Fiery Chicken Tikka

Transform ordinary chicken into an extraordinary meal with this Red Tears Hot Sauce marinade. The perfect blend of heat, acidity, and subtle sweetness creates chicken that's tender, juicy, and packed with flavour in every bite.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Marination Time: 4-8 hours

Cooking Time: 25-30 minutes

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients:

• 4 chicken breasts (or 8 thighs)
• 1/4 cup Red Tears Hot Sauce
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 tablespoon ajwain/carom
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt
• Lemon wedges for serving

The Science Behind the Sauce: Red Tears Hot Sauce creates the perfect marinade base thanks to its apple cider vinegar and lemon juice content, which naturally tenderizes the meat. The sauce's honey content, combined with extra honey in the marinade, ensures beautiful caramelization during cooking, while its blend of chillies provides both heat and depth of flavour.

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, whisk together Red Tears Hot Sauce, olive oil, honey, crushed garlic, thyme, pepper, and salt.
2. Place chicken in a large zip-top bag or container and pour the marinade over, ensuring even coating.
3. Refrigerate for 4-8 hours (don't exceed 8 hours due to the marinade's acidity).
4. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking to come to room temperature.
5. Preheat grill or oven to 190°C.
6. For grilling: 6-7 minutes per side for breasts, 5-6 minutes for thighs For oven: 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through

Serve hot with:

• Roasted vegetables
• Fresh salad
• Rice Pulao
• Grilled corn
• Lemon wedges

Chef's Tips:

• For extra juicy chicken, brine it in saltwater for 1 hour before marinating
• Save some marinade before adding raw chicken to brush on during cooking
• Let the chicken rest for 5-10 minutes after cooking
• For spicier results, add an extra tablespoon of Red Tears Hot Sauce

Storage: Store any leftover cooked chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The flavors often deepen overnight, making it perfect for next-day lunch salads or sandwiches.

and that's it. Enjoy!