Tracing Back the Origin of Chicken Tikka Masala

Tracing Back the Origin of Chicken Tikka Masala

Every dish has a history be it Indian or Continental. The rich and succulent Chicken Tikka Masala is a popular dish both in India and overseas. It is served in North America and is so popular that it finds a place on the menu of every modern Indian restaurant in Colorado Springs.

Despite being declared a national dish of Britain till 2012, the mystery surrounding its origin is yet to be solved. And speculation still continues.

Evolution of Chicken Tikka Masala

Chicken Tikka: Tracing Back the Origin of Chicken Tikka Masala

Chicken Tikka Masala is a healthy and popular dish because of the lean meat amount and cooking technique. However, theories regarding the origin of the dish are contradictory and there is no strong evidence to support from which country it is sourced from.

However, it is considered the National dish of Britain. According to Robin Cook, the Foreign Secretary of England hailed it as a “true British national dish” and pompously declared that the dish is an illustration of the way Britain engrosses and adapts external influences.

However, according to some other theories the lip-smacking dish was first served and discovered at a Pakistani restaurant situated in Glasgow named Shish Mahal.

It happened when a hungry driver came and ordered it but found it too dry. He suggested the chef should change it to a gravy-based dish. Acting on the suggestion, the chef whose name was Ali Ahmed Aslam improvised the dish.

To make it more delectable, he combined chunks of chicken in tomato soup. This saw the birth of dish. Slowly it became popular worldwide and started being consumed in Britain, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India having an affinity for dishes with gravies and sauces.

Other theories suggest the dish has a Punjabi or Bangladeshi origin. These theories state that it was invented in the year 1971 by adding more tomato sauce, aromatic spices, cream, tomato, ginger, garlic, onion, chili pepper, and yogurt.

According to this school, the versions of the dish that are served today at restaurants are a mere adaptation of its original version served in Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Change in Cooking Procedure of Chicken Tikka Masala

Approximately 5000 years ago, chicken tikka masala was prepared by baking chicken of large pieces. Then at the insistence of Mughal emperor Babar, the chicken pieces were made smaller and bones were taken out.

The modern version of the dish involves cooking boneless chicken chunks in an outdoor clay oven after marinating them with aromatic spices and yogurt. Thus, it is both an old and new kind of dish. A top-rated Colorado Springs fine dining restaurant is sure to serve only tender and juicy chicken pieces making the dish delectable.

Many chefs preparing the Indian Restaurant in Colorado Springs present a customized version of the dish. They concoct a recipe to cater to food connoisseurs who want to combine this apparent Western dish with something more traditional.

How does it taste?

It is difficult to describe the taste of the dish to someone who has never tasted it. But it is warm and spicy. Since it is cooked in tomato and yogurt-based sauce with a slew of aromatic spices, it has got a spicy flavor with an appetizing smell. You can pamper taste buds with this amazing dish at the best restaurant in Colorado Springs.

Chicken Tikka Masala has evolved a lot since its invention. Hopefully, the blog will help you to explore it soon!!!

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