Chicken tikka masala

Ingredients

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts

• 4 tbsp readymade tandoori paste

• 2 tbsp natural yoghurt

• 3 tbsp vegetable oil or ghee (clarified butter)

• 1 cinnamon stick

• 8 cardamom pods

• 1 large onion, finely chopped

• 3cm/1¼in piece of fresh ginger, peeled and grated

• 2 garlic cloves, crushed

• 1 tsp ground cumin

• 1 tsp ground coriander

• ½ tsp turmeric

• ½-1 tsp cayenne pepper (depending on how hot you like it)

• 1x200g can chopped tomatoes

• 150ml/5fl oz chicken stock or water

• 1½ tsp garam masala

• ½ lemon, juice only

• ½ tsp salt

Preparation method

1. Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces and mix with the tandoori paste and yoghurt. Leave to marinate in a non-metallic dish for at least a couple of hours (or overnight), stirring occasionally.

2. Heat the oil or ghee in a deep frying pan, and when it's very hot add the cinnamon, cardamom pods and onion. Fry for about 5-6 minutes until beginning to brown, then add the ginger, garlic, cumin, coriander, turmeric and cayenne pepper.

3. After the spices have cooked for about a minute, add the chicken with the marinade. Fry for 3-4 minutes, then add the tinned tomatoes, chicken stock or water, garam masala, lemon juice and salt. Bring the curry to a simmer and cook on a low heat for about 10 minutes. Serve straight away with rice or naan bread.