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Making Tikka Masala Sauce (Just The Sauce in 5-Steps)

5-Step Tikka Masala Sauce brings the bold, world-renowned flavors of Chicken Tikka Masala to your kitchen in a fraction of the time. Famous for its velvety, spiced tomato-cream base, this sauce forms the heart of the UK’s most beloved curry dish, often served with smoky grilled chicken or creamy paneer cheese. Traditionally, making an authentic tikka masala sauce can be a time-consuming process, requiring a long list of fresh ingredients and precise spice blends. But this recipe cuts the prep work, thanks to Usha’s Curry Starter, which simplifies your cooking without sacrificing flavor.

Whether you’re whipping up a Chicken Tikka Masala, Paneer Tikka Masala, or creating a vegetarian spin on the dish, this 5-step recipe gets you to a perfectly balanced, rich sauce that’s ready in less than 30 minutes. Adding smoky grilled chicken or tender paneer and peas, to this Tikka Spiced tomato-based cream sauce offers the perfect dinner main course dish with a blend of tangy, savory, and aromatic spices. Serve it with jasmine rice, naan, or your favorite Indian bread, and you’ve got a restaurant-quality meal that’s easy enough to make on a weeknight.

With this time-saving recipe, making an authentic Tikka Masala Sauce has never been easier. Whether you’re a fan of traditional chicken, paneer, or want to experiment with your own additions, this sauce will be your go-to recipe for impressing family and friends.

Tikka Masala Sauce is the UK famous tomato and cream based sauce that is used in the world famous food Chicken Tikka Masala. Chicken Tikka Masala is one of the most popular curry dishes in the world. It is succulent tender pieces of smoky grilled chicken breast floating in a velvety cream curry.

The vegetarian version is Paneer Tikka Masala which is creamy tender pieces of grilled or pan fried tikka spiced paneer cheese floating in this same Tikka Masala sauce. These two dishes are actually pretty easy to make once you know how. Chicken Tikka, Paneer Tikka and Tikka Masala can all be eaten separately or in any combination together.

It is usually served with rice or a variety of Indian breads.Generally, making Tikka Masala Sauce like all Indian food dishes is generally time consuming because of the tedious chopping of fresh ingredients and the numerous spice ingredients necessary to result the desired taste. Not anymore! You can now make Tikka Masala Sauce in 5 easy steps.

We will use Curry Starter which is an Indian base that will cut out all the tedious chores that are usually required to make most Indian dishes. This 5-Step Tikka Masala Sauce recipe can be made in 30 minutes or less using Curry Starter.

Curry Starter will release you from the normal tedious tasks of chopping and grating everything and give you a quick head start to getting and Indian inspired dinner on the table quickly.

Cooking Method
Cuisine
Courses ,
Difficulty Beginner
Time
Prep Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 20 mins Total Time: 25 mins
Servings 6
Best Season Fall, Winter
Description

Expect a creamy, rich sauce with a perfect balance of tangy tomatoes, warming spices, and a hint of sweetness from the cream. The smoky grilled chicken or paneer adds depth, while the blend of spices creates a tantalizing aroma that fills your kitchen.

Ingredients
  • 8 oz Curry Starter
  • 2 1/2 Tbsp Tikka Blend Spice Mix (by Usha's Kitchen)
  • 14 1/2 oz Crushed Tomatoes (or Petit Diced Tomatoes if you like small chunks)
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup heavy cream (or coconut milk-dairy-free option)
  • 1 Tbsp butter (optional)
Instructions
  1. 1- Heat Curry Starter on medium heat.
  2. 2- Add 2 ½ Tbsp any Tikka Blend Spice Mix
  3. 3- Add !4 ½ oz. Crushed Tomatoes or Diced Tomatoes and 1 cup water and simmer 10 -15 minutes, and then reduce heat to low
  4. 4- Add 1 Cup heavy cream (temper it first) or coconut milk (dairy-free option)

  5. 5- Add 1-2 Tbsp butter
  6. Tikka Masala Sauce is ready for you to add Tikka Spiced Chicken or Paneer, heat thoroughly on low-medium heat for 10 minutes.

  7. Serve over rice or with a variety of Indian breads (Naan or Paratha)

Nutrition Facts

Servings 6


Amount Per Serving
Calories 299.71kcal
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 21.8g34%
Saturated Fat 11g56%
Trans Fat 0.49g
Cholesterol 49.91mg17%
Sodium 160.25mg7%
Potassium 690.39mg20%
Total Carbohydrate 27.93g10%
Dietary Fiber 21.82g88%
Sugars 5.23g
Protein 7.77g16%

Vitamin A 189.26 IU
Vitamin C 7.36 mg
Calcium 270.93 mg
Iron 9.54 mg
Vitamin D 0.63 IU
Vitamin E 10.88 IU
Vitamin K 62.02 mcg
Thiamin 0.13 mg
Riboflavin 0.19 mg
Niacin 2.15 mg
Vitamin B6 0.16 mg
Folate 34.81 mcg
Vitamin B12 0.06 mcg
Phosphorus 186.48 mg
Magnesium 115.78 mg
Zinc 2.13 mg

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Note

Curry Starter: This is the secret to cutting down prep time, giving you a quick base for many Indian-inspired dishes while retaining authentic flavors.

Customizable: Feel free to switch out the chicken for paneer, shrimp, or even vegetables to suit your preferences. The Tikka Masala Sauce pairs well with various proteins and vegetables.

Meal Prep Friendly: You can make the sauce in advance and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze it for longer. Reheat and add fresh chicken or paneer when ready to serve.

Creamy Consistency: Be sure to let the sauce simmer for a few minutes after adding the cream, which helps to thicken and meld the flavors.

Keywords: chicken tikka masala, coconut milk, Cream, tikka masala, tikka masala sauce, Tomatoes, homemade curry sauce,Quick and Easy Tikka Masala Sauce, Indian Cuisine, Curry Starter, Tikka Curry Sauce

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