Can Josh Make Better Chicken Tikka Masala Than Trader Joe’s?

yes nicole we live the same life jaeger pumps jaeger pump do you spend a lot of time in the supermarket wondering if i should really buy that or should i

make

it from scratch? How do you factor time enjoyment and budget into your food choices? Am I making this sound? Like a prescription drug commercial with too many disconcerting side effects, you'll shit your pants today. I'm going to

make

a homemade version of Trader Joe's

chicken

tikka

masala

and see if I can beat the brand in a blindfolded taste test rated by my partner. workers, will I beat the brand?

It's Trader Joe's turn. It was so good. We liked it? I felt like I put some jazz hands on it. So today we have chosen Trader Joe's

chicken

tikka

masala

to take it on because I think that will be the best thing you have to beat the best in Indian food Trader Joe's is like the Cadillac car of microwave frozen TV dinners and they have a great cult after chicken tikka masala. I grew up eating it, it's super super delicious, yet it's still frozen. food, so there are definitely ways to top it from scratch. We'll start with a couple of things.

We will toast our fresh spices. We will use chicken thigh, which means the king of poultry meat. Start today by making jira rice, so jira is the Hindi word for cumin seeds with these fresh cumin seeds here, they are super beautiful, I mean, very, very common and we're going to have some ghee, this is clarified butter. add it to a saucepan right here and we'll throw our cumin seeds in there again, like I said, where we can beat Trader Joe's, this is like a conspiracy theory, where we'll beat them is in the trenches, no, it's in, it's in the fresh preparation is in the toasting of the spices is in the love that we are adding here we will let it heat up when those cumin seeds start to sizzle, we will put the rice in there, I will take a couple bay leaves and also make the ones that are in there toast I'm not going to pretend to be an expert on Indian cuisine.

A lot of my knowledge is things I've acquired online, so this is sort of an adaptation of a recipe by legendary Indian cook Madhur. jaffrey and actress had a fascinating career you should really look it up we have chicken thighs here so let's add this in there as well as a lot of people when they make chicken tikka masala what is this whisk for? I'm going to add the rice to that ghee. This is basmati rice that has been soaked for about half an hour in water and then the basmati drained. It has those super long grains.

We'll also add salt, so we have the chicken. I'll get it there, it's some fresh black pepper, I'll put a very quick marinade on it and then I'll juice a whole lemon. Acid is really great because it tends to tenderize meat, which is also the case with yogurt, so we're taking some full fat Indian style yogurt here, we're going to add that to our marinade along with a little bit of oil to loosen things up there, then we'll add salt and then cool. ground ginger, I mean the best part about Indian cooking is that it contains so many aromatics and spices and like all these things, you can taste them in the final product, you know, so toast that rice and start adding spices to our chicken. here this is chili powder and then we have paprika and then turmeric mainly for color and then we have a little bit of ground cumin right here that will last a long time.

Cumin is my favorite spice in the whole world unless I said it was something else. spice in a previous episode so just deal with it and then we have garam masala here garam masala masala is a Hindi word for spice and garam masala is a mix of mace and cloves in cumin and a ton of super warm spices in there. So that's going to be a great flavor enhancer there as well, so we toast our rice here. I wish you had smell-vision, it really smells

josh

, it seriously smells. Olfactory-or-vision line in 2021, 1998 emerald, okay. now we're going to take some water, it's a two to one ratio with the soaked basmati and the water, we're just going to add it in there and then when it boils we're going to cover it and let it simmer for about 10 minutes because we've soaked previously the rice.

This is actually great advice. When you pre-soak the rice, you only have to cook it for about 10 minutes, so it now cuts down on the prep time quite a bit. I don't have to touch this anymore, I can cover it, that means I can massage the chicken with my bare hands, what a nice day let's touch this chicken with our bare hands, oh that feels good, it's disconcerting how much I love playing with raw meat, but It's not comforting, but actually, if you massage it in there like you're making the salt work into the meat of the chicken and all that butt, that's going to help tenderize it, now all we're going to do is let this Chicken is marinated for about 40 minutes mainly. to cut down on time uh if I was really trying to make this as delicious as possible, I could let it go for a full day.

I could let it go a full day before. That being said, we're trying to beat the mark, so I'm trying to you know, reduce the time, keep this to about an hour and we'll do it, why should I beat Trevor's chicken? What does this? Does nothing. Now we have to take the very simple step of making our masala sauce. and then also roast this chicken at the same time, so I'm going to heat up some oil in this pan. We have about a quarter cup in there. The big key to cooking Indian food for me is toasting the aromatics and the spices, so we're We're going to put some onions working in there and then we're also going to put our spices in here, so we've got coriander, we've got cumin, we've got chili powder.

I'm clapping like the monkey symbol on my head and let's put some salt in there and then just take this, I'm going to stir it a little bit and it smells good now, we're on, we're doing it, we're doing it right, guys , and now let's do what we do. We're going to take some fresh ginger, we're going to stir fry it along with that and then there's no room to hit the heel of the palm. I'm going to try to step over this hot, burning frying pan and do it like Donkey Kong. It's crushing the garlic, yeah, yeah, and then turning it into a paste and then we're going to take that, we're just going to add that in there, you can take out the garlic or just eat it, we're going to sauté that for a couple more minutes now we have to put our chicken in so we have a pan heating up here now you're going to get a nice smoky flavor from this pan that's a lie that Rachel Ray has been telling for years which would make the smoky just a pan with less surface area than one of Cast iron, however, mimics the uneven charring you'll get on a grill, so who's really mad I feel like I lost my mind there for a while? second, we're going to take a couple of chicken thighs, we have to work in batches here, we're going to put them in our hot pan and then we want to get a really nice char, that's like I said, it's usually done with pre-cooked tandoori chicken, there come on so we're going to try to get it nice and charred and then all that marinade is going to caramelize in there all that yogurt all that lemon juice and then that's going to add a lovely profile to our sauce so we've got those onions over there with the garlic, now what we're going to do is start sautéing some yogurt in there, so this is going to come straight from the mater Japanese recipe and then you're going to kind of like caramelize that yogurt in this pan, which is a technique really interesting, but I would never have thought of it, but I've made this before and it's really fantastic, it browns the sugars out of that yogurt a little bit and that's actually going to add a huge flavor base. and that's how we beat Trader Joe's, so now we're going to take our fresh tomatoes, we're going to add them in there whenever you use fresh tomatoes in a sauce recipe, you really want to heat them up and then mash them. above, I would say that the heel of the palm hits directly on a hot frying pan you think I can do it, why are you afraid of success?

Now we can have tomato paste. The tomato paste is going to reinforce that tomato flavor there, a totally optional step. on that one and then I'm going to caramelize the tomato paste here a little bit, so you really want to create an intensely flavored paste here, it's going to be a flavor bomb. Does anyone remember Jaeger bombs? youtube video. Jaeger bombs that. it doesn't mean anything yeah nicole we live the same life jager bombs jaeger bombs okay so let's take that chicken broth and keep mashing it up so we want it to be a little bit of a smooth sauce just a little bit of texture there come on. let's go and the rest of that stuff so now we're going to simmer this for about 15 minutes we can keep roasting this chicken well so that our sauce is bubbling that's good you want to keep stirring that and then let's go. to go ahead and turn this chicken, wow, you see those beautiful grill marks, that's all that smoky flavor, Rachel Ray, but it actually looks really good, it's getting nice and charred and all that marinade is coming off. it's caramelizing, so all that flavor you'll get. in there that will go in the hole of your mouth and finally Trader Joe's you will be defeated, okay, that's great, the chicken has to cook for about five more minutes, the sauce should be bubbling, it's very easy, this dish is simple, okay, so we roast the rest of that. chicken that looks super super caramelized and damn I want you to wrap the pot now that we have our tikka masala sauce simmering all we're going to do is add heavy whipping cream to it and then a good amount. of ghee because like fat, it really brings spice into a dish and acid, that's going to be absolutely delicious, yes sir, I'm really trying to beat Trader Joe's, so I'm just going to take some butter and put it in in rice, that's how it's done.

You win in the kitchen, you bribe people with butter, that's why restaurant food tastes so much

better

than the food you make at home, because I have a lot of butter or there's a lot of oil, any fat, yes, yes, and then I just do it. we will leave that seat that's going to get super super yummy hell yeah, cover again, the butter is going to melt now we have to start dicing this chicken. I'm going to use it by hand because no, I have a pair of tongs literally right there, I'm not going to do that and now We're just going to keep this chicken that we want like it's a nice kind of big chunks.

You see, it's really big in the Trader Joe's version. Here we go, give it a turn, give us a turn, show us what you're working with, shake that chicken. Anyone remember youthful, mystical youthful memory, isn't this youthful happening? They made a song with a similar message and now, uh, bare hand to the chicken again, even though it only hurt you, but you don't learn from your mistakes and then we go Oh, okay, then check it out and you'll see the color of the sauce , I mean, it has that beautiful reddish orange color, that's the tomato paste, the cream, the turmeric working there and it looks exactly how I wanted.

I forgot the last ingredient, I mean, I didn't forget, didn't you see that I'm going to add it to the garam masala so that it's like it's the last thing that goes in there and it just perfumes everything that's beautiful, that's what I call everything. What you have to do is place the plate right, so, oh, because there's a shleem over everything. I'm going to take this delicious rice and we're just going to add it to a bowl. Why are bowls good? I have a bowl at home, that's the only thing. I eat meals and I'm one of those guys who has a pillow, a towel and a bowl and I wash my body with shampoo.

I like the way Garnier fruit tea smells. I want my whole body to smell like that. I'm not. I'm not ashamed of that, I have a couple of bay leaves on top so people know there's flavor and also the bay leaves do something, uh, roasting pans don't impart a smart smoky flavor. Bay leaves cook rice with a bay leaf, cook it without You will notice the difference and then all this delicious chicken tikka masala and load it into the chicken salad bowl. Do you think I could eat all this alone? We can do it? There we go and I'm actually going to take some fresh cream on top and we give it a couple of tablespoons, there we go, come on, it's all fresh cream and oh, I made cream and then a couple of cilantro leaves guys, I've got heat, this is one of those sweaty cooks some days. you have you have a clean cook some days you have a sweaty cook you know, get a couple of those yeah like a little more leaves the leaves are good people like people love children they love leaves you know when you cook for children children love them sheets Wait, I don't like it, I didn't like that sheet, I have to find a good sheet that's not a good sheet, that's a good sheet, no, it's not the right sheet, oh, this increases the cooking time, isn't it good? here we have it here's our full chicken tikka masala and here's our jira rice let's see how it compares to the Trader Joe's version.

I win, look, it's stupid, it's a stupid little plastic thing. I have good bowls. This obviously looks a lot

better

, but look at everything because food is what you put in your mouth, so we have to get to work, but there is also time and money, so what happened was I spent 65 minutes to prepare my deliciousdish, it only costs 1.71 per serving. That said, you have to buy a lot of spices, if you already have all those spices in your pantry then you're fine, whereas Trader Joe's only takes about five minutes including cooling time and costs 3.69, so they win.time and price, but this is in a bowl with leaves, so just oh oh oh, I mean, I love this dish.

This is one of the best things I've eaten in a long time, but let's see what the judges think. Emily, you can't see, but I can, but for you you have two plates of chicken tikka masala, one I made and the other one was made by the traitor scoundrel Joe, okay, you're going to put them in my mouth, I'm going to put them in your mouth , yes, yes, it's okay, he's kind. It's awkward now that I think about it, but I'll do it, okay, okay, plate one, why does this make money? I'll do a bite of chicken followed by a bite of rice.

There are two separate components that no one has ever fed me. Your mouth again stop talking open your mouth okay I don't know if it's hot it's perfect hot okay okay let's judge that now oh but but we get the rice get the rice do you feel somehow strong about it? I won't give you a bite of the other plate okay plane in the hangar plane the hangar emily didn't make the noise it's that plane it's too late it's already in my mouth okay better get up ah there it is, take it emily what what is your score on a scale from one to ten for the first course?

I'll give it like a seven. It reminded me a little of tofu. It was good, but it was a little spongy. Makes sense? Have you eaten? tofu yeah, it tasted toasted, good and the second one I felt like someone cared about that chicken, you know, care comes in many forms, yeah, yeah, the second one, I guess I thought the rice was a little more substantial too and the chicken felt fresher. pressure, the second I would give you, you know, I would say nine. Okay, Emily, you gave dish one a seven out of ten and you served it a nine out of ten.

Could you please open your eyes? Take this one, take off the blindfold, so plate. one, this is my homemade chicken tikka masala, you said it was fluffier, I used chicken thigh instead of chicken breast and

trader

Joe's is fine, give it a taste not blind, I have a really good piece there, you just have a piece of bad chicken. The first time, yes, well I mean it's my fault, there shouldn't be bad pieces of chicken, yes there is skin on the one I just received and if it had skin then I would have been like Emily and you are highly professional though incredibly. annoying opinion you're saying I didn't beat the mark based on the bites you gave me you chose to take a bite I chose the bite I liked the other one better although I find the sauce on this one to be more exceptional kaylee you have two plates in front of you one is a chicken tikka masala made by

trader

joe the other is a chicken tikka masala made by me are you comfortable with me hand feeding you spoon feeding me hand feeding not your hand?

I'll have a spoon, okay, as long as you have a spoon, I think it's okay, beautiful, beautiful Caleb, we'll start with plate one, okay, airplane, come to the hangar, this is plate one, oh, it's like dripping . Will I receive your shirt? Sorry, I also have rice later, so get ready for rice. Focus, focus, focus, okay, the rice is coming. Reflect on it, drink it down like a fine wine. Now I have dish number two, so this is the chicken with sauce, okay, the rice is coming. Oh, sorry, sorry, no, I appreciate how seriously you're taking this.

My family says I eat like a bird. Like it takes me a long time. The birds just like to rock them. Okay, so tell my parents. a ferret, okay that works, are you tasting any flavor differences in them? I'm, what do you get from plate one versus plate two? It's almost sweeter. The one is a little tastier. Are you prepared to rate them on a scale of one to ten? I think I need one more, okay, one more, one more plate, one, okay, I'm leaning towards an eight, okay, and then I'm heading more towards a six, michaela, take off the blindfold, okay, so this is my chicken tikka homemade masala, you were dead. about the fact that it's a lot tastier, it has a lot more aromatics, Cherry Joe's really relies on sweet and cream and that made me very happy because I was very nervous that I was going to lose and I don't like to lose.

It's all about time and money, and if you make this at home, Cherry Joe's is about $369 per serving, we spent $71 per serving to make ours, however, you need to have a lot of spices, so if you don't have a fully stocked pantry which will get expensive this took 65 minutes to make this took five minutes to get right, but do you think the time difference is worth it? I think so and I'm someone who cooks at home very often so I think it's definitely worth it. it's cheaper if you make it at home that's awesome cheers before you have two plates of chicken tikka masala one made by me and one made by Trader Joe's himself we actually get it. to come and prepare it joseph wow you will rate these dishes on a scale of one to ten first we have dish one this is the chicken with tiki masala sauce what flavor notes do you get right from the start does it taste good?

I like it, it tastes good, I like it, would you like to try the chicken and sauce from plate two? Yes, I'm also ready for the dish. Okay, tell me what flavor differences you're getting. We will return to rice. Saltier, they taste somewhat similar, but I think that's because they are similar dishes. It's funny, if you're like one of those fish and chips, do you ever guess which one I made and which Trader Joe's made and you didn't? rice just eat a little bit of rice while you're talking this is rice one this is also rice no one seemed to care about the rice during this whole process very well, yes, both about the same, yes, yes, a little, but both good, alright, number one is probably an eight and number two would be a six, which means I've beaten the brand merchant.

Joe, take that, yeah, Joe. Pleasant employees provide very good service and products at reasonable prices. A little flirty. Yes, sometimes I fall in love with many. Trader Joe's employees it happens, but that means the final score 23 total points for mine 21 total points for Trader Joe's, so would you spend the extra 60 minutes to cook this from scratch? Was it much better? Yes, I was really trying to be. I'm glad about this in case it was yours, but this was much better. The emotional politics of the show were too much. Jace, you strongly implied that I beat the brand, although I'm putting in your own branding language from the show that Michaela also preferred my dish Emily was the only person who actually preferred cherry juice because she said my chicken tasted like tofu and she really I don't know what that means, how dare you, how dare you and what about you, your team chases after Michaela and you cook.

You're Team Emily and you're going to Trader Joe's, only you can decide what your personal values ​​are. I don't know, let me know in the comments if this is something you cook for yourself or are you going to go. To keep going to Trader Joe's, thank you all so much for stopping by the legendary kitchen. We have new episodes every week. We have new episodes of our podcast. Chase airs every Wednesday wherever you get your podcast. Chase also has a podcast about the myth society. go check that out, we're also on Instagram at Mytical Kitchen, hit us up with the hashtag Dreams to show photos of your mythical dishes, I'll see you all next time Chase, thanks for validating me man, get as dirty as you want. in your kitchen when you have the legendary kitchen towel available now at mitica.com