If you love to indulge in curries, I can bet that you’re about to try a bowl of tikka masala and that’s why you want to know if it’s spicy enough.
Tikka masala is a sauce made with tomato, cream, and a lot of spices. Some of these spices are hot and some are not. But, the variety of spices comes together to make a spicy and delicious curry.
There’s more to know about this curry – its spice level, the health benefits of eating tikka masala, and how to make this curry. Read about all these details in this article.
What is tikka masala?
Tikka masala is an Indian creamy sauce prepared with small chunks of meat (usually chicken).
The chicken chunks are roasted, marinated, and tossed in creamy orange sauce.
Tikka masala, commonly called, chicken tikka masala, became popular because of Indian cooks who lived in Britain. The popularity of the meal continues to grow globally.
Is tikka masala spicy?
Yes, tikka masala is a spicy curry dish. The base of tikka masala is tomato, cream, and a lot of spices.
Tikka masala is mildly spicy and if put on a scale of 1 to 10, it’ll fall within the range of 4 to 6
Tikka masala vs butter chicken
Butter chicken is less spicy than tikka masala. Tikka masala contains yogurt which makes it more tender and juicier than butter chicken. Although, butter chicken has a creamier texture.
Garam masala vs tikka masala
Garam masala is spicier than tikka masala. It is a mix of spices that is mostly used as a finishing spice. It’s added to meals for extra flavor.
Tikka masala, on the other hand, is a curry that often combines garam masala with other spices.
What you can eat with tikka masala
If you are confused about what to eat your tikka masala with, here are some good options:
- Steamed basmati rice
- Salad with crunchy leafy greens
- Fried cheesy potatoes
- Crunchy vegetable samosas
- Mango chutney
- Creamy raita
Health benefits of tikka masala
Tikka Masala offers numerous health benefits. It is high in protein, which comes primarily from chicken.
Protein is used by the body to repair and heal tissues, grow hair and nails, and control blood pressure. It also helps the body get rid of bad cholesterol and lose weight.
Also, protein is a key building block for muscles, cartilage, bones, skin, and blood in the body.
Furthermore, tikka masala is a good source of vitamins and minerals. It contains B vitamins, which can help fight off infections, prevent cataracts and skin problems, keep your digestion in check, and get rid of body weaknesses.
Also, the iron in chicken is very helpful because it helps make red blood cells, keeps muscles working, and gets rid of anemia.
Finally, the potassium in the chicken helps the body with bone health, brain function, and problems with your metabolism.
How to make tikka masala
To make tikka masala, you need the following ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 25g of butter
- 4 roughly chopped onions
- 6 tbsp paste chicken tikka masala
- 2 red peppers, deseeded and chopped
- 8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, 2.5cm cubes
- 2 cans of chopped tomatoes (400g)
- 4 tablespoons tomato purée
- 2-3 tablespoons mango chutney
- 150ml double cream
- 150ml plain yogurt
To make tikka masala, melt the butter and vegetable oil in a large, covered casserole over medium heat, then add the onions and a pinch of salt. Cook for 15-20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender and golden.
Next is to cook for 5 minutes more to cook out the rawness of the spices after adding the tikka masala paste and peppers. Stir in the chicken breasts to coat them with the paste.
After 2 minutes, add the diced tomatoes, tomato purée, and 200ml water. Cover and cook for 15 minutes, stirring periodically, until the chicken is cooked thoroughly.
Remove the cover and slowly reheat through the mango chutney, double cream, and natural yogurt. Season everything, then set aside anything you wish to freeze.
FAQs
Does chicken tikka help you lose weight?
Yes, it can. Chicken tikka masala provides enough protein that reduces weight and increases lean body mass.
Is chicken tikka masala gluten-free?
Yes, it is. All chicken tikka masala recipes do not contain any gluten ingredients.
Is there a spicier curry than tikka masala?
Yes, dopiaza, which means “double onion” in Spanish, is a spicier alternative to tikka masala.
Conclusion
Tikka masala is mildly spicy. However, it is up to you to decide how spicy you want your tikka masala to be. You can modify ingredients to reduce the level of spice.
If you find tikka masala too spicy, use butter chicken instead. Also, if tikka masala is not spicy enough for you, go for garam masala.
I hope you found this article resourceful.
Thanks for reading.
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