4 Spices & Herbs Most Used For Tandoori Chicken
Tandoori chicken is a popular Indian dish that’s spicy and full of flavor.
I'm an experienced food writer and passionate cook. My website, Cookindocs.com, features accessible, informative, and engaging content with quality recipes and articles that are thoroughly researched and enjoyable to read. You can trust my expertise with 8 years of experience in the field. Learn more about me and my work on this website, and check out my featured articles on TastingTable, Mashed, and 5-Minute Crafts. Read more about me HERE.
If you’ve ever wondered what makes tandoori chicken taste so unique, it’s the combination of spices used to make the tandoori chicken marinade.
In this article, we’ll talk about what spices are in a tandoori spice mix: garam masala and cayenne pepper are two of the most common ingredients.
We’ll also discuss how you can use this information to create your own homemade marinade recipe if you don’t have time to buy a premixed blend from an Indian grocery store or online marketplace like Amazon.
What is tandoori spice made of?
Tandoori chicken is a popular Indian dish that has become increasingly common in the United States.
It’s made from boneless chicken, which is marinated in yogurt and spices before being cooked in a tandoor, or clay oven.
The main ingredients of tandoori spice are: coriander, cumin, black pepper and red pepper flakes; cinnamon sticks; nutmeg; cloves; cardamom pods (green); dried ginger root (also known as dried ginger powder); garlic cloves; sliced onions; turmeric powder.
Is garam masala the same as tandoori masala?
No.
But the two are very similar.
Garam masala is a blend of spices, usually including cumin, cinnamon, cloves and black peppercorns.
Tandoori masala is also a spice mix but includes more fragrant ingredients such as nutmeg and cardamom powder.
Garam masala has a stronger flavor than tandoori masala because it contains more cumin seeds—which can be overpowering on their own if you’re not careful about how much you use them in your dishes!
What spices & herbs to go with tandoori chicken?
Cilantro
[amazon fields=”B097F2Z68N” value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]
If you’re a fan of Indian food, you’ve probably noticed that cilantro is one of the most common herbs in the tandoori chicken and other traditional dishes.
But why does it work so well?
Cilantro has a very strong flavor, which is why you might think it’s overpowering.
But when paired with something like tandoori chicken, it actually complements the spice of the dish while adding a freshness that makes it more palatable.
Cilantro also has antibacterial properties and helps to clear up bad breath.
So while you might not want to eat cilantro on its own, pairing it with this dish will help make your experience much more enjoyable!
Mint
[amazon fields=”B097F1XRSK” value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]
Mint is the perfect herb to go with tandoori chicken.
Why?
Because it’s a good flavor complement, and it helps to cut the spice of the tandoori sauce.
Mint can help balance the flavors of the dish, making it more pleasant for your palate.
Mint also has anti-inflammatory properties, so it can help reduce any discomfort you may experience from eating spicy food.
It’s also great for digestion—so if you’re looking for a herb that can help make your meal more enjoyable but also improve your overall health in the process, mint is a great choice!
Basil
[amazon fields=”B001PQRENO” value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]
Basil is a great companion to tandoori chicken because it’s got a little bit of an edge.
If you’re trying to make something that’s got a little more heat than just plain old tandoori chicken, basil is the way to go.
It’s got that kind of spicy, peppery taste that you can’t get enough of.
Basil also pairs well with other hot spices like cayenne pepper and chili powder—it’s got that kind of “zing” that really adds some extra flavor and kick to your dish.
We recommend using fresh basil over dried basil if possible because it has more flavor, but both work well in this dish!
Parsley
[amazon fields=”B07VZST6XJ” value=”thumb” image=”1″ image_size=”large” image_align=”center”]
Did you know that parsley is a great herb for tandoori chicken?
It’s true!
Parsley is rich in vitamin C, which is great for your immune system.
It’s also full of iron, which helps make your blood healthy and prevents anemia.
Plus, it contains antioxidants that can help prevent cancer.
And if that weren’t enough, parsley is also a great source of calcium, which helps maintain strong bones and teeth!
So next time you’re cooking up some tandoori chicken, add some fresh parsley to the mix—you’ll love it!
What can I use instead of tandoori spice?
There are several things you can use to make the tandoori spice mixture instead of buying it.
A dry herb and spice mixture is a great alternative to making your own, as is a ready-made tandoori spice mix or curry powder and garam masala combination.
A dry herb and spice mixture will consist of fennel seeds, cinnamon stick pieces, black peppercorns, bay leaves, cloves and star anise pods.
You should also consider adding some other ingredients such as cardamom pods and ground ginger root for added flavour.
A ready-made tandoori spice mix is easy to find in most supermarkets or Indian shops where you can buy all the spices needed for this dish in one packet together with instructions on how much of each ingredient to add when cooking.
This method does take away some control from you but does save time which may be important depending on what else you need to do that day!
Conclusion
Tandoori chicken is a popular Indian dish that can be made at home using many different spices.
The main ingredients are chicken, yogurt and tandoori masala spice mix, which contains cumin, coriander, paprika, garam masala, turmeric and chili powder.
The most important thing to remember when cooking this dish is not overloading on spices or marinating the meat for too long because it will make the dish too spicy or salty.
