Chicken Tikka Masala

also called CTM · chicken tikka massala · murgh tikka masala

The table

2 lb(900 g; cut in 2-in pieces)boneless chicken thighsmarinate 1 hrbroil on skewers 12 minfold in
1 cup(240 mL)plain yogurt
2 Tbs(30 g)ginger-garlic paste
1 tspground turmeric
2 tspKashmiri chile powder
2 tspkosher salt
1 large(finely chopped)yellow onionfrysimmer 20 min
5 cloves(grated)garlic
2 Tbs(grated)fresh ginger
1 Tbsgaram masala
3 Tbsghee
28 oz(800 g)crushed tomatoes
1 tspkosher salt
1 Tbs(crumbled between the palms)kasuri methi
3/4 cup(180 mL)heavy cream
Tap anything to cross it off.

What to lay out

Everything the recipe asks for, sitting under the step that eats it. Tick each one as you measure it.15 things to get out.

1marinate 1 hr

2fry

3simmer 20 min

goes in with what step 2 made

Cooking it

Start to finish is the longest chain through the table, so branches that overlap are counted once. That is why the waits add up to more than the clock — and it only holds if you get them going together.

Tap a step when it is done; the next one lights up.

The clock

Start to finish
at least 1 hr 12 mintwo waits that overlap count once
Needs you
12 minof the steps that give a time

2 of the 5 steps never say how long they take, so both numbers are floors. The recipe itself says 1 hr 30 min.

  1. marinate 1 hr

    1 hrwalk away(read off the step)from the start

  2. fry

    not timedfrom the start

  3. simmer 20 min

    20 minwalk away(read off the step)from the start

  4. broil on skewers 12 min

    12 minneeds you(read off the step)1 hr in

  5. fold in

    not timed1 hr 12 min in

Drawn to scale, so a long wait really does take up the room it takes. The shortest stretches keep a sliver so they stay visible; their times are printed beside them. Bars that line up are happening at the same time. The minutes are always the recipe’s own; a dashed edge means we worked out from the step whether you have to be there, and a dotted one means nothing was said, so we assumed you are standing over it.

Goes with

See how it is written
>> title: Chicken Tikka Masala
>> category: Stews & Braises
>> tags: chicken, indian, yogurt, tomato, curry
>> counters: Curry House
>> aka: CTM, chicken tikka massala, murgh tikka masala
>> servings: 6
>> time: 1 hr 30 min
>> step.1: marinate 1 hr
>> step.2: broil on skewers 12 min
>> step.4: simmer 20 min
>> step.5: fold in

Marinate @boneless chicken thighs{2%lb}(900 g; cut in 2-in pieces) with @plain yogurt{1%cup}(240 mL), @ginger-garlic paste{2%Tbs}(30 g), @ground turmeric{1%tsp}, @Kashmiri chile powder{2%tsp}, @kosher salt{2%tsp} for ~{60%min}.

Broil @&(~1)marinated chicken{} on skewers for ~{12%min}.

Fry @yellow onion{1%large}(finely chopped), @garlic{5%cloves}(grated), @fresh ginger{2%Tbs}(grated), @garam masala{1%Tbs} in @ghee{3%Tbs}.

Simmer @&(~1)masala{} with @crushed tomatoes{28%oz}(800 g), @kosher salt{1%tsp}, @kasuri methi{1%Tbs}(crumbled between the palms), @heavy cream{3/4%cup}(180 mL) for ~{20%min}.

Fold @&(~3)chicken tikka{} into @&(~1)masala sauce{}.