Slow Cooker Crimson Chicken Tikka
This "Slow Cooker Crimson Chicken Tikka" offers a delightful twist on the classic dish, featuring tender chicken pieces enveloped in a rich, aromatic, and beautifully crimson sauce. Enhanced with a hint of turmeric and the deep flavors of carefully selected spices, this recipe is designed for the convenience of your slow cooker. It's a comforting meal that's both satisfying and adaptable for various dietary preferences, including low-carb and diabetic-friendly meal plans when served thoughtfully.
Ingredients
Main Ingredient:
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts (approx. 1.5 lbs or 680g total), trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
Aromatics:
- ½ medium onion finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 ½ Tablespoons fresh ginger grated (approx. 9g)
- Dairy Fat & Tomato Base:
- 1 ½ Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup plus 2 Tablespoons plain Greek yogurt ensure unsweetened; approx. 275g using 2% milkfat
- 2 ¾ cups tomato puree ensure no added sugar; approx. 670g
Spices & Seasonings:
- 1 ½ Tablespoons Garam Masala approx. 10g
- 2 ¼ teaspoons ground cumin approx. 4.5g
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt or to taste
- 1 ⅛ teaspoons paprika approx. 2.6g
- ¾ teaspoon cayenne pepper approx. 1.35g; adjust to your preferred spice level
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper approx. 1.15g
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon approx. 1.3g
- ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric approx. 0.6g
For Finishing the Sauce:
- ¾ cup heavy cream approx. 177g, 36% milkfat
- 1 ⅛ teaspoons cornstarch approx. 3g
Optional Garnish:
- Fresh cilantro chopped
Instructions
- Combine Base Ingredients: In the basin of your slow cooker, place the chopped onion, minced garlic, and grated ginger. Add the olive oil, plain Greek yogurt, and tomato puree. Stir these ingredients together until well combined.
- Add Spices: Gently mix in the Garam Masala, ground cumin, salt, paprika, cayenne pepper, ground black pepper, ground cinnamon, and ground turmeric. Ensure all spices are evenly distributed throughout the sauce base.
- Incorporate Chicken & Cook: Add the cubed chicken pieces to the slow cooker. Stir thoroughly to ensure each piece of chicken is fully coated with the aromatic sauce. Secure the lid on the slow cooker. Cook on the LOW setting for 5-6 hours, or on the HIGH setting for 3-4 hours, or until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
- Prepare Thickener: Approximately 20-30 minutes before the cooking cycle is complete, whisk the cornstarch into the heavy cream in a small bowl until smooth and no lumps remain.
- Finish the Sauce: Gently stir the cornstarch-cream slurry into the sauce in the slow cooker. Replace the lid and continue to cook for the remaining 20-30 minutes. This will allow the sauce to meld with the cream and thicken to a rich, velvety consistency.
- Serve: Once ready, ladle the Slow Cooker Crimson Chicken Tikka into bowls. Garnish with fresh chopped cilantro, if desired. See notes below for serving suggestions.
Notes
- Traditional Pairing: This dish pairs beautifully with fluffy basmati rice or warm naan bread.
- Low-Carb/Diabetic-Friendly Options: To align with low-carb or diabetic-friendly needs, serve with cauliflower rice, steamed green beans, broccoli, or zoodles (zucchini noodles). Low-carb naan or keto-friendly bread can also be suitable accompaniments.
- Ingredient Checks: Always use unsweetened plain Greek yogurt and tomato puree with no added sugars to manage carbohydrate and sugar intake.
- Portion Awareness: The nutritional information is calculated per serving based on the recipe yielding 3 servings. Adjust portion sizes as needed to fit your dietary goals.
- Adjust Spice: The ¾ teaspoon of cayenne pepper provides a moderate level of heat. Feel free to adjust this amount to suit your personal taste.
- Calories: 727.62 kcal (or 727.6 kcal)
- Protein: 65.49 g
- Total Fat: 37.74 g (or 37.7 g)
- Total Carbohydrates: 33.38 g
- Dietary Fiber: 8.63 g
- Total Sugars: 17.67 g
- Net Carbs: 24.75 g (Calculated as Total Carbohydrates 33.38 g - Dietary Fiber 8.63 g)