Tandoori chicken, summer slaw and yoghurt dressing

Jam-packed with flavour and delicate spiciness, this tasty tandoori chicken recipe is ideal for spicing up family dinners, at any time of year.

35–45 minutes (plus marinating overnight) prep. time
40 minutes cooking time
Serves 4
Salads & light bites, Family-friendly

Tandoori chicken, fresh from the oven | © National Trust

1 whole chicken

For the marinade

35g tikka paste
65g Greek-style yoghurt
6 crushed cardamom pods
2 tsp smoked paprika

For the slaw

135g crisp green cabbage
135g fresh fennel
135g carrots
40g salad onions
10g fresh parsley
1 lime, juice and zest
20ml sesame oil

To serve

120g Greek-style yoghurt
10g fresh mint
4 tortilla wraps

Top tip

Although you want some blackening to the chicken skin to help achieve a distinctive charred flavour, make sure it doesn't burn.

Step 1

Spatchcock the chicken

Place it breast-side down on your board and use the scissors to remove the backbone, cutting down each side of the spine, then turn the chicken over and score the flesh all over. Open it out, remove the wing tips and ankles and then press firmly to flatten. (Alternatively you can ask your butcher for a spatchcock chicken.)

Step 2

For the marinade

Place all the marinade ingredients in a large bowl and mix together. Add the chicken and massage the marinade into the meat, cover and leave overnight.

Step 3

Remove the chicken from the marinade and place on a baking sheet. Put in the oven at 200°C (180°C fan/gas mark 6) for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to 170°C (150°C fan/gas mark 3), cooking for a further 20–30 minutes.

Step 4

Once the chicken starts to blacken slightly, remove from the oven, check the juices run clear when the thigh is pierced with a skewer, and then leave to stand for a few minutes.

Step 5

Place all the slaw ingredients in a large bowl and mix well, seasoning to taste.

Step 6

Place the yoghurt and mint in a bowl and mix to combine, adding seasoning if needed. Place the wraps in the oven or in a frying pan over a high heat for a few seconds to lightly colour them, then remove and cut into quarters.

Step 7

To serve, cut the chicken into quarters and place a portion on the plate, along with four pieces of wrap and a portion of the slaw. Finish with a serving of the yoghurt.