Dinner is the most anticipated meal of the day, as we get to enjoy some good food after a long schedule. Be it a simple family dinner or a grand party, we always expect the meal to be hearty and filling. Speaking particularly about Indians, our food is always loaded with different flavours and plenty of spices. Curries and sabzi, or vegetable preparation, are our go-to choices for dinner and are usually paired with steamed rice, pulao, naan, paratha, and roti.
Made with a burst of spices and herbs, tikka masala is one of the most popular picks for a celebratory meal. The tikka masala gravy can be incorporated to create vegetarian and non-vegetarian gravies that have a mouthwatering taste. The dry tikkas are enjoyed as an appetiser, while the dry tikkas, dunked in onion-tomato-cream gravy and cooked further, are served as a side dish with the meal. Tikka curries go well with rice as well as all kinds of Indian breads, including naan, roti, and puri.
If you are also planning to surprise your loved ones with a good dinner, here are six types of tikka curries you can try:
Chicken Tikka Masala
This is the most popular variety of tikka curry. Made with tandoor-roasted marinated chicken chunks, it can be found on every Indian restaurant's menu all over the world. Best enjoyed with rice or naan, the gravy is spicy, creamy, and flavourful. The main spices used in this dish are red chilli powder, kasuri methi, cumin powder, coriander powder, and garam masala.
Tandoori Fish Tikka
Tandoori fish tikka is a popular appetiser at house parties and weddings. Make it a dinner dish by transforming it into a curry. Cubed fish chunks are marinated in yoghurt and spices like garam masala, red chilli powder, and cardamoms. They are roasted in a tandoor and further cooked in a tikka masala gravy; they go well with jeera rice, roti, or naan. You can use any type of fish that does not have many bones, like angel or seer fish for the recipe.
Paneer Tikka Masala
Paneer is an integral part of Indian cuisine. We enjoy it in numerous ways for all three meals. Paneer tikka masala is made with spice-marinated cottage cheese cubes cooked in a flavourful gravy consisting of onions, tomatoes, butter, and spices like cumin seeds, cinnamon sticks, and curry powder. It is best paired with naan or paratha.
Mushroom Tikka Masala
Mushroom tikka masala is a flavourful, rich, and creamy curry that is prepared with marinated grilled (or sauteed) mushrooms cooked in a smooth, silky gravy consisting of onions, tomatoes, cashews, and spices like garam masala, coriander powder, and cumin powder. This luxury treat is usually paired with roti, naan, or jeera rice.
Mutton Tikka Masala
If you are fond of mutton dishes, then do try this recipe. Prepared within an hour, it is spicy, juicy, and flavourful in taste. Mutton tikka masala is commonly served with rotis or butter naans. The main ingredients of this dish are mutton pieces, yoghurt, ginger-garlic paste, and spices like garam masala, cardamom, cinnamon, and red chilli powder.
Methi Murgh Malai Tikka
This is another special dish for chicken lovers. Methi murgh malai tikka is a creamy treat that is prepared with succulent chicken thigh cuts, vinegar, yoghurt, double cream, corn flour, and spices like cloves, red chilli powder, and coriander powder. The addition of the fragrant fenugreek leaves or the dried kasturi methi elevates the flavours of this gravy to the next level. Garnish with some chopped almonds, and serve hot with roti or paratha.