Do not Adjust Your Monitor-Tikka Masala
The colors, man. The colors.
Score one for trying something new. I don’t like Indian food. You know, sort of how I don’t like curry? Or how I am only lukewarm about chicken salad? Here’s a good one, don’t forget: I hate beans. Yeah, I am the poster child for not liking foods I have never really eaten. I have been trying to change that mentality by trying new things and branching out of our comfort zone a bit. I really enjoy the Pioneer Woman Cooks! because the food feels familiar and I can look at the recipes and know if we will like them. So when one of Ree’s guest posters, Pastor Ryan, posted a recipe for Tikka Masala, I didn’t quite know what to think. This was was different food, un-familiar food, food I wouldn’t like. As I scrolled through the photos I noticed something. Chicken, yogurt, onions, garlic, tomatoes, heavy cream, cilantro, so um, where was the food I didn’t like? There were spices involved, but nothing I didn’t have in my spice cabinet. I made Ryan’s recipe for Garam Masala and honestly couldn’t even taste the spices in the final dish. I know they were there, subtly contributing to the layers of flavor, but there was no overwhelming spice to offend.
This dish was delicious; definitely a hearty meal. I substituted half and half for the heavy cream and reduced the garam masala recipe by a third (teaspoons instead of tablespoons-which was the perfect amount called for in the recipe without any left over). My rice came out of the rice cooker a little mushy but that could be a difference in machines. This is a dish I will make again, especially in the fall when hot, hearty comfort food is really needed. My only warning is that it is a bit of a gateway drug. Now I can’t wait to get my hands on a good butter chicken or saag paneer recipe.
June 12th, 2009 at 7:04 am
I love chicken tikka masal and this looks really yummy yumm delicious.
June 12th, 2009 at 8:21 am
Chicken Tikka/ Chicken Tikka masala is a favourite food here. What you cooked looks really good 🙂
June 12th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Thanks for the idea for freezing the sliders! I figured we probably could but we ate the entire pan right away- little piggies that we are. So I will have to do “just a freezer” batch for the kids’ snacks and do it the way you said and wrap them individually and freeze. Thanks! I am new to Indian food and finding I like most of the dishes as long as they are not too hot. Enjoy your weekend Katie!
June 14th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Thanks so much for passing along this recipe, made it last night and it was great. Followed your tip re half-and-half too – thanks!
June 17th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Good for you!! And I saw this dish too… and sidestepped it because I “don’t really like” Indian food. Ahem. Perhaps I should try it again. 😉
June 21st, 2009 at 8:33 am
I could live on Indian food alone…
I really need to stop reading your blog before breakfast or my husband’s going to wonder why we’re eating chicken tikka masala instead of pancakes…
September 2nd, 2009 at 9:34 pm
hey, if you’ve got a new hankering to try other indian dishes, but don’t really want to take a lot of time, try the kitchens of india curry pastes.
No, i dont work for them. I made their lamb curry the other day, unbelievably good and authentic (i’ve been to india and eat the food all the time).
try it with a little light coconut milk in place of half of the water recommended. I think i spent $5 on cheapo bone-in lamb shoulder, the curry paste is around $2 depending on where you get it, and coconut milk is another $1. crazy good. cook it for an hour at least (they recommend 45mins) and reduce down the sauce a little so it isn’t so watery.
check on amazon for kitchens of india…totally worth it.
December 12th, 2013 at 12:45 am
I’ve got to try this , love Indian food !
July 30th, 2019 at 8:47 am
Oh my goodness! Amazing article dude! Many thanks, However I am going through troubles with your RSS.
I don’t understand why I cannot join it. Is there anyone
else having the same RSS issues? Anyone that knows the solution will you kindly respond?
Thanks!!