The Best Chicken Tikka Masala

Ingredients

• pounds bone-in chicken pieces , skin removed
• tablespoons toasted ground cumin
• tablespoons toasted paprika
• tablespoon toasted ground coriander seed
• teaspoon ground turmeric
• teaspoon cayenne pepper
• garlic, grated on the medium holes of a box grater, divided
• tablespoons fresh ginger, grated on the medium holes of a box grater, divided
• yogurt
• fresh juice from 4 to 6 lemons, divided
• Diamond Crystal kosher salt; for table salt, use about half as much by volume
• tablespoons butter or ghee
• large onion, thinly sliced
• can whole peeled tomatoes, roughly mashed
• roughly chopped cilantro leaves and tender stems
• heavy cream