Chicken Tikka Masala Burger ~ Seasoned freshly ground chicken grilled and slathered in masala sauce served on toasted mini naan.There is a list.

This list is very, very long.

On this list is all the food I want to make and share with all of you.

My list may get a few things a month crossed off, but literally gets a few things A DAY added to it.

This Chicken Tikka Masala Burger has been on this list for about 2 years.

It took signing up to participate in Girl Carnivore’s Annual Burger Month to FINALLY get me to make this bad boy.And a bad boy it is. It’s big. It’s messy. Like wear a bib messy. And it’s totally worth it too.

I vacillated on whether I wanted to serve this on a traditional hamburger bun or on naan. I went ahead and made it and served it to my friends in an A/B taste test comparison. Hands down, the naan won.

Luckily, my local grocery store sells packages of mini-naan, but these are still larger than your typical hamburger. Turns out chicken tikka masala burgers in 1/2 pound patties are AWESOME, and easy to share (if you can bring yourself to cut and share it with another.)

I used chicken thighs and ground it myself…or put it in the food processor. You’re welcome to skip this step and just use 2 pounds of already-ground chicken. I like processing it myself.

The burgers are SUPER lean, so make sure your grill pan or outdoor grill is greased so they don’t stick, because they will. I wanted to grill these outdoors. My first two attempts were made outside, but my third attempt, the attempt that was to be photographed, the snow returned and I was forced indoors. Stupid May in Utah.

Chicken Tikka Masala Burger

Course: Dinner/Sandwiches/Burgers

Cuisine: Indian

Servings: 4

Author: Michelle De La Cerda

Chicken Tikka Masala Burger ~ Seasoned freshly ground chicken grilled and slathered in masala sauce served on toasted mini naan.

Ingredients

8 pieces of mini naan
Red leaf lettuce (optional)

Chicken Tikka Burgers

2 lbs ground chicken
1/2 tsp chili powder (Indian, not Mexican)
2 1/2 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp coriander
2 tsp cumin
Pinch of cinnamon
1/4 tsp granulated garlic or 2 cloves fresh garlic
1 1/2 tsp garam masala
1/4 tsp salt; +/- to taste
1 large egg
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
Juice of 1 lime
1/2 cup plain greek yogurt
1/4 cup freshly chopped cilantro

Masala Sauce

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 cup onions; finely diced
4 cloves garlic; grated/minced
1 1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp chili powder (Indian, not Mexican)
2 tsp garam masala
Pinch of cinnamon
1/2 tsp turmeric
3/4 tsp cumin
1-28 oz can crushed tomatoes
2 tbsp fresh cilantro; chopped
1 1/2-2 cup 1/2 and 1/2 or heavy cream
Salt to taste

Instructions

Chicken Tikka Burgers

Mix all the ingredients. Once blended, form into patties.
Chill the patties for at least 2 hours, allowing all the ingredients time to meld together.
Remove from the refrigerator 15 minutes before grilling, allowing to come to closer to room temp.
Heat grill or the grill pan, taking care to grease it so the burgers don't stick.
Over medium heat or flame, cook the patties for 5-6 minutes on each side or until the internal temperature is 165°F.

Masala Sauce

In a large skillet, heat pan over medium-high heat.
Add the olive oil, onions, and garlic; cook for 2-3 minutes or until onions begin to soften.
Add the spices, mix as best as possible.
Once they begin to bloom/become fragrant, add the tomatoes and cilantro, stir well.
Bring to a high simmer, stirring constantly.
Reduce heat to medium low, and continue to cook for 10 minutes at a low simmer.
Slowly stir in the cream, mix well.
Add salt to taste and return to simmer for at least 5 more minutes.

Assembly

Toast the naan.
On the bottom 'bun' add a tiny bit of masala sauce and a leaves of red leaf lettuce.
Place the patty on the lettuce.
Add generous dollops of masala sauce and place another piece of naan on top.
Serve and enjoy.

Recipe Notes

Makes 4 half pound patties or 8 quarter pound patties. If making smaller patties, slice the naan in half to make smaller 'buns'

I mentioned my Chicken Tikka Masala Burger is part of #BurgerMonth 2017. This epically tasty event happens all month long and has nearly 150 different participants this year. That’s a whole lotta burgers for your viewing and tasting pleasure. You can find them all on Burger Month’s website or by searching the hashtag #burgermonth across social media.But to make burger month even more awesome, there is an amazing giveaway happening. Click HERE to enter the giveaway!

I would like to thank American Lamb Board, Anolon. Beef, It’s What’s For Dinner, Char-Broil, Curly’s BBQ, Cuttingboard.com, Melissa’s Produce, Primal Stone, Spiceologist, Thermoworks, & Veal Made Easy FOR THE AWESOME GRILL PRIZE PACKAGES!

Here’s what’s up for grabs:

Chicken Tikka Masala Burger