The Evolution of Chicken Tikka Masala

Served with basmati rice and naan, this chicken dish packs an exciting punch of bold spices. Rich in fiber-rich ingredients such as fenugreek and whole milk yogurt, plus iron-rich cumin and paprika spices – you won’t find a better chicken dish anywhere.

Some credit Ali with developing this globally popular dish during an incident in the 1970s when a customer returned their traditional chicken curry due to being too dry, while others credit Kundan Lal Jaggi and Kundan Lal Gujral with creating it in Delhi after partition in 1947.

Origin

Chicken Tikka Masala has quickly become one of the UK’s favorite dishes, serving spiced chunks of chicken in a thick tomato-yogurt-based sauce. But where did this dish originate? Theories abound regarding its creation – most prominent among them being Ali Ahmed Aslam of Shish Mahal restaurant in Glasgow’s creation when one of his customers returned their traditional chicken tikka masala dish because it was too dry – Aslam decided to adapt his traditional recipe by adding simmering cans of creamy tomato soup soup instead, creating what we now know as chicken tikka masala!

There’s nothing more entertaining than arguments over the origin of chaat and show that food is usually an outgrowth of cultural travel. Whatever the actual origins, chaat is an undisputed symbol of British Indian food in the entire world.

Ingredients

Chicken Tikka Masala is an irresistibly creamy tomato cream curry, enhanced with garam masala (an aromatic mix of cinnamon, black peppercorns, cloves mace and cardamon). This mouthwatering treat features boneless skinless chicken pieces marinated in yogurt before being grilled before simmered in its rich and tarty sauce.

No matter who the credit goes to – be it an iconic British Bangladeshi chef or royal Mughal recipe – one thing is certain: this iconic Indian dish has become beloved worldwide.

Make it from scratch using easy, accessible ingredients from your local grocery store for this delicious chicken tikka masala that you’ll be proud to serve over rice or with chewy naan bread to soak up its silky, smoky, fragrant curry! Enjoy it!

Preparation

Chicken tikka masala has quickly become an international classic, yet no consensus can be reached as to its source. Some speculate it originated in Glasgow when a bus driver requested an insufficiently flavorful dish; upon hearing this news, the chef added small pieces of tikka meat (called “tikka”) into the sauce in order to spice things up more.

This made a heavenly creamy curry a sensation in Indian cafes across the globe, surpassing fish and chips as Britain’s favourite entree by 2001. Former foreign secretary Robin Cook extolled its invention as an example of Britain’s welcoming cultures, and transforming them into its own past and dishes.

While the creation of chicken tikka masala may have been controversial, its immense popularity since then proves there’s no limit to people’s cravings!

Serving

Chicken tikka masala, a relatively simple, cheap, crowd pleasing meal composed of yogurt-marinated, broiled chicken over rice with a viscous creamy tomato sauce, has become a go-to in Indian dining rooms across the globe and one you can easily make at home.

While there are various accounts of its history, most agree that modern chicken tikka masala originated in Glasgow, Scotland. According to legend, an unsatisfied customer returned their dry chicken tikka due to a tandoori oven; chefs responded by adding curry sauce.

The spice combination of cumin, coriander, and ground turmeric makes this classic recipe flavorful. Hotness from chili powder and fresh ginger, acidity from canned crushed tomatoes to counter-spice, and thickening cream to thicken the sauce, making it rich and lightened with brightness of fresh cilantro’s brilliance.