Description
Spicy and tangy tandoori yogurt marinade brings Indian culinary magic to home kitchens with rich, complex flavors. Marinating meats in this creamy blend creates restaurant-quality dishes you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
Spices:
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground red pepper
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
Base and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) plain yogurt
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) minced fresh ginger
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
Instructions
- Combine yogurt, lemon juice, and aromatic spices in a spacious mixing bowl, creating a vibrant, fragrant marinade with cumin, cinnamon, red pepper, black pepper, salt, ginger, and minced garlic.
- Thoroughly coat chicken pieces in the yogurt mixture, ensuring complete coverage and deep flavor penetration.
- Seal the marinating container and refrigerate for a minimum of 8 hours, allowing spices to infuse and tenderize the meat.
- Remove chicken from refrigerator 30 minutes before grilling to reach room temperature.
- Heat outdoor grill to high temperature, around 450-500°F, creating optimal grilling conditions.
- Lightly oil grill grates to prevent sticking and promote attractive grill marks.
- Discard remaining marinade to prevent cross-contamination.
- Place chicken on hot grill, cooking 6-8 minutes per side until internal temperature reaches 165°F and juices run clear.
- Allow grilled chicken to rest for 5 minutes before serving, enabling juice redistribution and maintaining moisture.
Notes
- Ensure yogurt is fresh and full-fat for a rich, creamy marinade that helps tenderize the chicken and lock in moisture.
- Massage marinade thoroughly into chicken to maximize flavor absorption and create a more uniform coating.
- For a gluten-free version, verify all spices are certified gluten-free and check ingredient labels carefully.
- Experiment with alternative proteins like tofu, tempeh, or cauliflower steaks for vegetarian and vegan adaptations of this marinade.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-16 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 178 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 470 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg