Tikka Masala

marbles · 07-12-2021, 11:00 AM

We really love Tikka Masala but I'm a beginner to cooking Indian food. I use jarred sauce but it's never spicy like we like it. I am trying to add spice to it but I can't ever get it quite right. It's good, and I can get it mildly spicy, but I found that adding too much of the same cayenne means I then have to balance with other spices. What spices and chilies do you use to add more flavor and heat?

rdsmommy · 07-12-2021, 12:17 PM

I’ve never made this but maybe red pepper flakes or dried guajillo or ancho peppers. Those both have some flavor and not just heat.

twoplustwo · 07-12-2021, 01:41 PM

I have the same problem with my curry. I can only get it mildly spicy and anything more and its not the right blend.

Laurlor · 07-12-2021, 04:05 PM

I don't think of Tikka Masala as being too spicy but I think I'd try any red chili like cayenne.

I'm a total recipe person so what I'd do is google a bunch of recipes and see how the spices you're using matches up with a well-reviewed recipe, like this one.

I love Indian food! Good luck!

Soliloquy · 07-12-2021, 06:23 PM

I haven't made this one but I love the recipes from Nagi at Recipe Tin Eats.

https://www.recipetineats.com/chicken-tikka-masala/

Singingmom · 07-12-2021, 06:30 PM

https://www.thelazygeniuscollective.com/blog/fctm

I haven’t made it, but if the Lazy Genius loves it I would give it a try.

arelyn · 07-12-2021, 08:19 PM

Do you have an Indian grocery store nearby? They will sell bags of bright red chili powder. This is totally different from what Americans call chili powder. This is what is used to add heat. A little bit goes a LOOOOOONG way so start slow to find out how much will give you the kick you want. You can also simmer it with a whole green chili sliced in half (not jalepeno). This is more unpredictable though. Sometimes it does very little, sometimes it renders your food inedible.

marbles · 07-12-2021, 08:49 PM

Perfect I'll try that! I add cayenne and red pepper flakes and once a dried pepper someone gave me but I have to add like tablespoons of the cayenne and then it just tastes like cayenne. And there's just not anything else. But I have not been to an Indian grocery store. TBH I'm a little intimidated to go and not really know what I'm looking for

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AlishaRose · 07-13-2021, 09:14 AM

Can you buy birds eye chillies? I don’t think I’ve ever had a problem with anything not being spicy enough after I use those!

arelyn · 07-13-2021, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marbles

Perfect I'll try that! I add cayenne and red pepper flakes and once a dried pepper someone gave me but I have to add like tablespoons of the cayenne and then it just tastes like cayenne. And there's just not anything else. But I have not been to an Indian grocery store. TBH I'm a little intimidated to go and not really know what I'm looking for

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Just walk through the aisles slowly until you see the bags of spices. They are usually clear plastic with the name and a picture of Lakshmi on them. They are almost always labeled with English letters. Chili is actually from Hindi so no need worry about translation. If you ask about it though they might not beleive you and give you something else cause everyone knows Amriki loge can't do spicy food.

While you are there look for the junk food and grab a bright orange bag labeled Kurkure. Not one bit healthy but delicious and spicy. Best served alongside sweet milky tea.

And no shame on the jarred masala paste. My husband uses it for Tikka Masala and Chicken Makhani and many of them are authentic (some not so much).

marbles · 07-13-2021, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlishaRose

Can you buy birds eye chillies? I don’t think I’ve ever had a problem with anything not being spicy enough after I use those!

I haven't seen them before but I'll look and give it a try

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ViolaMum · 07-13-2021, 01:47 PM

When I first wanted to learn to cook Indian food I was ever so fortunate to have a student whose parents were Indian and his mom was a fabulous cook. She would send me things to try during his lessons and then took me into her kitchen and showed me how she made some of her staples - basic curries and samosas. She used serrano chilis for heat - they're smaller and hotter than jalapenos, have a similar shape and just as readily available in US supermarkets. Habaneros and Scotch Bonnets are another option. (Habaneros are the ones that look like mini wrinkled bell peppers.) Generally speaking, the smaller the spicier.

The dairy in the recipe dulls the heat, which makes it tricky.

You could try a spicier Garam Masala as well as hot paprika instead of sweet. (I tend to use smoked paprika, but my family is only a moderate spice crowd.)

A bit of Trivia - legend has it that Chicken Tikka Masala was actually created in the UK. (Glasgow, I think?)

marbles · 07-13-2021, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ViolaMum

When I first wanted to learn to cook Indian food I was ever so fortunate to have a student whose parents were Indian and his mom was a fabulous cook. She would send me things to try during his lessons and then took me into her kitchen and showed me how she made some of her staples - basic curries and samosas. She used serrano chilis for heat - they're smaller and hotter than jalapenos, have a similar shape and just as readily available in US supermarkets. Habaneros and Scotch Bonnets are another option. (Habaneros are the ones that look like mini wrinkled bell peppers.) Generally speaking, the smaller the spicier.

The dairy in the recipe dulls the heat, which makes it tricky.

You could try a spicier Garam Masala as well as hot paprika instead of sweet. (I tend to use smoked paprika, but my family is only a moderate spice crowd.)

A bit of Trivia - legend has it that Chicken Tikka Masala was actually created in the UK. (Glasgow, I think?)

I can get serranos! I used to have habaneros but we don't have them this year. I've heard that, that chicken Tikka masala is more a combination of two dishes or something. Either way, it's really good. I've tried cooking a couple other things and liked them all, but I'm trying to build slowly!

I have so much to go on now!

arelyn · 07-13-2021, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marbles

I've heard that, that chicken Tikka masala is more a combination of two dishes or something.

So if I go to a dhaba (street food place) and ask for chicken tikka I will get a stick with pieces of chicken on it served with a spicy green mint sauce. Chicken tikka masala is when the restaurant takes the left over kababs, makes a sauce with masala (spice) and serves it by the bowl full with rice or roti.

Habaneros and paprika would taste wrong in my opinion (though food is a very regional thing so people in other places may disagree). Serranos should be very similar to green chilies.

marbles · 07-13-2021, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arelyn

So if I go to a dhaba (street food place) and ask for chicken tikka I will get a stick with pieces of chicken on it served with a spicy green mint sauce. Chicken tikka masala is when the restaurant takes the left over kababs, makes a sauce with masala (spice) and serves it by the bowl full with rice or roti.

Habaneros and paprika would taste wrong in my opinion (though food is a very regional thing so people in other places may disagree). Serranos should be very similar to green chilies.

I've mostly had habaneros in combination with sweet things, which is why I never tried it. I didn't think they would go. I used some smoked paprika this time on the chicken and I didn't really notice a difference, but I didn't use a lot and anyway it isn't spicy.

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07-12-2021, 11:00 AM	#1
marbles Rose Garden Our Family Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: South Carolina Posts: 5,047	Tikka Masala We really love Tikka Masala but I'm a beginner to cooking Indian food. I use jarred sauce but it's never spicy like we like it. I am trying to add spice to it but I can't ever get it quite right. It's good, and I can get it mildly spicy, but I found that adding too much of the same cayenne means I then have to balance with other spices. What spices and chilies do you use to add more flavor and heat? __________________ Mary K wife to Daniel for 16 years mom to 13 year old the Girl and 11 year old the Boy and 8 year old Tiny Almost always posting from my phone.

07-12-2021, 12:17 PM	#2
rdsmommy Rose Trellis Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 1,507	Re: Tikka Masala I’ve never made this but maybe red pepper flakes or dried guajillo or ancho peppers. Those both have some flavor and not just heat.

07-12-2021, 01:41 PM	#3
twoplustwo Moderator Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 6,547	Re: Tikka Masala I have the same problem with my curry. I can only get it mildly spicy and anything more and its not the right blend. __________________ ESFJ DYT 3/2, Enneagram 9w8 married to My Guy (2003) mom to: Cherished (dd, 12/2005) Warrior (ds, 07/2007) saved & baptized (2004) Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16

07-12-2021, 04:05 PM	#4
Laurlor Rose Trellis Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: S. CA Posts: 3,162	Re: Tikka Masala I don't think of Tikka Masala as being too spicy but I think I'd try any red chili like cayenne. I'm a total recipe person so what I'd do is google a bunch of recipes and see how the spices you're using matches up with a well-reviewed recipe, like this one. I love Indian food! Good luck! __________________ LAURIE (1w9, ISFJ) Married to my most favorite person (28 years) Mama to my precious: DD1 (24), married to my dearly loved son-in-law DD2 (22) DS (19)

07-12-2021, 06:23 PM	#5
Soliloquy Rose Garden Why climb a mountain? Because it's there! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Selkirk Mountains Posts: 52,860	Re: Tikka Masala I haven't made this one but I love the recipes from Nagi at Recipe Tin Eats. https://www.recipetineats.com/chicken-tikka-masala/

07-12-2021, 06:30 PM	#6
Singingmom Administrator Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 25,980	Re: Tikka Masala https://www.thelazygeniuscollective.com/blog/fctm I haven’t made it, but if the Lazy Genius loves it I would give it a try. __________________ Kelly Wife to my sweetheart for 30 years Grateful mom to 3 young adults Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

07-12-2021, 08:19 PM	#7
arelyn Rose Trellis Soli deo Gloria Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Amidst Tourists and Temples Posts: 3,144	Re: Tikka Masala Do you have an Indian grocery store nearby? They will sell bags of bright red chili powder. This is totally different from what Americans call chili powder. This is what is used to add heat. A little bit goes a LOOOOOONG way so start slow to find out how much will give you the kick you want. You can also simmer it with a whole green chili sliced in half (not jalepeno). This is more unpredictable though. Sometimes it does very little, sometimes it renders your food inedible. __________________ arelyn World traveling mama to my star my sunshine and the monsoon baby Wife to my crazy ethnomusicologist This road that we travel, may it be the straight and narrow. God give us peace and grace from you all the day through.

07-12-2021, 08:49 PM	#8
marbles Rose Garden Our Family Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: South Carolina Posts: 5,047	Re: Tikka Masala Perfect I'll try that! I add cayenne and red pepper flakes and once a dried pepper someone gave me but I have to add like tablespoons of the cayenne and then it just tastes like cayenne. And there's just not anything else. But I have not been to an Indian grocery store. TBH I'm a little intimidated to go and not really know what I'm looking for Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Mary K wife to Daniel for 16 years mom to 13 year old the Girl and 11 year old the Boy and 8 year old Tiny Almost always posting from my phone.

07-13-2021, 09:14 AM	#9
AlishaRose Rose Garden Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Asia Posts: 4,959	Re: Tikka Masala Can you buy birds eye chillies? I don’t think I’ve ever had a problem with anything not being spicy enough after I use those! __________________ Alisha, Married to dh. Mummy to ds1 (age 14) and dd (age 11) and ds2 (age 8) 'Every blessing you pour out I'll turn back to praise'

07-13-2021, 01:47 PM	#12
ViolaMum Rose Garden Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 5,542	Re: Tikka Masala When I first wanted to learn to cook Indian food I was ever so fortunate to have a student whose parents were Indian and his mom was a fabulous cook. She would send me things to try during his lessons and then took me into her kitchen and showed me how she made some of her staples - basic curries and samosas. She used serrano chilis for heat - they're smaller and hotter than jalapenos, have a similar shape and just as readily available in US supermarkets. Habaneros and Scotch Bonnets are another option. (Habaneros are the ones that look like mini wrinkled bell peppers.) Generally speaking, the smaller the spicier. The dairy in the recipe dulls the heat, which makes it tricky. You could try a spicier Garam Masala as well as hot paprika instead of sweet. (I tend to use smoked paprika, but my family is only a moderate spice crowd.) A bit of Trivia - legend has it that Chicken Tikka Masala was actually created in the UK. (Glasgow, I think?) __________________ Darcy married to my Photographic Genius (1/00) Mom to: Prima, Secunda, Tertia, and Quarta Youth and Beauty are fleeting, but the ability to bake a great chocolate cake lasts forever!

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