Chicken tikka masala

P933alilli

Hi,

I have some chicken breast fillets, 600 grams, and a jar of Patak's tikka masala, 450 grams!

Could this be cooked in the slow cooker or am i better doing it the conventional way in a frying pan? I cant cook the normal way , thats why i use the slow cooker if it can be done that way!

I think i'd have enough for two meals, so can chicken curry be frozen and heated up again? Or should i just take out three of the frozen fillets to defrost and leave the other three frozen to make another meal? Would i need to transfer the remaining frozen chicken fillets into a plastic container due to the packet being opened or would they remain safe just with the plastic cellophane wrapper around them inside the tray?

Thanks!

joedenise

No reason why you can't cook a chicken curry in the slow cooker although I think you'd only need 1 or  2 of the chicken breasts, plus some chopped onions.  Does the jar not tell you how much chicken to add to the jar for your curry?  I always make mine from scratch so not sure about the jars.

The chicken breasts you don't use need to be transferred either to a plastic box or freezer bag and kept frozen until you want to use them.

You can absolutely divide the chicken curry up and freeze in portions until you want to eat them again.  I always like to defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating.

Longwalker

OK so if using your slow cooking is the only way you can cook, then use it.

You CAN refreeze chicken if its cooked first

Take out the chicken you think you need for the two meals. Do wrap the rest tightly in cling film ( I double wrap tightly ) or use a freezer bag, you dont want them to get freezer burn and pop back into the freezer

Chuck the rest into the slow cooker, dont cut too small, fillets are really the best for slow cooking so chunky chunks. And try for 3 hours but leave yourself enough time if you need an extra hour

However if you are safe with a saucepan, heat a bit of oil, cut the chicken bite size, fry them off till they just start getting a bit of colour - dont use too hot a heat, chuck on the jar of sauce and bring up to a rolling simmer - just bubbling - and let it simmer for 20 mins, giving a stir every now and then so it doesn't catch on the bottom of the pan

Which either method, eat what you want, then when the rest is cool either put in the fridge - will be grand for 3 days, or pop into the freezer - 3 months

JIL

I would use 600g chicken to a 400g jar of curry sauce.
I would just bung it all in the slow cooker as long as the jar of sauce hasnt got dry spices with it.

Freeze the leftovers, it will actually get better with age.

Another thing I do when using frozen chicken is that I never completely defrost it, I cut it up when it's still firm, so much easier. 

I would never refreeze raw defrosted chicken unless it changes state, by that I mean it's no longer raw. It's now cooked so can be frozen. 

bouicca21

600g of chicken fillets is going to make at least 3 if not 4 portions.  I’d do it on the stove top but if you want to do it in the slow cooker, go ahead. Just follow @Longwalker’s instructions.  

Portion it up, let it cool and freeze whatever you aren’t going use in the next day or so.  

I have no problem eating the same meal twice, and with curry the flavours improve so I’d eat one the day it’s cooked, put one in the fridge for the next day or day after and freeze two portions.

rancid-a

Hi Collyflower.
Whilst I'm not keen on a tikka masala, if this was a Rogan Josh reciepe, I'd be tempted to add way too much sauce so that it can be mopped up with your favourate bread - Naan, Chapati etc

P933alilli

Thanks for the replies! I'll put everything in the slow cooker for 3-4 hours tomorrow! I assume the fillets go in first with the sauce on top, mixing it all up. Will the fillets cut into halves suffice or quarters? I'll try doing it in the saucepan in future! The method of dicing into bite sizes and browning slightly for 5 minutes and then adding the curry sauce and simmering for 15 minutes is explained on the jar. It sounds simple enough! Will the different methods result in different taste quality?

Longwalker

Collyflower1 said:

Thanks for the replies! I'll put everything in the slow cooker for 3-4 hours tomorrow! I assume the fillets go in first with the sauce on top, mixing it all up. Will the fillets cut into halves suffice or quarters? I'll try doing it in the saucepan in future! The method of dicing into bite sizes and browning slightly for 5 minutes and then adding the curry sauce and simmering for 15 minutes is explained on the jar. It sounds simple enough! Will the different methods result in different taste quality?

There will be very little difference in taste because the meat isnt being marinated, so it will just be chicken in sauce, but thats ok, the jars of sauces are pretty good. The hob cooking is the quickest, but you cook how you feel comfortable with. Enjoy xx

[Deleted User]

Hi,

jings.

Just throw the breests into the pan with a little oil to brown, chop up an onion and throw in, allow to sweeten, add the jar of stuff and sultanas/chopped apple, clove, nutmeg, if you want it spicey jazz it up with Tabasco or any hot sauce..                                

JIL

Collyflower1 said:

Thanks for the replies! I'll put everything in the slow cooker for 3-4 hours tomorrow! I assume the fillets go in first with the sauce on top, mixing it all up. Will the fillets cut into halves suffice or quarters? I'll try doing it in the saucepan in future! The method of dicing into bite sizes and browning slightly for 5 minutes and then adding the curry sauce and simmering for 15 minutes is explained on the jar. It sounds simple enough! Will the different methods result in different taste quality?

They will be fine cut in half. It doesn't matter what order they go in, just give it a good mix. 

As longwalker says it will be chicken in sauce.  

If you keep any leftovers, to eat later, they will likely have a deeper flavour, but the first batch should turn out well. Pataks sauces seem to be a good quality.

I hope it turns out well.

P933alilli

Thanks for the replies!