Tandoori Chicken, Chickpea Curry, and Cucumber Tomato Raita

Chai TeaCucumber-Tomato Raita

Brown Basmati

Curried Chickpeas

Tandoori Chicken Breast

Chris is coming over for lunch tomorrow. I invited him to come see my new place and help me unpack. I decided to make Tandoori Chicken and then I had to think of some side dishes to serve it with. The chicken in marinating in the refrigerator right now. I already made the raita and precooked the chickpea curry. It just needs to finish cooking tomorrow. I may or may not make brown rice basmati with some cardamon and peas. I'll also make hot chai tea. For dessert (not very indian) is warm sugarless flourless chocolate cake with chocolate almond low carb ice cream. Okay I am starting week four of South Beach so this menu is very South Beach friendly. The brown basmati rice is a maybe at this point.

Tandoori Chicken
3 chicken breasts
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 lemon, juiced
1 cup nonfat plain yogurt
1/2 onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger root
4 teaspoons garam masala
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon annatto seeds, crushed
pinch saffron
1 teaspoon yellow food coloring
1 teaspoon red food coloring
2 teaspoons finely chopped cilantro

1. Cut slits in chicken.
2. Combine all ingredients and marinate overnight.
3. Broil in oven until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.

Cucumber-Tomato Raita
2 cucumbers, seeded and sliced thinly
1 roma tomato, diced
1/2 cup plain nonfat yogurt
2 T sour cream
1/2 t kosher salt
1/4 t groung cumin
1/4 t paprika
2 T cilantro, chopped

Mix all ingredients together.

Curried Chickpea s
3 cups dried chickpeas or garbanzo beans (par-cook)
2 T olive oil
1/2 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic
3 t curry powder
1 t cinnamon
1 t garam masala
salt and pepper TT
water as needed
cilantro, chopped

1. Par-cook chickpeas. Drain, rinse, and set aside.
2. Sautee onion and garlic in olive oil. Add spices and sautee until fragrant. Add chickpeas and water. Cook until tender. Garnish with cilantro.

Brown Basmati

• brown basmati rice
• vegetable oil
• cinnamon stick
• cardamom pods
  
• whole cloves
• cumin seed
• salt
• water
• 1 small onion, thinly sliced
• peas
  

Chai Tea was made from boiling 1% milk with a few Celestial Seasonings Chocolate Caramel Enchantment Chai Tea.