One chicken you can’t eat and not crave is the tandoori chicken. It is characterized by its red hue—derived from loads of chili or some food dye. It is referred to as tandoori chicken because it was grilled in a tandoor, but being diabetic, should we be having any of this great culinary masterpiece? Here is all you need to know about tandoori chicken for diabetics:
Tandoori chicken is a favorite among those who enjoy spicy food
Tandoori chicken is one of those Indian classics that slaps right each time. It is made with chicken thighs or legs (for they have just the right amount of fat that ensures the meat stays moist under the heat)—marinated overnight in masala spice, herbs, and yogurt—then grilled in a cylindrical clay oven.
The marinade does three things: tenderize, spice up, and flavor the chicken before it is passed into the tandoor, which is usually heated up with charcoal, wood chips, or wood fire. As the heat begins to work the chicken into that perfect final product—the juices that escape from the chicken end up on the hot charcoal—realizing that smoky flavor we all love.
However, you could still enjoy this great smoky flavor with any kind of heat source, be it a stovetop, oven, air fryer, or direct fire. All you need to do is toss in a wood coal as you heat the chicken.
Is tandoori chicken healthy?
Tandoori chicken is one of the healthiest chicken dishes you can have. The chicken supplies proteins, which are essential in building and maintaining muscles. Compared to butter chicken, tandoori chicken has a low-fat content, making it a great treat when trying to lose weight or regulate your weight.
Tandoori chicken has a low cholesterol content, making it a heart-friendly meal. Also, it has a minimal sodium content, contains good fats, is rich in antioxidants, and contains a good deal of dietary fiber (all thanks to the spices and herbs).
What should a diabetic meal consist of?
Carbohydrate digestion begins in the mouth as the salivary amylose begins the process, which spans through the stomach and intestine, after which the resulting glucose is absorbed into the bloodstream. This is where the entirety of your meal comes into place—to slow down how fast these glucose are absorbed—since our pancreas (whose work is to move glucose from the blood to the cells) may not be secreting the amount of insulin we need.
To prevent the diseases that could result from an excessive blood sugar spike like stroke, loss of vision, etc. A diabetic meal should be rich in macronutrients like fiber (complex carbs), proteins (takes 3-4 hours to digest, slowing down how fast the carbs are digested), or fats. According to Joslin.org, these nutrients are essential in regulating how quickly glucose is passed into the bloodstream.
Is tandoori chicken good for diabetes?
Tandoori chocolate is perfect for diabetics, especially when made at home, since commercial versions may feature processed flour. Diabetics could have a serving of this dish comfortably, as every other dietician-approved dish on their menu.
The chicken thigh used in this dish usually contain 8.1 grams of fat, of which only 1.95 grams are saturated fats; the rest are good fats (3.3 g of monounsaturated fat and 1.1 g of polyunsaturated fat). Fats, according to Healthline, can lead to stable glucose levels.
The yogurt used in marinating the chicken has a low glycemic index of 14, masala spices have 15, and chicken has zero—making tandoori chicken a perfect meal for diabetics.
Summing Up
Diabetics could enjoy tandoori chicken just like every other meal a dietician will approve for them; however, you should be cautious of your sides and ensure the carb content is kept in line with your ration for the day.
