Chicken Tikka Rice

This is my go-to one-pot meal, ideal for those days when you are rushing around and have no time to spare. Everything cooks together in a single pot, saving you time and effort. This mouth-watering dish brings together tender pieces of chicken cooked with authentic Indian spices and aromatic basmati rice, making it a delicious homemade feast.

SERVES: 5-6
TOTAL TIME: 1hr 40min
PREP TIME: 40min
COOK TIME: 1 hr

INGREDIENTS

• 350g basmati rice
• 4 tbsp oil
• 2 large onions, finely diced
• 500g chicken breast, cut into bite-sized chunks
• 1 tbsp ginger paste
• 1 tbsp garlic paste
• 2 tbsp chicken tikka masala paste
• 1 tsp ground turmeric
• 1 tbsp ground cumin
• 1 tbsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp chilli powder
• 1 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder
• 200g tomato passata
• 700ml water
• 5g fresh coriander, finely chopped
• 1 fresh lemon, cut into wedges
• salt, to taste

Whole spices:

• ½ tsp cumin seeds
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 bay leaves
• 3 cardamom pods
• 3 cloves
• 3 black peppercorns
• 2 star anise

METHOD

1. Wash the rice in a sieve under cold running water until the water runs clear. Then soak in a bowl of cold water for 30 minutes. This will reduce the cooking time and help the rice cook evenly.

2. Heat a large pot on medium heat and pour in the oil. Add all the whole spices and fry for 30–40 seconds until they start to sizzle. Add the onions and fry gently until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Add the chicken pieces, ginger and garlic paste, tikka masala paste, turmeric, cumin, coriander, the chilli powder and the Kashmiri chilli powder and cook for 20 minutes until no moisture is left from the chicken.

3. Stir in the tomato passata and cook for 8–10 minutes, until the sauce is reduced. Add the rice, pour in the water, season with salt, and stir. Partially cover the pan with a lid (not completely or the water may boil over) and cook for 15 minutes until the water has been absorbed, then give it a stir once without disturbing the rice too much. Cover with the lid fully and cook for another 15 minutes on a low heat – the build-up of steam will cook and fluff up the rice.

4. Serve on a large platter, garnished with chopped coriander and lemon wedges, with a glass of sweet yogurt lassi.