This mild but richly seasoned version of chicken tikka masala is taken to a new place with the use of pumpkin. This recipe calls for canned pumpkin, making it a year-round treat, but an equivalent amount of butternut squash or fresh pumpkin in season makes it a lovely autumn dish as well. If you like a hotter sauce, add more chilis to the saute, but the flavor of the sauce is quite complex. You can also mix in some frozen peas or diced cooked potatoes when the casserole is removed from the oven for variety.

Ingredients

6 serv.

boneless skinless chicken breasts↗2 lbs
trimmed and cut into chunks
lime juice↗1⁄4 cup
honey↗1 tablespoon
canola oil↗3 tablespoons
cumin↗1 teaspoon
turmeric↗1⁄2 teaspoon
garam masala↗1 tablespoon
ground cinnamon↗1 teaspoon
ground cardamom↗1 teaspoon
sweet paprika↗1 tablespoon
small red dried chili↗1 small
thinly sliced shallots2 cups
fresh ginger1 inch
peeled and sliced crossways
fresh garlic cloves↗8
peeled and sliced
canned pumpkin↗2 cups
cup unsweetened coconut milk↗1
tablespoons plain yogurt↗5
salt and pepper
cilantro, chopped↗

Step-by-step instructions

1
Set the chicken breasts in a casserole with a tight-fitting lid. Mix the lime juice and honey together and pour over them. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
2
Add dry spice to a heavy-bottomed frying pan on medium heat, stirring until they darken and become fragrant–this will take about 3-5 minutes. Remove the spices from the heat. Put this mixture into a medium sized bowl.
3
Put the pan back on medium heat, and cook the shallots in the oil, stirring constantly until they turn deep golden. Add ginger, chili and garlic, and cook, stirring, until the shallots are a deep reddish brown, the garlic is golden. Remove the mixture from the pan, discard the chili and puree into a fine paste. Add to the spice mixture, then stir in the pumpkin and coconut milk.
4
Using a whisk, beat the yogurt into the mix.
5
Pour over the chicken pieces, and put a piece of foil over the top of the casserole before fitting the lid tightly over it. Allow chicken to marinate in the refrigerator.
6
While chicken is marinating, preheat the oven at 450 degrees F.
7
After marinating for an hour, put the casserole into the oven, and bake for 40 minutes.
8
Scatter cilantro over the chicken. Best served over basmati rice.

Source: food.com

Original recipe ↗

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