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Tandoori Wing Sauce

By Bryan Roof

Published on January 20, 2026

Time

25 minutes

Yield

Makes ¾ cup sauce (enough to sauce 3½ pounds of wings)

Tandoori Wing Sauce

Ingredients

4 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 garlic cloves, minced1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon garam masala ¾ teaspoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon pepper ½ teaspoon ground cardamom ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon ½ cup plain whole-milk yogurt ¼ cup chopped cilantro leaves and stems1 tablespoon lemon juice

Before You Begin

For a spicier sauce, increase the cayenne to ¾ teaspoon.

Instructions

  1. Melt 4 tablespoons unsalted butter in small saucepan over medium heat. Add 2 minced garlic cloves and 1 teaspoon grated ginger and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon garam masala, ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, ½ teaspoon cardamom, ¼ teaspoon cayenne, and ¼ teaspoon cinnamon and cook for 10 seconds; remove from heat and let cool 5 minutes. Whisk ½ cup plain whole-milk yogurt, ¼ cup chopped cilantro, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and butter mixture together in large bowl. (Sauce can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.) Add wings and toss to combine. Serve.
Tandoori Wing Sauce
Photography by Steve Klise. Styling by Christine Tobin.

Tandoori Wing Sauce

Headshot of Bryan Roof
By Bryan Roof

Published on January 20, 2026

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Time

25 minutes

Yield

Makes ¾ cup sauce (enough to sauce 3½ pounds of wings)

Ingredients

4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon garam masala
¾ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon ground cardamom
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ cup plain whole-milk yogurt
¼ cup chopped cilantro leaves and stems
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Ingredients

4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon garam masala
¾ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon ground cardamom
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ cup plain whole-milk yogurt
¼ cup chopped cilantro leaves and stems
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Ingredients

4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon garam masala
¾ teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon ground cardamom
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ cup plain whole-milk yogurt
¼ cup chopped cilantro leaves and stems
1 tablespoon lemon juice

Why This Recipe Works

This yogurt- and butter-based sauce with garlic, ginger, garam masala, and cardamom brings big tandoori-style flavor to wings.

Before You Begin

For a spicier sauce, increase the cayenne to ¾ teaspoon.

Instructions

  1. Melt 4 tablespoons unsalted butter in small saucepan over medium heat. Add 2 minced garlic cloves and 1 teaspoon grated ginger and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon garam masala, ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, ½ teaspoon cardamom, ¼ teaspoon cayenne, and ¼ teaspoon cinnamon and cook for 10 seconds; remove from heat and let cool 5 minutes. Whisk ½ cup plain whole-milk yogurt, ¼ cup chopped cilantro, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and butter mixture together in large bowl. (Sauce can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.) Add wings and toss to combine. Serve.

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