Butter-less Chicken/Tikka Masala

Paleo version.  No dairy!

Cooked meat from 1 whole chicken*

1/2 cup cashews soaked in a couple cups hot water for 30 minutes

1 onion, chopped

2-3 cloves garlic, chopped

1 Tbsp. fresh ginger, grated

1 14.5-oz can coconut milk

1 14.5-oz can tomato sauce or chopped tomatoes

1 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. garam masala

5-7 drops liquid stevia

salt

coconut or olive oil

A couple teaspoons lemon juice

Heat oil in saucepan. Saute onion, garlic and ginger until soft. Add tomato sauce and coconut milk and spices. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes, stirring frequently.

Strain cashews and discard soaking water.  Puree cashews in blender with the tomato sauce/coconut milk mixture until creamy and smooth.  Return to the saucepan.

Add chicken to sauce and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 15 minutes until sauce has thickened and chicken is heated through.

Taste and adjust seasonings as necessary (I wait until this point to add the salt and lemon and stevia. 


*Simmer whole chicken with onion and celery in water until tender, remove meat from bones.