ORLANDO, Fla. — New Punjab Indian Restaurant has been providing aromatics to International Drive in Orlando for 32 years. We spent the day in the family-owned business to bring to life an Indian favorite.

“This is my profession from back home to India,” says chef and co-owner Gurmail Singh. “The chicken tikka masala is a very famous dish.”

While Chef's Kitchen typically shows you to recreate the recipes at home, but in this case, most of us don't own a large clay oven (tandoor), so the owners have done their very best to explain the process of creating one of their most customer-friendly, buttery, rich, and succulent dishes.

Let's eat!

Recipe and Instructions courtesy of Gurmail and Nama Singh, New Punjab

• 28 oz boneless, skinless marinated chicken (chicken tikka); baked in tandoor (large clay oven)
• Marinate chicken overnight with some yogurt, about 1 cup
• Salt-to-taste
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• 2 tablespoon fresh garlic & ginger
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• Masala sauce: 14 oz fresh crush tomatoes cooked a long time with 1 Tablespoon sauteed ginger and garlic and I teaspoon whole cumin seeds
• 1 teaspoon Cumin powder. 1 teaspoon coriander powder is added, followed by 1 Cup heavy whipping cream and a hint of dried Fenugreek
• 2 tablespoons sauteed small cut red and green bell peppers, to top the dish
• 4 teaspoons fresh chopped cilantro leaves to garnish
• This popular dish is enjoyed with fresh butter and Garlic Naan. All Naan bread is cooked in a tandoor.

For the Garlic Naan: 

• 1 Cup any all purpose Flour 
• 1/2 teaspoon salt 
• 1/2 sugar 
• Quarter teaspoon Baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder 
• Enough milk and water (50/50) to knead dough