hearty, tasty, versatile vegetable which is relatively cheap and usually found in markets year round. I like to cook okra whole in the pod, but for spicier dishes, I like to cut up okra and saute it with tomato and onion. This Indian bhindi recipe is easy and delicious, so give it a try.



Okra Curry Ingredients:
1 lb. OKRA (cut)
4-5 ROMA TOMATOES (chopped)
½ ONION (sliced)
3 Tbsp OLIVE OIL
1 tsp FENNEL SEEDS
1 tsp CUMIN SEEDS
1 tsp HOT PEPPER (finely chopped)
5-7 cloves GARLIC (finely chopped)
2 Tbsp GINGER (finely chopped)
2 tsp CORIANDER
1 tsp TURMERIC
¼ CHILI PEPPER (or to taste)
SALT and PEPPER (to taste)



Okra is a versatile vegetable and tasty whole or cut.

Okra Curry Directions:
Select okra pods 1" to 2" in length. Okra gets huge if left overlong on the plant, but big okra can be woody and tough, so bigger isn't always better. Choose firm, green pods--okra will blacken around the edges as it gets older, so use within a few days.
Wash and dry okra thoroughly. Slice off the ends and cut into uniform sizes for even cooking.
Heat oil in a skillet on medium high.
Once oil is hot, add cumin and fennel seeds. The seeds will begin to crack after about 30 seconds. Add garlic and ginger and saute another 1-2 minutes. Add onion slices and continue cooking another 2-3 minutes. If you want a little more spice, also add some fresh chopped chili peppers.
Add in coriander, turmeric, and chili powder. Stir well for 1 minute and add tomato. I use 4 cut roma tomatoes, but use 1 can diced tomatoes if preferred. Add salt to taste.
Reduce heat to medium.
Let tomatoes cook about 5 minutes.
Add okra.
The acid in the tomato helps to cut down on the natural "gooeyness" of okra. Some folks call it slime, but it's just the juices in the okra. The gooeyness will reduce the longer the okra is cooked, so cook uncovered another 5-10 minutes depending on how well you like your okra done.
I cook mine about 8 minutes.
Sometimes I finish off the dish with a little garam masala for a more "Indiany" flavor, but this time I didn't. Garam masala adds a little sweetness.
Serve this okra on its own as a side dish or serve over rice as an entree. It makes a nice vegetarian meal with a salad.

Give this okra curry recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appétit!

And for another okra dish, try this southern-style Easy Okra Recipe.

Chinese Eggplant -- Healthy, Low-fat Recipe

This Chinese eggplant recipe is awesome because it's purple--not purple like a black eye--but purple like Barney the Dinosaur, which is nice.



Choose eggplants that are firm and have a glossy skin. The skin is thin and tasty, and Chinese eggplants have smaller seeds than the black, bowling ball eggplant you might be used to preparing. They're a great ingredient for a stir-fry and can stand in for meat without being as awful as tofu. So give 'em a try.

Ingredients:
3 small CHINESE EGGPLANTS
3-4 Tbsp OLIVE OIL
5 cloves GARLIC (finely chopped)
1 inch GINGER (thinly sliced)
2 tsp MUSTARD SEEDS
1 Tbsp ground CORIANDER
1 bunch GREEN ONIONS (chopped)
1 JALEPENO or other hot pepper (sliced)
SALT to taste
-- optional garnishes --
SOY SAUCE or CHILI GARLIC SAUCE

Heat olive oil on medium high heat. When oil is hot, add garlic and ginger. Add mustard seeds and coriander powder and sauté 2 minutes. Add chopped green onion bottoms and reserve the chopped green onion tops for later. Add hot pepper and continue sautéing for a couple minutes. Add sliced eggplant (with skin). Choose eggplants that are firm, glossy skinned, and heavy for their size. Slice into rounds no more than 1/4 inch thick. Add salt and stir eggplant. Stir for a few minutes. Add water as needed, but not too much, the eggplant will release water as it cooks. Reduce heat, cover and cook 10-12 minutes, stiring as needed. The eggplant will be ready when it is soft, but not falling apart. Mix in green onion tops and remove from heat. Add soy sauce or chili garlic sauce if desired. Serve as a main dish over pasta or rice (or on it's own as a side dish).
Give this Chinese eggplant recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appétit!

Want to try a decadent version of Chinese Eggplant?
Try Chinese Eggplant w/ General Tso's Sauce.

Chinese Eggplant Recipe with Sweet Sauce

Kale -tips for using raw kale in salads

Why eat raw kale salad? Kale is a so-called SUPERfood chock full of big-time nutrition and very fashionable in salad circles, so if you wanna be one of the cool kids, ya gotta eat it. If the Popeye franchise is ever re-booted, I'm sure our vegetable-friendly sailor will be shunning spinach and downing kale by the bunches--not that there's anything wrong with spinach, but at the moment the kale lobby is a juggernaut.
Check out this video for tips on making a raw kale salad:

Kale Nutrition and Fun Facts:
Kale belongs to the same family as cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and collards.
Kale is packed with antioxidants, which help neutralize harmful free radicals in the body.
One cup of chopped raw kale provides more than 100% of the daily value of vitamins A, C, and K.
In fact, Kale has more vitamin C than an orange.
Free Radicals are a thing scientists made up to sound smart.
Baked kale becomes crispy and can be substituted for potato chips.
Kale freezes well for future use.
Kale is a great addition to a soup.
Kale is believed to promote cell repair and may block the growth of cancer cells.

Wow...doesn't that sound terrific? Who could pass up on that! Too bad kale doesn't taste like a slice of coconut cream pie, but you can't have everything. It is a tasty addition to a salad, though--and utilizing raw kale will insure the greatest health benefit from this leafy superfood.

Moroccan Chicken Recipe

Chicken stew with olives?  Trust me!--this is super flavorful chicken recipe.  Bill cooked up this wonderful chicken with a delicious, Moroccan twist.
For more recipes, check out the Chef Buck playlist at http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2EFBD7E8FE2BB552
And if you're not subscribed to Wildbill1911a1, do yourself a favor and check out his channel https://www.youtube.com/user/wildbill1911a1

And give this dish a go (I loved it)

Moroccan Chicken Recipe

ingredients:
2 1/2 lbs CHICKEN Pieces (skinned)
1 Tbsp OLIVE OIL
1 cup ONION (chopped)
2-3 cloves GARLIC (finely chopped)
1 cup CHICKEN BROTH
2 cups pitted WHOLE GREEN OLIVES
1 tsp ground CINNAMON
1/2 tsp CUMIN
1/2 inch GINGER (minced--or substitute 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger)
1-2 tsp LEMON ZEST
1/4 cup LEMON JUICE
1 Tbsp CILANTRO (chopped)
SALT and PEPPER to taste

directions:
Heat olive oil in a pot over high heat.  Season chicken with salt and pepper and then place in pot.  Brown chicken appox. 3 minutes each side and
then remove from pot.  Add onion and garlic and saute in juices for a couple of minutes.  Return chicken to pot and add Chicken Broth.  Add olives.
Add cinnamon, cumin, and ginger.  Stir, and bring pot to a boil.  Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 45 minutes.  After 45 minutes, uncover, turn
chicken, and let cook 15 more minutes.
Using a slotted spoon, remove chicken and olives from pot and place in a serving dish.  To the broth in the pot, add lemon juice, zest, and cilantro.
Serve the chicken and olives over rice or couscous and top with broth as desired.  The olives are fantastic.  And the chicken is, too.
Bon Appétit!

Baingan Bharta (roasted eggplant)

Baingan Bharta is a tasty roasted eggplant recipe.  Roasted eggplant is easy to prepare and super-flavorful in this simple, classic Indian dish.  I love it.  Give it a try and let me know what you think, and check out my other cooking videos at the Chef Buck Playlist:

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2EFBD7E8FE2BB552

Baingan Bharta

ingredients:

1 large EGGPLANT (roasted)

1 med/lg ONION (chopped

3-4 cloves GARLIC (finely chopped)

1 hot PEPPER (finely chopped)

1 14 oz can diced TOMATOES (or 2 fresh tomatoes)

1 cup chopped CILANTRO (coriander leaves)

1 tsp MUSTARD SEEDS

1 tsp CUMIN SEEDS

1 tsp CORIANDER POWDER

½ tsp TURMERIC

½ tsp GARAM MASALA

5-6 Tbsp OLIVE OIL

directions:

Slice the eggplant lengthwise down the middle into two halves, brush all surfaces with olive oil, place on a baking pan flat side down, and bake at 400 degrees F for 30 minutes. 

Remove from oven. 

The eggplant will be very hot, so set aside to cool.

In a skillet, heat olive oil on medium high heat.  Add mustard and cumin seeds and cook 20-30 seconds—not too long or they will overcook.  A pinch of asafoetida can be added as well, if desired.  When cumin seeds begin to open, add onions and sauté for a couple of minutes.  Add garlic and hot pepper and continue sautéing.  Add coriander and turmeric powder and mix well.  I like to go light on the spices, but feel free to add more if desired.  If you like a spicier dish, add 1 tsp of chili powder.  I like to take it easy on the spices so as not to overpower the flavor of the eggplant.  Add salt to taste and continue cooking a couple more minutes.  Stir in tomatoes, reduce heat, and simmer 4-5 minutes. 

While tomatoes simmer, return to the eggplant.

At this point the roasted eggplant will be much easier to handle (although it may still be hot, so use care).  Using a spoon, the meat of the eggplant can be easily scooped away from the skin.  Discard the skin.  Roughly chopped the eggplant and add to the skillet, mixing well with the tomato mixture.  Cook for 3-4 minutes and then add garam masala.  Mix and continue cooking another couple of minutes.  Add 1 cup of chopped cilantro (coriander leaves).  Mix and remove from heat.

And that’s it.

Bon appétit!