Tired of the usual chicken recipes? Why not try an Indian recipe that’s flavorful and healthy? Whether you enjoy Indian food or not much of a fan, you’ll definitely fall in love with this chicken Paleo recipe.
The Paleo diet offers a wide variety of recipes that isn’t confined to a single method of cooking. It is a combination of different recipes from different countries and cultures, which is why so many people enjoy each meal available on the Paleo diet. The flexibility of this diet in allowing the use of recipes from all over the world sets it apart from other diet plans. The excitement of what recipe you can do next is enough to get you hooked.
One particular cuisine I enjoy on the Paleo diet is Indian. However, I find Indian food is often overlooked in the Paleo world. I don’t know whether it is because of the variety of rice and bread the cuisine offers or because of the belief that Indian food is too hot. I like Indian food because of the wide range of flavors, and so today I’ve decided to feature a Paleo recipe for Chicken Tandoori. I first came across when I was looking online for a Paleo recipe book that was devoted to this particular cuisine.
Tandoori Chicken is a roasted chicken recipe from India but is widely popular in its neighboring countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, and the Middle East. The recipe has also become very popular in Western countries. The chicken in a Tandoori recipe is roasted in a traditional cylindrical clay oven called a “tandoor”. But not having a tandoor is no excuse for you not to enjoy this mouthwatering Paleo recipe. Just a standard oven can be used for this amazing meal. Plus if you have a slow cooker or crock pot you could always cook it in this instead. Then you can leave it to cook whilst you are at work or out doing something with your family.
- 1 Pot (250 ml) Greek Yogurt (I know dairy isn’t strictly Paleo, but it is okay to use it occasionally in your Paleo meals)
- 2 Large Garlic Cloves – Crushed and Chopped
- Grated Fresh Ginger (About 1 inch)
- Juice 1 Lemon
- 1 Tablespoon (15 ml) Olive Oil
- 1 Teaspoon (5 ml) Turmeric
- 1 Teaspoon (5 ml) Cumin
- 1 Teaspoon (5 ml) Coriander
- 1 Teaspoon (5 ml) Garam Masala
- ½ Teaspoon (2.5 ml) Chili Powder
- 6 Chicken Thighs
- Wash the chicken well and pat dry with some paper towels. Then set to one side whilst you work on the marinade.
- For the marinade, combine all the ingredients together well to ensure that the taste of each ingredient is even.
- As soon as the marinade is ready, evenly coat each chicken thigh in it. I like to place the marinade into a bowl or a ziplock bag and then add the chicken thighs. Then simply move everything around until all the thighs are coated evenly.
- Once you have finished with the coating of chicken place them into the refrigerator and leave to marinade for at least 4 hours. But for the best results you should leave the chicken thighs to marinate in the mixture overnight.
- After marinating, roast in the oven at a temperature of 220 degrees Centigrade for 30 minutes. Serve while still hot!
Simple, isn’t it? Even with a normal oven, you can get great results because the secret of this recipe is in the marinade. The spice mix used in the marinade for this recipe doesn’t only contribute to the taste and aroma of the chicken, but also to the health benefits of the whole meal. The spices used in this meal namely ginger, garlic and turmeric which are regularly used in Paleo meals.
Here are their health benefits in a nutshell:
Garlic
This is the most common spice amongst the three. Garlic is a part of the onion family and is known to contain allicin, nutrients (Manganese, Vitamins, B6 and C to name a few), help a person have a healthy heart, detoxify the body from heavy metals and can even enhance your body’s performance.
Ginger
Ginger is close to turmeric and is used not only in cooking but also in traditional medicine. This spice is known to reduce inflammation, lowers cholesterol levels, improves brain function, fight infection and is known to contribute to the prevention of getting cancer.
Turmeric
Turmeric is known to be the “Indian saffron” and is also used as a traditional medicine by Indians and Chinese people. This spice is known to lower cholesterol and contains an anti-inflammatory oil that helps prevent cancer, improve liver function and even help brain health.
These spices are another reason why you will love this Paleo recipe and other Indian food. Tandoori chicken will definitely become one of your family’s favorite chicken Paleo diet recipes. Just adjust the hotness and your kids might even ask for more. Enjoy!