Masala Yoghurt Marinade for Meat

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This is one of the tastiest of Indian marinades. It’s great with lamb and chicken. If you’re not lucky enough to have a Tandoor oven which, lets face it would be pretty pretentious if you did, you can grill or barbeque the meat for similar results. There are a few ingredients, but it’s really not that fiddly in reality and the taste makes up for it.

RECIPE:

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup natural yoghurt
2 tablespoons malt vinegar
4 garlic cloves (chopped)
2 tablespoons chopped ginger
2 tablespoons chopped green chilies
4 teaspoons masala curry paste (see below)
3 tablespoons fresh coriander (chopped)
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1/4 cup vegetable oil
salt

Curry masala paste (makes double quantity)
3 tablespoons coriander powder
1 dried red chilli pepper (finely crumbled)
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 teaspoon cumin powder
1/2 teaspoon fenugreek seeds
1/2 tespoon black mustard seeds
1 teaspoon ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS:
To make the masala:
Put all the masala ingredients into pestle & mortar or coffee grinder and grind to a fine powder.

To make the marinade:
With a hand blender or in a pestle & mortar grind together the chillies, ginger, garlic and coriander to a paste. Stir in the masala powder, turmeric, cumin, vinegar and yoghurt.

Heat the oil in a shallow pan and when medium hot, add the paste to the oil and stir for a couple of minutes – remove from the heat and cool. In a thick plastic bag or large bowl, coat whatever meat you’re using with the marinade and seal/cover. Leave in the fridge for at least 4 hours or overnight. When you’re ready to use sprinkle over some salt and cook to your liking – drizzle over a little oil to keep everything tender and give a bit of crispening.

SERVING:
A nice tomato chutney.

Try some of my other recipes…