Tandoori Chicken Chaat Salad
Warm tandoori chicken over crunchy cucumber, tomato and pickled onion with a sharp, herby yoghurt dressing.
Made with Pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas) and Tandoori marinade. Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time35 mins plus marinating
- LevelEasy
- Costabout £1.77 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Coat the chicken strips in your ready made tandoori marinade (see the base recipe). Cover and chill for at least 1 hour.
- 2
Heat the oil in a large frying pan over a high heat. Cook the chicken for 8 to 10 minutes, turning, until charred and cooked through with no pink inside.
9 min - 3
Whisk the yoghurt, lemon juice and half the coriander with a pinch of salt to make a dressing, loosening with a splash of water.
- 4
Pile the lettuce, cucumber and tomatoes onto plates. Add the pickled red onions and warm chicken.
- 5
Spoon over the dressing, sprinkle with the chaat masala and remaining coriander, and serve at once.
Tips
- Cook the chicken just before serving so it is warm against the cold crunchy salad.
- The pickled red onions bring the sour crunch. Add them just before eating so they stay vivid.
- Chaat masala is salty and sour, so taste before adding more salt.
Storing and freezing
Keep the chicken and salad separate. Cooked chicken keeps for 2 days in the fridge and works well cold. Dress the salad only when you serve.
Questions
Can I use leftover chicken?
Yes. Slice cold cooked tandoori chicken and add it, or warm it until steaming hot all the way through first.
Can I add carbohydrates?
Yes. Serve with warm flatbreads, cooked basmati rice or boiled new potatoes for a bigger meal.
Is it gluten free?
It can be. Use a gluten free garam masala and chaat masala, and check the label on any shop bought pickled onions. The chicken and salad are otherwise gluten free.
More made with pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas)
Korean Style Bulgogi Burgers
NFFajitas de Hongos y Rajas (Mushroom and Pepper Fajitas)
DFEFNFTortas Ahogadas (Drowned Pork Sandwiches)
DFNFArroz con Camarones al Guajillo (Guajillo Prawn Rice)
DFEFNFSee every dish made with pickled red onions (cebollas encurtidas)
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.