Marinade for tandoori chicken

Marinade for tandoori chicken recipe videos

This vibrant marinade is the essential first step for creating authentic tandoori chicken, a beloved dish originating from the Indian subcontinent. It typically features a base of yogurt and lemon juice, blended with a fragrant mix of spices like garam masala, cumin, and turmeric, along with ginger and garlic paste. The marinade tenderizes the meat and infuses it with a complex, smoky flavor before it's cooked at high heat.

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🍽️ Nutrition at a glance

As a marinade, its nutritional contribution is modest, but it is generally low in carbohydrates and fat, with the yogurt providing a small amount of protein and calcium. The spices offer beneficial antioxidants, and the entire preparation adds minimal calories to the final chicken dish, primarily from the yogurt.

Nutrition breakdown

Calories	45 kcal
Protein	2.5 g
Carbs	4 g
Fat	2 g
Fiber	1 g
Sugar	2 g
Sodium	480 mg
Potassium	120 mg
Vitamin C	8 mg
Calcium	30 mg
Iron	0.8 mg
Magnesium	15 mg
Vitamin B6	0.1 mg
Manganese	0.3 mg
Phosphorus	25 mg

Per 1/4 cup (60 g) · estimated, varies by recipe

💡 What's interesting

Culturally, the marinade's use of yogurt is a key technique in Indian cuisine to tenderize meat and create a tangy flavor profile, distinct from Western marinades. Nutritionally, the combination of acidic lemon juice and probiotic-rich yogurt helps to break down proteins, making the chicken more digestible and flavorful.