Try out my delicious chicken tikka masala recipe: what a creamy Indian curry! And the perfect recipe if you want to show off some Indian cooking skills at home…
Who doesn’t love a good old curry dinner!
Oh I have had takeway curry before.
And it was a real treat.
However I also like to make Indian curries at home from scratch. I love cooking with spices. And cream! So yes, we often plan a curry night here. With all the trimming by the way.
Poppadums and naan, yogurt raita and chutney. The whole shebang.
Indian Curry Dinner
But wait!
Don’t let the long ingredients list of this chicken tikka masala recipe scare you away. Because you will really miss out on something terribly delicious and mouthwatering…
I have made this chicken tikka masala recipe like 5 times before but I was never really happy about the spices I used. Or the creaminess of the curry in the end.
Those days are over now because here is the perfect recipe then if you want to show off some Indian cooking skills at home.
Easy Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe
This tikka masala is a quick one pan dinner.
Because I don’t grill or marinate the chicken beforehand like in the traditional recipes. I have a phobia for dry overcooked chicken. And that is why I add the diced chicken straight to my curry sauce.
That will keep it juicy and moist.
Make a good spice base for your tomato sauce, simmer the diced chicken in the tikka masala sauce. And then in the end add yogurt and cream to the pan.
That deep orange color is fabulous!
Yogurt & Cream
This recipe below is how I like to make my chicken tikka masala best.
And I am sure that you will love it!
Do you love homemade Indian recipes?
Then you should also check out some other perfect side dishes: my homemade chapati bread for instance!
Or how about my buttery pilau rice, that is also a great side dish for this heavenly creamy tikka masala chicken curry…
Enjoy!
Easy Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe
Classic chicken tikka masala recipe: what a creamy Indian curry! And the perfect recipe if you want to show off some Indian cooking skills at home...
- 4 large fresh chicken breasts diced
- 1 small onion
- 3 medium garlic cloves
- 1- inch fresh ginger (2,5 cm)
- 2 tsp tikka masala spice mix
- 1 tbsp cardamom seeds
- 1 tsp cumin seeds or ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground turmeric
- 3 cloves
- 12,5 oz canned chopped tomatoes (400 g)
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 5,5 oz unsweetened yogurt (155 g)
- ½ cup cream (120 ml)
- ½ cup chicken stock (120 ml)
- 2 tsp caster sugar
- a handful fresh cilantro chopped
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- pepper
- salt
Peel the garlic, onion and ginger. Then add it all to a blender.
Blend until you get a fine paste. Then add the cumin seeds (or ground cumin), turmeric, cloves, cardamom seeds and tikka masala spice mix.
Pulse until you get a flavorful spice paste. Add the olive oil and butter to a large non-stick pan and place it over medium heat until the butter has melted. Then add the spice paste from the blender.
Stir fry the paste for 2 minutes. Then add the canned tomatoes and tomato paste.
Stir fry again for about 3 minutes. Then add the chicken stock.
Bring it to a light boil and then add the diced fresh chicken and sugar. Season with a good pinch of pepper and salt.
Stir all the ingredients well. Cover the pan and simmer the chicken in the tomato sauce for 7 minutes until nearly cooked through. Then stir in the yogurt and cream.
Stir well and cover the pan again for another 3 minutes. Then check the seasoning and add extra pepper, salt or sugar to taste if necessary. Also add the chopped cilantro.
Take the pan off the heat and scoop the hot masala chicken onto deep plates. Serve hot.
What does tikka masala taste like?
Tikka masala is a tomato and cream based sauce packed with a lot of spices.
It is a mildly spicy curry and tastes earthy.
The chicken has a chargrilled flavor that pairs perfectly with the creamy sauce.
Is chicken tikka masala spicy?
Chicken tikka masala is a mild curry dish with a creamy tomato base.
If you don’t like spicy dishes, then this tikka masala is just the curry that you want to make or order.
What is tikka masala vs curry?
Both very often contain the same seasonings so that is why both words are used interchangeably.
The difference is that curries most of the time are made with coconut milk or cream in it. However chicken tikka masala is made with cream and or yogurt.
Is tikka masala healthy?
Chicken tikka masala must be one of the most ordered dishes in Indian restaurants. Its creaminess and earthy spice blend flavor is what attracts us.
While many Indian dishes are vegetable based and low fat, the chicken tikka masala you enjoy in takeaways and restaurants is not for the faint hearted.
One average portion of tikka masala can contain up to 1000 calories thanks to the cream in it.
If you want to make it lighter, substitute the cream by yogurt.
But of course it won’t have the same creaminess.
Delicious! I had to use quark and 1/2 and 1/2 and a little lime juice to substitute for the heavy cream and yogurt I didn’t have on hand but I suppose it was close enough for this time. Are those Nigella seeds you used for the final picture? Thanks again June for a great recipe!
I have made Tikka Masala once and it was INcredible with flavor. Thanks for the reminder that I must make this again. Thanks June.