Dairy Free Cardamom Tandoori Chicken

Total time4 hr 55 min

Prep time20 min

Cook time35 min

Bone-in chicken thighs and drumsticks get deep slashes cut into the flesh so a bold marinade of garlic-infused oil, fresh ginger, and warming cardamom, cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, turmeric, and cayenne can really soak in. A generous squeeze of lemon juice brightens the whole mix, and a long chill — up to 24 hours — lets those spices work their way deep into every piece. Roasted hot and fast on a rack, the chicken emerges with deeply charred, blistered edges and juicy, tender meat underneath, no grill required. Finished with a scatter of fresh cilantro and extra lemon wedges for squeezing, it's the kind of centerpiece that makes a weeknight dinner feel like a celebration. This one holds up beautifully on a dairy free table, so you can serve it up with total confidence.

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the chicken

3 lbs bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces (drumsticks and thighs)

For the marinade

1 cup plain yogurt
Oui by Yoplait Coconut Dairy Free Yogurt Alternative Jar Open Nature Smooth & Creamy Dairy-Free Plain Coconut Yogurt Alternative GT's Cocoyo Pure Living Coconut Yogurt The Coconut Cult Original Probiotic Coconut Yogurt 08 oz Culina Plain & Simple Dairy-Free Yogurt
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Chef's tip
Choose a plain, unsweetened dairy-free yogurt unless the recipe calls for a flavored one.
2 tbsp garlic-infused oil
1 tbsp fresh ginger, finely grated
2 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp ground coriander
2 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp ground cardamom
1 tsp kosher salt
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice

For serving

lemon wedges, for serving (optional)
fresh cilantro, roughly chopped, for serving (optional)

Instructions

1
Pat the chicken pieces completely dry with paper towels. Using a sharp knife, cut 2–3 deep slashes through the skin and into the flesh of each piece — this allows the marinade to penetrate and helps the chicken cook evenly.
2
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the yogurt, garlic-infused oil, grated ginger, cumin, coriander, smoked paprika, turmeric, cayenne, cardamom, salt, and lemon juice until smooth and evenly combined.

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