Skip to content

Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe

Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe with photos by Edward M. Fielding

Ground curry with a dish of chicken tikka masala in the background.Chicken tikka masala dish photograph available for license from Dogford Studios.This photograph of ground curry spice can be licensed from Dogford Studios.Photograph of Chicken tikka masala available as an RF license from Dogford Studios.

Considered by some to be the “true” national dish of Britain, the Brits do love their curries!  Chicken tikka masala is a dish of roasted chunks (tikka) of chicken in a spicy sauce. The sauce is usually creamy, spiced and orange-coloured.

  • 4 chicken breasts, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 1 inch fresh ginger, peeled and grated
  • 1 garlic clove, finely diced
  • salt and pepper
  • 1/3 cup fresh coriander, chopped finely
  • juice and zest 1 lime
  • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 red onion, roughly chopped
  • 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 10 ounces light cream or 10 ounces plain yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon tomato puree
  • 1/2 lemon, juice of
  1. In a large stainless steel bowl place the chicken with ginger, garlic, salt, pepper, chopped coriander, lime juice and zest with 1 tbsp of the oil. Stir then cover with a clean cloth, leave to one side for 30 minutes.
  2. After 30 mins, heat one tbsp of the oil in a large frying pan or wok add the chicken and cook for 8 -10 minutes until browned all over.
  3. Remove the chicken from the pan and put to one side. In the same pan heat the remaining oil and gently cook the onion and chili powder for 5 minutes. Add the turmeric and ground cumin, stir and cook for another minute.
  4. Stir in the cream and gently simmer for 5 minutes. Add the chicken and simmer for another 5 minutes. Add the tomato puree, stir then add the lemon juice. Cook for one minute more then serve garnished with fresh coriander. Boiled rice, warm naan bread or chapatis are delicious served alongside.

or cheat and buy a bottle of the sauce.

License great food photography for your blog or cook book

The photographs of the curry dishes as well as other great delicious food photographs are available to license as royalty-free stock images here at Dogford Studios part of the Symbiostock Network of independent artists who offer their work direct to image buyers.

Dogford Studios is the stock agency of photographer Edward M. Fielding

red umbrella art