Monday, February 28, 2011

Tefal ActiFry Review Part 2 Chicken Tikka Masala


I love the Tefal Actifry, it has so much more to offer than just being used as a healthy chip fryer. I wanted to add more than one review just to give a sense of what it can do and it pushes me to. Of course it makes chips.

If you do want to read about the chips and as this is possibly what a lot of people expect from the Actifry then I did a full review. They are much more tasty  than I imagined you can read my full Actifry review here

To justify the machine taking up a good part of the worktop, I want to use it lots.

So far we have made the chips and what I love is that everybody wants to use it and its safe to use.
Being that the paddle, bowl and even the clear lid are dishwasher safe, I find walking into the kitchen after its been on a pleasure  the kids and hubby have even cleared up as its so easy.

Back to my curry, sorry I keep raving on about the features, still in the honeymoon phase!

So I picked up the recipe book that accompanies the Actifry and started to flick. As you are aware from the blog I love spicy foods and comfort foods so I was looking for something warming and landed on the Chicken Tikka Masala.

Now we all know this is usually the dish that has a dieter crashing out on months of hard sit ups and celery chomping. Not with the Actifry. No ghee, butter or cream, It mentions vegetable oil but I  just adapted from veg oil to 1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil  oil for a Healthy Extra B
If you are interested in the Nutritional info I have it here, I do not seem to check so hope this is good.
Carbs 11g Fat 5.9g Sodium 0.1g Protein 23.2g

Ingredients
500g boneless chicken cut into 2cm pieces
100g Tikka Masala curry paste.
( I have since made my own paste so if anybody wants it let me know)
300g low fat yogurt
 1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive oil or Fry Light
1 large onion finely chopped
can of chopped tomatoes
1/4 pt 150 ml water
 **2 tsp lemon (next time I made I used 1 tsp)
Bunch of chopped coriander.

** Syn free for Slimming World is  2- 3 tsps tikka curry powder mixed with  fat free yogurt (more if required)
and only 1 tbsp olive oil (hexb)**

Method
Ina large bowl mix the tikka paste and yogurt. Add chicken and marinate for at least to hours, or overnight this is a better flavour I find.

Heat the oil in the Actifry for 2 minutes, add the onion and cook for 5 minutes. If using Fry light I spray the chicken a few times once its in the Actifry. Add the chicken and cook for 10 minutes.
Add the tomatoes and water stir well and cook for a further 10 minutes.


Add the yogurt and lemon, I skipped the sugar and note I halved the lemon, I also think it would be fine without.
Stir well and cook for 5 minutes.
Serve with the chopped coriander and rice or naan bread.


It tastes as good as it looks again the aroma is nicely contained apart from tantalising whiffs as I lifted the lid to add the next stage. Its lovely and quick and nice to just potter about not having to stir or adjust heat etc.
I imagine a slow cooker to be similar in the pop it in and let it cook, though Chris insists I have a slow cooker...yes you guessed it, him!


Just to make you drool I made some  Spicy Actifry chips for 4 today for lunch with a one tablespoon of extra virgin oil and West Indian Seasoning. Hot and spicy and not unhealthy!!


 These are not in the book, I'm starting to get the hang of what I can cook and methods to make this a worthwhile kitchen appliance to have.

For £107 at Curry's as I was told it costs by a blogger on Twitter, its fast  becoming a very reasonable  piece of kitchen kit.

If you want to read all the specifications and look at the models take another look at my review for Actifry and Chips Part 1

I have been offered a recipe by another blogger too for Empanadas a pastry filled with seafood and rather than being deep fried can be made in the Actifry. Its a Chilean recipe and when I get it I will try to add here too.

For other gadgets check out the Dirt Devil Review and take a peek at the Home Sense Cupcake maker too.
Coming soon I'm reviewing Gordon Ramsay's Cooks Jug blender and more.

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