My Wedding... - Chicken Tikka Masala

Money and Purification.

I can’t believe I’m getting married. There are hundreds of people here and my house is decorated so beautifully with lights and marigolds hanging from the walls. I do hope that the electricity doesn’t go out today and that dad bought a generator just in case! The music is blaring and all my favourite tracks are playing and I’ve made the DJ play chitiyan kalaiyan every five songs.

My brother and sister will be performing a traditional dance dedicated to us which I’m looking forward to, and I’ve also prepared a special dance especially for Suraj which I hope he will enjoy. We have many people taking photos but my father insisted on arranging this photographer he knows from work who has been taking hundreds of photos of us throughout the night. He even clicked some of me while I was getting ready.

I hope nothing goes wrong and that everyone has a good time. Last year at my friend’s wedding everyone was so bored and the food was absolutely horrendous. To avoid that I even made some of the dishes myself and hopefully people will love it and my secret spices do the trick.

Yesterday we had the mehendi (henna) ceremony and I had the most beautiful net design all over my hands and feet. The festivities are on in full swing and I would not change everything. These past months I have really come to know Suraj. He is really sweet but he is definitely a mama's boy. He won't do anything she doesn't approve of and is afraid of standing his own ground. This has me really worried. She doesn't seem to like me too much and it also means there is no chance of us getting our own place. I really hope everything turns out fine and my spices stick with me to the very end. I made Chicken Tikka Masala today for the wedding and have used turmeric which is a traditional spice signifying purification. I was even coated with it yesterday to purify myself at the start of this sacred bond. I have also added cloves for money because I have understood that as long as we have money, I will get some freedom.

Some last minute preparations before our ceremony begins. My face hurts from smiling so much, and I don’t know for how much longer I can keep this up. It’s hard work getting married. I watched a movie recently where the couple got married in Las Vegas by ‘Elvis’. Apparently this is common in America for people who want a no fuss wedding. They only have a small entourage of guests, and the ceremony is generally quick and straightforward. At the end of it all, everyone goes out onto the town and celebrates. I can never see that ever taking off here, never. Indian parents would never allow it.

Everything is in place and ready to go now.

Ingredients

• 1 cup yogurt

• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

• 2 tsp ground cumin

• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

• 2 tsp cayenne pepper

• 2 tsp black pepper

• 1 tbsp fresh minced ginger

• salt to taste

• 3 chicken breasts cut to pieces

• 4 skewers

• 1 tbsp butter

• 1 clove garlic minced

• 2 tsp paprika

• 1 can tomato sauce

• 1 cup cream

• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Method

• In a large bowl, combine yogurt, lemon juice, 2 teaspoons cumin, cinnamon, cayenne, black pepper, ginger, and 4 teaspoons salt. Stir in chicken, cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour.

• Preheat a grill for high heat.

• Lightly oil the grill grate. Thread chicken onto skewers, and discard marinade. Grill until juices run clear, about 5 minutes on each side.

• Melt butter in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Saute garlic and jalapeno for 1 minute. Season with 2 teaspoons cumin, paprika, and 3 teaspoons salt. Stir in tomato sauce and cream. Simmer on low heat until sauce thickens, about 20 minutes. Add grilled chicken, and simmer for 10 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter, and garnish with fresh cilantro.

#chickentikkamasala #arrangedmarriage #marriageday #clove #money #purification #turmeri