Authentic Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe| Video - NISH KITCHEN (2024)

Skip the takeaway and jazz up your dinner with this delicious, flavorful and authentic chicken tikka masala recipe. It’s all about grilled chicken pieces in a rich tomato-based sauce for a lip-smacking meal you’ll want again and again. Serve this with naan or rice, and pappadums for an awesome, flavor-packed meal!

Authentic Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe| Video - NISH KITCHEN (1)

Even though life is super busy these days, sometimes I try to find time to cook and enjoy classic recipes. This is the kind of comfort food that make me feel at home. And I want to enjoy this day with a big bowl of this chicken tikka masala and obviously, a big, fluffy naan to dunk in that rich, colourful sauce. A super satisfying, comforting meal, indeed!

Obviously, this chicken tikka masala paired with rice or naan makes for a simple dinner. However, it’s also perfect when you want to throw a party.

This authentic chicken tikka masala recipe is all aboutchicken cooked in a delicately spiced sauce. The tomato based sauce makes this absolutely lip-smacking. There are a few tomato based curries in Indian cuisine. I’m talking butter chicken, paneer butter masala and this tikka masala curry. To be honest, it’s hard to pick a favorite.

Authentic Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe| Video - NISH KITCHEN (2)

This curry is not a simple recipe. And not a quick one at all. In fact, it’s a three step process that involves marinating the chicken, grilling the tikkas and lastly preparing the curry. Ok, let’s go through each and every step in detail.

The recipe for this chicken tikka masala starts with marinating the chicken pieces. Actually, the marination itself is a two-step process. First, chicken is marinated with salt and lemon juice for ten minutes. Then it’s marinated with a mixture of garlic, ginger, cumin, ground coriander, garam masala, chili powder, paprika, and yogurt for another two hours. A tad of oil keeps it moist while grilling.

Now the grilling. Well, this is the best part of the recipe. Thread the chicken pieces onto skewers and grill them. Just sit back and relax until they are done. Or you can start making the sauce.

Authentic Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe| Video - NISH KITCHEN (3)

To make the sauce, throw in some onions into hot oil and sauté until lightly browned. Add ginger and let it release all its awesome flavors. Next, all the ground spices – turmeric, coriander, paprika and chili powder – goes in. The tomato paste and the canned tomatoes give this curry its beautiful red color. Substitute the canned tomatoes with fresh ones if you like. Finely chop two large tomatoes and add it to the curry to make thick sauce. Canned tomatoes are more convenient, so I decided to go that way.

Add cream to make the sauce rich and luscious. Finally, a touch of garam masala and plenty of coriander (cilantro) leaves. And the tender grilled chicken goes into the sauce to make lip-smacking chicken tikka masala.

Doesn’t this authentic chicken tikka masala recipesound totally delicious?

Authentic Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe| Video - NISH KITCHEN (4)

Make this chicken tikka masala in Instant Pot – Recipe here.

More Authentic Indian Recipes

  • Fish Tikka Masala
  • Chicken Tikka
  • Butter Chicken
  • Tandoori Chicken
  • Chicken Lollipop
  • Chicken Vindaloo
  • Chicken Madras
  • Chicken Jalfrezi
  • Chicken Korma
  • Lamb Rogan Josh
  • Paneer Butter Masala

Authentic Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe| Video - NISH KITCHEN (5)

Jazz up your dinner with this flavor-packed curry.

Prep Time30 minutes

Cook Time45 minutes

Total Time1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

  • 600 g chicken thigh fillets, cut into cubes
  • Marinate Chicken:
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 6 garlic cloves
  • 3 cm piece fresh ginger
  • 1 ½ tsp cumin seeds
  • ½ tsp ground coriander, coriander powder
  • ½ tsp garam masala
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp red chili powder
  • 2 tbsp yogurt
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • Salt to taste

CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA:

  • 2 tbsp oil
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1 tsp minced ginger, ginger paste
  • ½ tsp ground turmeric, turmeric powder
  • 2 tsp ground coriander, coriander powder
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp red chili powder
  • 1 tbsp tomato puree, tomato paste
  • ¼ cup canned tomatoes or 2 medium tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • ¾ cup fresh cream
  • ¼ tsp garam masala
  • A handful coriander, cilantro leaves, chopped
  • Salt to taste
  • Water
  • Naan or rice, to serve

Instructions

  1. Place chicken pieces in a large bowl. Rub with lemon juice and enough salt. Marinate for 10 minutes in the refrigerator.
  2. Meanwhile, place garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander, garam masala, chili powder, paprika and yogurt in a blender. Process until smooth. Add this paste to the bowl of chicken. Add in oil and mix well. Marinate for at least 30 minutes or overnight if possible.
  3. When you are ready, preheat grill. Thread the chicken pieces onto skewers. Grill, turning occasionally, for 15 – 20 minutes or until cooked through. Remove chicken from skewers. Set aside.
  4. Meanwhile heat oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add onions. Saute for 2-3 minutes or until lightly browned. Add ginger. Saute until aromatic. Add ground turmeric, ground coriander, paprika and red chili powder. Saute for a minute. Add tomato paste and fry for a few seconds. Now add in the tomatoes. Saute until they are soft and mushy. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 2-3 minutes.
  5. Add lemon juice and cream. Add in enough water to make a thick sauce. Season with salt. Simmer, stirring occasionally, for 3-4 minutes. Add more water if needed.
  6. Add garam masala and coriander (cilantro) leaves. Heat through. Stir in the grilled chicken. Garnish with more coriander leaves if you like. Serve with naan, roti or rice.

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

4 Servings

Amount Per ServingCalories 403Total Fat 57gSaturated Fat 18gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 37gCholesterol 243mgSodium 752mgCarbohydrates 47gFiber 11gSugar 7gProtein 45g

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Like this authentic chicken tikka masala recipe? Then join Nish Kitchen on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram or YouTube. Also, check out:

  • Chicken Tikka Kebab
  • Chicken Tikka Rice Bowl
  • Chicken Tikka Biryani
Authentic Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe| Video - NISH KITCHEN (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between chicken masala and tikka masala? ›

Masala is a sauce made with cream, yoghurt, tomatoes, or spices to add flavour to the food. Butter Chicken contains shredded, nugget-sized pieces of chicken heated in the tandoor, and it tends to be creamier and sweeter than regular chicken curry with heavier spices. On the other hand, Tikka masala is smoky and spicy.

Is tikka masala an authentic Indian dish? ›

Chicken tikka masala is said to have been invented in Britain – but its origins are ancient, and lie in the Indian subcontinent.

What makes tikka masala taste good? ›

To summarise, Indian chicken tikka masala has fresh flavors due to the use of fresh tomatoes. It's creamy, rich and delicious and won't make you feel bloated as there is a very small amount of cream used. Cashews impart a magical creamy texture and flavour without making you feel heavy.

Why is restaurant tikka masala red? ›

That bright red sadly comes from Food Dyes like Red 40. Growing up, I never even realized this, but in recent years when I picked up a jar of pre-mixed Tandoori spice blend and read the ingredients – there it was – Red 40 right in the ingredient listing.

Is tikka masala unhealthy? ›

But like many Indian dishes that were originally low fat, the modern recipe for chicken tikka masala is anything but. An average portion has whopping 1,249 calories and 90.8 grams of fat. A lot of that comes from the ghee and heavy cream.

Which is healthier, butter chicken or tikka masala? ›

Regarding nutrition, Butter Chicken and Tikka Masala are high in calories, fat, and sodium. Butter Chicken has more fat and calories than Tikka Masala due to the use of cream and butter in the sauce. However, Tikka Masala has more sodium than Butter Chicken due to the use of canned tomato puree.

Do Indians like chicken tikka masala? ›

Tikka masala has dietary and regional variations and is a popular Indian dish. Tikka masala is another name of chicken tikka masala. We make this spice curry with tender roasted marinated chicken chunks. Anyone can enjoy this delicious dish anytime as it serves hot in Indian restaurants.

What do Indians call butter chicken? ›

Butter chicken, traditionally known as murgh makhani (pronounced [mʊrɣ ˈməkʰaːni]), is an Indian dish originating in Delhi. It is a type of curry made from chicken with a spiced tomato and butter (makhan) sauce. Its sauce is known for its rich texture.

What ethnicity is chicken tikka masala? ›

Chicken tikka is an Indian dish. The masala sauce was added to satisfy the desire of British people to have their meat served in gravy.

What to add to shop bought tikka masala? ›

Add more spices: Store-bought curry sauces often lack the depth of flavour that homemade sauces have. To remedy this, you can add more spices like cumin, turmeric, coriander, and garam masala. Use fresh ginger and garlic: Fresh ginger and garlic add a lot of flavour to curries.

What is the correct way to eat tikka masala? ›

My friends taught me how to properly eat chicken tikka masala, and now I'll break down the steps for you:
  1. Serve some chicken with gravy on your plate. ...
  2. Split the bread with your hand and use that piece to grab the chicken.
  3. Take it directly to your mouth. ...
  4. Try it with rice.
Apr 4, 2020

Why is my chicken tikka masala bitter? ›

Your curry can taste bitter if the spices and garlic are burnt or if you've added too much fenugreek to the dish.

How do restaurants make curry so creamy? ›

The actual sweetness and creaminess of such curries meanwhile, usually comes from fried onions and either cashews and/or dairy products. Instead of (or in addition to) onion, ground coconut may be used. White poppy seeds and/or watermelon seeds are also used in some creamy sauces.

What's the difference between masala and tikka masala? ›

Tikka refers to grilled or roasted pieces of meat that are either marinated in yogurt or spiced water before being cooked on skewers. Masala refers to a sauce made with cream, yogurt, or tomatoes; or a mixture of spices used to flavor food.

What do you eat with chicken tikka? ›

A variety of sides go well with chicken tikka kebabs. Think about serving them with rice, cucumber raita, or naan bread. A side salad or chutney can also work well to accentuate the flavours.

Is tikka masala spicier than curry? ›

Boneless chicken traditionally baked in a tandoor oven then coated in a creamy tomato sauce, the tikka masala combines the creaminess of milder curries with a hint of spice from hotter variants to form the perfect medium dish.

Is chicken tikka masala sweet or spicy? ›

Tikka Masala is a mildly spicy, earthy, curry dish with a creamy tomato sauce. Traditionally, it contains Kashmiri chili, which is a type of chili pepper grown in the Kashmir region of India. It's bright red in color and has a very mild spice level. Many restaurant versions, however, offer mild, medium or spicy curry.

Is chicken tikka masala mild or hot? ›

Make this chicken tikka masala recipe your own…

I don't like really sweet curries so I keep the sugar to a minimum. There is no reason why you can't add more to taste though. This is a curry that is also quite mild. If you prefer a spicier curry, try adding some chopped green bird's eye chillies.

Is tikka masala always with chicken? ›

Recipes can vary from place to place and restaurant to restaurant, but it is typically always served with hunks of chicken that are marinated in spices and yogurt and then served in a creamy curry sauce.

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