Ingredients
Method
- Finely slice the red onions. Add ½ of the sliced onions to a bowl with the juice of ¼ of the lemons and season with salt. Leave to quickly pickle while you prep the rest of the dish. Cut ⅓ of the remaining lemon into wedges and set aside for garnish.
- Slice the chicken thighs into three pieces. Add to a bowl with the juice of ½ the remaining lemon, the yoghurt and tikka paste. Season generously with salt and pepper, then mix well. Cover and set aside in the fridge for at least 30 mins.
- Meanwhile, make the raita. Halve the cucumber lengthways and scoop out the seeds before finely dicing. Finely chop the mint. Add the yoghurt to a bowl and squeeze in the juice of the remaining lemon. Add the cucumber and mint to the bowl and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Add the rest of the onions to the air fryer, drizzle with a glug of olive oil and top with the chicken pieces, then add another small drizzle of oil. Set the air fryer to 200°C and cook for 14-16 mins until charred and the chicken juices run clear.
- Finely slice the green chilli and cut the tomato into wedges. Add the tomatoes to a bowl along with the nigella seeds, then season with salt and pepper.
- Cook the rice according to package instructions.
- Remove the chicken from the air fryer, then toss the cooked onions with the rice. Season with salt and pepper.
- Divide the rice between two plates, add the tomatoes, then top with the tikka chicken and pickled onions. Scatter with the green chilli, lemon wedges and more mint, if you like.
Notes
Ingredient Swap: If you don't have tikka masala paste, a good curry powder mixed with a little extra yogurt and lemon juice makes a fine substitute in a pinch, though the flavor will be simpler.
Storage Tip: The leftover chicken and rice keep beautifully for up to three days in the fridge, but store the raita and fresh tomato salad separately to keep everything crisp.
Make-
Ahead Secret: I always marinate the chicken for the full 30 minutes, but if I have time, letting it sit for a few hours in the fridge makes it incredibly tender and flavorful.
Common Mistake: Don't skip the step of quickly pickling the onions.
That little hit of acidity really balances the rich, spiced chicken and makes the whole dish sing.
Serving Suggestion: I love to serve this family-style, letting everyone build their own plate with extra raita and lemon wedges on the side for squeezing.
Equipment Note: No air fryer? No problem.
I've cooked the chicken and onions on a foil-lined baking tray in a 425°F oven for about 20 minutes with great results.
Personal Touch: For extra color and a bit of sweetness, I sometimes toss a handful of defrosted frozen peas into the hot rice just before serving.