Tandoori Chicken

Overview
Tandoori chicken is a very popular Indian dish prepared by baking or grilling chicken marinated in yogurt and spices.Traditionally cooked in a Tandoor oven but baking it in conventional oven or even grilling it comes out very well. Usually served with Onion salads and lemon wedges. This is one dish found in all Indian Restaurants.

Tandoori Chicken

Ingredients
3 - 4 pounds whole chicken or legs
Lime Juice - 2 tablespoons
Vinegar - 2 tablespoons
Cardamoms - 4
Whole black pepper - 8 - 10
Cinnamon - 2 inch piece
Cloves - 3
Coriander seeds - 2 tablespoons
Cumin - 1 teaspoon
Chilly powder - 1 tablespoons
Garlic cloves - 8 - 10 cloves
Ginger - 3 inch piece
Plain Yogurt - 4 tablespoons
Oil - 4  tablespoons
Salt to taste
Red Color( optional) - 1 - 2 drops

Steps
1. Remove skin from chicken and cut into big pieces. Clean well and drain water. If using chicken legs just remove skin and make gashes on the fleshy part of chicken and keep aside.

2. Grind all the  ingredients with vinegar lime juice and water to make a smooth paste. Mix with the yogurt to make a thick marinate.

3. Marinate the chicken pieces in the ground spice mixture mixed with yogurt and salt and keep refrigerated for about 4 hours to overnight. If you have time always do overnight it tastes better that way.

4. Bake in 400 degree oven or grill . Every 15 minutes brush the left over marinates over the chicken. Cook for about 45 minutes till the chicken is cooked well.

Serve hot as an appetizer or side dish with rice and curries.