Homemade tikka masala paste made with ground spices and fresh herbs. This easy to make tikka curry paste is great to have handy in the fridge, ready for your next impromptu curry night. Its fresh and aromatic and whizzed together in just 10 minutes.
❓ Frequently asked questions
Once made, tikka masala paste can be transferred to a jar and kept in the fridge for up to a month or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
I like to mix this tikka paste with plain yogurt to create a beautiful marinade for sliced chicken breasts. The marinaded chicken can then be used in this tasty chicken tikka masala curry. But of course you could use any meat or fish. Also use as a marinade for vegetables to make a vegetarian curry. Or if you dont have time to make a paste, check out my quick chicken and almond curry.
If you prefer you can just buy a jar of paste from the supermarket. Sometimes a jar of paste and a packet of microwave rice are just the ticket on a busy weekday night. That said, if I have the time and where-with-all to get out my blender and chop up a few ingredients, then I most certainly will. Not only does homemade curry paste taste amazing but the fragrant aromas that fill the kitchen are just too good to miss.
Tikka usually means pieces of marinated meat cooked in a tandoor or grilled. Tikka masala uses the marinated meat in a curry sauce.
Why make this recipe
I love to make my own pastes for all my curries, you just cant beat the sweet and spicy aromas of fresh curry paste hitting the surface of a hot pan. Use this tikka masala curry paste recipe to make a chicken marinade for this amazing chicken tikka masala curry. Theres also a whole world of pastes to explore once youve mastered making this one (see links below)! I also love to make my own biryani masala marinade for a tasty homemade fish biryani.
To make a small jar of tikka masala curry paste you will need:
Measurements: For the amounts required, see the recipe card below and use the toggle button to see the recipe in cups.
Fresh ginger: Use fresh ginger if you can get hold of it. If not, a teaspoon of ginger paste, jarred ginger or ground ginger will work just fine.
Fresh garlic: Fresh garlic cloves will give the best flavour for this tikka paste, but a teaspoon of jarred or granulated garlic could be used instead.
Red chilli pepper: The chillies used here will ultimately determine how hot your curry is. So if you like it spicy then use hotter chillies. Use the smaller, thinner finger chillies for extra heat or use the larger red chillies for a milder flavour. If you would prefer no spice at all then just replace the chillies with red bell pepper (capsicum).
Coriander: Coriander is a great flavour in tikka masala paste and so I dont recommend that you substitute or leave it out. This recipe uses both fresh and ground coriander for full flavour and a burst of colour.
Tikka masala spices: Cumin, garam masala and paprika are used in this recipe as the base for this tikka paste. I recommend using at least these spices and for a little extra flavour try adding a teaspoon of cinnamon and turmeric.
$2 Chicken Tikka Masala | But Cheaper
What is the difference between tikka masala powder & tikka masala paste?
The consistency is the most apparent difference between these two. Tikka masala paste is pasty while the tikka masala blend is a powdered spice. In addition, the paste holds more profundity with a flavorful base. On the contrary, tikka masala spice powder is a blend of dry spices with less flavor.
What is tikka masala curry paste?
Homemade tikka masala curry paste is a fabulous mixture of spices, garlic, ginger, chilli and tomatoes. Once you make it, you have the perfect base marinade and sauce flavour ready for any masala you want to make. It only takes 5 minutes and uses simple everyday ingredients. An easy blender curry, or Thermomix tikka paste.
Is tikka paste red?
A tikka paste is often red in colour. I have included fresh coriander in my paste. This tastes great but can reduce the red colour of your tikka paste. Simply leave out the fresh coriander if you want a really red paste. Is that the same thing as tikka masala? Not quite. A traditional tikka dish is drier whereas a tikka masala is in a sauce.
Where does tikka masala paste come from?
Tikka masala paste originates from Indian cuisine. It derives from India’s famous tikka masala spice powder. The primary purpose of this is to flavor the chicken in the chicken tikka masala dish. But it has many other uses too. This paste usually includes: