Recipe: Crockpot Chicken Tikka Masala

This classic Indian recipe gets a simple new twist with easy crockpot preparation. It may contain a lot of different ingredients (mostly spices), but once you combine most of them in your slow cooker, you can leave it for the day, and have a delicious Indian dinner ready for you when you return. A little initial prep time gives you an amazingly flavorful and delicious result!

Chicken Tikka Masala
(Serves 6-8.)

Chicken Tikka Masala (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Ingredients:

1 large onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tbsp grated ginger root
1 jalapeno, seeded and minced
1 can (28 oz) tomato puree
1 1/2 cups plain yogurt
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Tbsp garam masala
1 Tbsp ground cumin
1/2 Tbsp paprika
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
2 bay leaves
6 chicken breasts, bone and skin removed, then diced
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 Tbsp cornstarch
garnish with chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, stir together the first 16 ingredients.
2. Add the chicken and stir again to combine and coat the chicken well.  
3. Pour mixture into crockpot, cover, and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours.
4. 30 minutes before ready to serve, put heavy cream and cornstarch in a small bowl and whisk together, then add to mixture in crockpot and stir gently; continue cooking for 30 minutes.
5. Serve hot garnished with fresh cilantro.

Find More Simple & Delicious Indian Recipes Here:
   

Recipe - Bacon-Wrapped Mustard Chicken Strips

A package of Oscar Mayer brand turkey bacon. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)Here's another simple recipe that will make you look like a gourmet chef! Choose organic meats if at all possible, and prepare the sauce ahead of time to reduce last-minute prep time even further.

Bacon-Wrapped Mustard Chicken Strips

Ingredients: 

4 chicken tenders, each cut in half lengthwise
8 strips of bacon, uncooked, use turkey if you wish
1/4 cup spicy brown mustard
1/4 cup olive oil mayonnaise
1/4 tsp chili powder

Directions:

• In a bowl, whisk together the mustard, mayonnaise, and chili powder.
• Take 1/4 cup of sauce out and put in a separate bowl, cover, and put in refrigerator. This is your dipping sauce.
• Lay chicken strips out on a glass plate or shallow dish and spread the remaining mustard sauce over them, making sure to completely coat each strip; set aside and let marinate for 15 minutes.
• When ready to prepare, preheat broiler, with rack about 6 inches away from heat source.
• Take one chicken strip out of marinade, take one piece of bacon, and wrap it around the chicken starting at the top and working your way down to the bottom; lay it on the broiler pan. Repeat with each marinated chicken strip, laying each one on broiler pan, arranging them evenly. Discard any marinade remaining in the pan you had the chicken in. (Note: When you lay them on the broiler pan, try to have the loose bacon ends facing down.)
• Put bacon wrapped chicken under the broiler for about 4 to 5 minutes, then turn and broil for another 4 to 5 minutes. The bacon should get crispy and the chicken should be cooked through.
• Remove to paper towel covered cooling rack.
• Serve with the dipping sauce you saved in the beginning.

This is a good snack for a protein rich - low carb diet, but be sure to check your mustard and mayonnaise labels. You may use turkey bacon for less fat.