Cast Iron Tandoori Roasted Chicken Recipes

TANDOORI ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Mix the marinade ingredients with 2 tsp salt and 1 tsp black pepper. Slash the legs of the chicken a few times, then rub the marinade all over, including under the skin of the breast. Marinate in the fridge for up to 24 hrs.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put the onions, lemon halves and ginger in a roasting tin. Sit the chicken on top and roast for 1½ hrs or until the thigh juices run clear when tested with a skewer.
• When the chicken is done, lift out of the tin, sit in a new dish, cover loosely with foil and leave to rest. Fish out the ginger from the tin and discard. Scrape out the roasted middles from the lemons into a food processor, add the onions and any pan juices, and whizz to a purée. Scrape the purée back into the tin and sit on the hob. Stir in the coconut milk and bubble gently, scraping up any chicken bits that have stuck. You can add a splash of water if the sauce is too thick. Stir in the coriander and serve with the chicken.

SIMPLEST ROAST CHICKEN

Steps:

• Put a cast-iron skillet on a low rack in the oven and heat the oven to 500 degrees. Rub the chicken all over with the oil and sprinkle it generously with salt and pepper.
• When the oven and skillet are hot, carefully put the chicken in the skillet, breast side up. Roast for 15 minutes, then turn the oven temperature down to 350 degrees. Continue to roast until the bird is golden brown and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the meaty part of the thigh reads 155 to 165 degrees.
• Tip the pan to let the juices flow from the chicken's cavity into the pan. Transfer the chicken to a platter and let it rest for at least 5 minutes. Carve and serve.

CAST IRON TANDOORI CHICKEN

Steps:

• Rinse the chicken with cold water and pat dry. Trim the excess fat. Loosen the skin from the breast and drumsticks by gently pushing your fingers in between the skin and the meat, starting at the neck cavity. Remove the backbone using kitchen shears, and then place the chicken breast-side up on a cutting board. Flatten by firmly pressing the heel of your hand down over the breastbone. Whisk together 1/3 cup of the Tandoori Spice, the yogurt, ginger and garlic in a large glass baking dish. Coat the chicken thoroughly in the marinade, and then let marinate in the refrigerator 24 hours. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Pat the chicken dry and sprinkle all over with the remaining 2 tablespoons Tandoori Spice. Heat a large cast-iron pan over high heat, and add the ghee. Sear the chicken skin-side down until crispy and charred, 5 to 7 minutes, and then flip and place in the oven until an instant-read thermometer stuck in the thickest, meatiest part of the thigh registers between 155 and 160 degrees F, 20 minutes. Baste generously with the lemon curd every 5 minutes. Tent the chicken with foil and let rest before serving.
• For Tandoori Spice: Heat the coriander seeds, cumin seeds, cardamom pods, cloves, peppercorns, bay leaves and cinnamon in a medium skillet over medium-high heat, stirring often, until the cumin becomes brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Grind the spices in a spice grinder or coffee mill until powder fine, and then transfer to a bowl with the annatto seed, paprika, Kashmiri powder, salt, turmeric, mace and nutmeg. Mix thoroughly and store in an airtight container up to 4 months. Yield: 1 cup.

CAST IRON TANDOORI ROASTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Make the marinade: Toast the coriander seeds in a small skillet over medium-high heat until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garam masala, paprika, turmeric, cayenne pepper and cinnamon and warm through to make fragrant, about 1 minute. Pour everything into a spice grinder and process until fine. (Alternatively, crush the spices with a mortar and pestle.)
• Place the guajillo chiles in a bowl, cover with hot water and let soak for 10 minutes. Drain the chiles and finely chop. Combine the spices with the chiles, yogurt, lemon juice, garlic, ginger and salt in a in a large bowl. Stir well to combine.
• Using a meat tenderizer, pound the chicken to a 1/2-inch thickness in between two pieces of plastic wrap. Place the chicken breasts in a large resealable freezer bag. Pour in the marinade and toss to coat well. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight if you have the time.
• Heat the charcoal in the charcoal chimney. To closely replicate a traditional tandoor clay oven cooking environment, set two large cast iron skillets (about 12 inches each) over high heat until hot, about 5 minutes.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade. Thread a skewer into each chicken piece so the chicken lies flat.
• Very carefully remove the skillets from the heat and add a layer of charcoal to one of the skillets. Working in batches, place the skewers over the coals in the skillet so they rest on the rim and the chicken is above the coals. Carefully cover the chicken with the second pan, making sure the skewers don't slip. Cook, turning once, until the chicken is bright red and charred and blackened around the edges, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove the skewers, place them on a plate and repeat with the remaining chicken.
• Serve with warm flatbread and raita.
• Combine the yogurt, whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, 2 tablespoons chopped parsley and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a food processor and process until the dough is smooth. Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the grill to medium-high heat.
• Divide the dough into 6 equal portions. On a floured surface, using your hands or a rolling pin, flatten each piece of dough into a large oval, about 6-inches in length. Oil the grill grate. In batches, grill the flatbreads until puffy and charred around the edges, 2 to 3 minutes per side. (Alternatively cook in a pizza oven or on a pizza stone for 4 to 5 minutes.) Hold the flatbreads on a plate under a warm towel as you cook the rest.
• Combine the butter with the garlic and remaining 1 tablespoon minced parsley and 1 teaspoon salt. Brush the hot flatbreads with the butter mixture.
• Combine the yogurt, cucumber, basil, mint, cilantro, agave syrup, cumin, garlic and salt in a food processor and pulse just enough to break down the cucumber and herbs slightly (the raita should still have texture). Do not overmix or the raita will become too runny.
• Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes to allow the flavors to come together and for the raita to firm and settle.