Vegan Tikka Masala Sauce Recipe [+Video] πŸ› MasalaHerb.com (2024)

Vegan Tikka Masala Sauce Recipe [+Video] πŸ› MasalaHerb.com (1)Helene Dsouza

Homemade Tikka Masala Sauce with cashews that comes together within 5 minutes! Plus point: it's healthier and vegan.

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

4 people

4.9 from 39 votes

VIDEO RECIPE

Vegan Tikka Masala Sauce Recipe [+Video] πŸ› MasalaHerb.com (2)

My favorite Tikka Masala Sauce is by accident vegan and so much tastier and healthier than the stuff you get in stores!

The freezer friendly curry paste can be used for various tikka masala meals.

Vegan Tikka Masala Sauce Recipe [+Video] πŸ› MasalaHerb.com (3)

Vegan Tikka Masala Sauce Recipe [+Video] πŸ› MasalaHerb.com (4)

Global Food Recipes

with Spices and Herbs

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Jump to:
  • πŸ“• What is Tikka Masala Sauce?
  • πŸ“œ Use
  • πŸ… Ingredients
  • πŸ”ͺ How to make it?
  • 🍱 Storing
  • πŸ‘οΈ More curry sauces
  • πŸ“– Recipe
  • πŸ’¬ Comments

πŸ“• What is Tikka Masala Sauce?

Tikka Masala Sauce is a thin-spiced curry paste variety to prepare the famous Chicken Tikka Masala dish.

Popular discounters such as Aldi, Lidl, and other supermarket stores such as Walmart sell a jarred variation of Indian tikka masala sauce.

However, I say the homemade version is way better and totally worthwhile the 5-minute kitchen work! (That's from someone who doesn't enjoy cooking but loves to eat!)

πŸ†š Regular VS Vegan Tikka Masala

The normal Chicken Tikka Curry, served in most restaurants, is prepared with a tomato and cream based masala sauce.

This is a vegan, gluten free, low fat tikka masala sauce.

The cream is kind of replaced by cashews resulting in a velvety, flavorful, texture-rich, healthier and filling tikka masala paste.

Vegan Tikka Masala Sauce Recipe [+Video] πŸ› MasalaHerb.com (5)

πŸ“œ Use

I got the idea for this cashew based masala sauce from one of our cooks (working at my husband's family restaurant).

He uses his version of a spiced paste in all kinds of Indian dishes such as to prepare a Matar Paneer or a Butter Chicken.

The result are non traditional Indian dishes.

Which I absolutely LOVE and I think they are way better than the regional variations.

Most Westerners agree because these dishes are rather popular.

You can use this paste the same way in a whole lot of dishes!

The paste is simply added to a shallow pan with oil, water, and a protein or vegetable of your choice.

So, that means you can prepare a Chicken Tikka Masala recipe with this paste or a shrimp, tofu, or vegetable version if you like.

πŸ… Ingredients

I only use a handful of ingredients in my easy vegan tikka masala sauce variation.

Vegan Tikka Masala Sauce Recipe [+Video] πŸ› MasalaHerb.com (6)

Cashews

Cashew seeds are the base of this Indian curry masala.

Blend together, cashews turn creamy and that's what makes this sauce accidentally vegan.

Cashews add texture, flavor and compliment all the other ingredients in the sauce.

You can substitute Cashews with Almonds too but I absolutely recommend Cashews above all.

It's just not the same with Almonds.

Fresh Ingredients

That includes Tomatoes, Onion and more or less Ginger and Garlic.

I use whichever flavorful tomatoes I can get and purple/red onions or shallots.

For the Ginger and Garlic, I tend to be lazy and use Ginger and Garlic paste but you can also use fresh ginger and garlic (ratio 1:2).

Spices

I add a set of ground spices to my easy tikka masala recipe.

I have tested a whole load full of variations but always came back to the same conclusion.

I decided for the following tikka masala spices because of the taste result or because of the availability of ingredients.

  • Turmeric
  • Red Chili Pepper or Cayenne
  • Cumin
  • Coriander Seed
  • Black Pepper
  • Cinnamon
Vegan Tikka Masala Sauce Recipe [+Video] πŸ› MasalaHerb.com (7)

πŸ”ͺ How to make it?

To prepare your own tikka sauce at home is really easy and straightforward.

The fresh ingredients and spices are blend together to a thin sauce like paste.

Step 1

Add all ingredients into your blender jar.

Peel the onion and with the tomato cut into quarters.

Add the cashews and, ginger garlic and all the spices.

Vegan Tikka Masala Sauce Recipe [+Video] πŸ› MasalaHerb.com (8)

Step 2

Blend all the ingredients to a smooth sauce.

Vegan Tikka Masala Sauce Recipe [+Video] πŸ› MasalaHerb.com (9)

Step 3

Use the sauce further in a dish such as to prepare a chicken tikka masala.

just add the sauce in a shallow pan with water and protein and/or veggies and cook till done.

Vegan Tikka Masala Sauce Recipe [+Video] πŸ› MasalaHerb.com (10)

🍱 Storing

I tend to freeze my masala instead of canning it and storing it in the fridge.

The sauce defrosts quickly anyway.

Which is a life saver if you are tight on time as I am.

In fact, you can just place it into your pan with some oil and water and wait for it to defrost completely over the heat so that you can add the other ingredients.

You can double or triple the recipe to prepare a larger batch.

Then simply place the smooth spiced sauce into zip lock bags portion wise and freeze.

πŸ‘οΈ More curry sauces

  • Goan Coconut Curry Paste - to make Goan Fish Curry Rice
  • Tandoori Masala - to make Tandoori Chicken
  • Goan Red Recheado Paste - mainly used to season fish
  • Bhuma Curry Paste by myfoodstory.com

Dear Reader, have you tried the Tikka Sauce?

Vegan Tikka Masala Sauce Recipe [+Video] πŸ› MasalaHerb.com (11)

Vegan Tikka Masala Sauce Recipe [+Video] πŸ› MasalaHerb.com (12)

Global Food Recipes

with Spices and Herbs

Free E-Book available for a limited time. Grab yours now and get instantly inspired!

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πŸ“– Recipe

Vegan Tikka Masala Sauce Recipe [+Video] πŸ› MasalaHerb.com (13)

Vegan Tikka Masala Sauce Recipe

Homemade Tikka Masala Sauce with cashews that comes together within 5 minutes! Plus point: it's healthier and vegan.

4.90 from 39 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Condiment

Cuisine: British, Indian

Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free, Low Lactose, Low Salt, Vegan

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 212kcal

Recipe by: Helene Dsouza

Ingredients

US - Metric

Instructions

  • Place the cashews into a large blender jar with the peeled and quartered onion, the tomato, ginger + garlic, and the spices. all ingredients into the jar.

  • Blend everything to a smooth paste. If the blender is struggling, add 2-3 Tablespoons of water to help get going.

  • Use the tikka masala sauce to prepare a tofu tikka masala or another tikka masala dish. You can also freeze it (please see post for instructions).

Notes

  1. Use fresh Ginger and Garlic (1 Tbs if chopped fine) with a ratio of 1:2 or use ready-made Ginger and garlic paste
  2. The Cashews can be substitutes with peeled almonds. However, that completely changes the taste and velvety consistency.
  3. Use a powerful blender such as a Vitamix for the smoothes result.
  4. The recipe is without artificial red food coloring. If you want your tikka masala red (just like the store bought stuff), add red food coloring.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Vegan Tikka Masala Sauce Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 212Calories from Fat 126

% Daily Value*

Fat 14g22%

Saturated Fat 2g10%

Sodium 10mg0%

Potassium 434mg12%

Carbohydrates 16g5%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 5g6%

Protein 7g14%

Vitamin A 510IU10%

Vitamin C 12.1mg15%

Calcium 35mg4%

Iron 3mg17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Vegan Tikka Masala Sauce Recipe [+Video] πŸ› MasalaHerb.com (2024)

FAQs

What is vegan tikka masala made of? β€Ί

Whisk together vegan yogurt, garlic, ginger, garam masala, turmeric, and salt. Toss in pressed extra firm tofu that has been cut in to bite sized chunks or cubes or alternatively use vegan chicken and mix well.

What's the difference between masala and tikka masala? β€Ί

Tikka refers to grilled or roasted pieces of meat that are either marinated in yogurt or spiced water before being cooked on skewers. Masala refers to a sauce made with cream, yogurt, or tomatoes; or a mixture of spices used to flavor food.

What makes tikka masala so orange? β€Ί

The sauce usually includes tomatoes (frequently as purΓ©e), cream, coconut cream and a masala spice mix. The sauce and chicken pieces may be coloured orange using foodstuffs such as turmeric, paprika, tomato purΓ©e or with food dye.

How do they make tikka masala so red? β€Ί

It's red food coloring. That's what they use in the Indian restaurants. They use it for the makhani, the tikka masala and the tandoori chicken. You can buy the kind they use at Indian grocery stores.

Can you use garam masala for tikka masala? β€Ί

Tikka Masala Substitute

Instead of using a tikka masala, one can use garam masala with cumin, turmeric, chilli powder and coriander powder to prepare the recipe. Tandoori chicken or chicken tikka masala comes with vibrant red hues and smoky flavours, and it is a fixture among local Indian diners.

What does tikka masala sauce contain? β€Ί

Tikka masala is a tomato and cream (either in the form of heavy cream, yogurt or cashews) based sauce with lots of traditional Indian spices, including ginger, turmeric and red chili powder (to give it that quintessential orange-hue), garam masala, coriander and cumin. It is slightly sweet and earthy in flavor.

Is tikka masala unhealthy? β€Ί

It's one of the most-ordered entrees at Indian joints. But like many Indian dishes that were originally low fat, the modern recipe for chicken tikka masala is anything but. An average portion has whopping 1,249 calories and 90.8 grams of fat.

Which is healthier, butter chicken or tikka masala? β€Ί

Regarding nutrition, Butter Chicken and Tikka Masala are high in calories, fat, and sodium. Butter Chicken has more fat and calories than Tikka Masala due to the use of cream and butter in the sauce. However, Tikka Masala has more sodium than Butter Chicken due to the use of canned tomato puree.

Is garam masala the same as tikka masala paste? β€Ί

Garam masala is basically a combination of Indian spices which is pan roasted first and it is used from a pinch to a 1/4 teaspoon. Whereas tikka means "chunks" and so tikka masala has a bright red color and it's used as a based gravy for chunks of paneer, chunks of mixed vegetables and etc.

What makes tikka masala taste good? β€Ί

Originating from the Indian subcontinent, this dish is known for its rich flavor and comforting appeal. Bite-sized chicken pieces are marinated in a mixture of yogurt, cumin, paprika, and garam masala to tenderize and flavor the meat.

How to add more flavor to tikka masala? β€Ί

I always use 1-2oz Lemon Juice, depending on the size of the batch. Also, definitely more spices, especially SALT/PEPPER, Cumin, Coriander and CAYENNE. Indian food needs heat to bring everything to life. A 1/4Tsp of Cinnamon also works well in Tikka.

Why is my tikka masala bitter? β€Ί

Your curry can taste bitter if the spices and garlic are burnt or if you've added too much fenugreek to the dish. You see, the secret to cooking a delicious curry recipe is to create a spicy paste and slowly cook it before adding your meat.

What is the difference between tikka and tikka masala? β€Ί

Chicken tikka is a dry dish, whereas tikka masala is a sauce-based dish. Chicken tikka is typically served as an appetizer or snack, whereas tikka masala is served as a main course. Additionally, the flavour profile of the two dishes is quite distinct.

What makes tikka masala pink? β€Ί

Red food colouring is used to give chicken tikka masalas their bright red colour. However, food colouring has no flavour so this is done purely for appearance. I tend to leave the food colouring out when cooking at home.

How do restaurants make curry so creamy? β€Ί

The actual sweetness and creaminess of such curries meanwhile, usually comes from fried onions and either cashews and/or dairy products. Instead of (or in addition to) onion, ground coconut may be used. White poppy seeds and/or watermelon seeds are also used in some creamy sauces.

What is plant-based chicken tikka? β€Ί

Ingredients for Vegan Chicken Tikka - Tomato, Onion, Water, Vegetable Oil, Soya, Chilli Kashmiri, Salt, Ginger, Garlic, Chilli Powder, Veg Broth, Sugar, Garam Masala, Coriander Powder, Cumin Seed, Turmeric Powder. Ingredients for Rice - Water, Basmati Rice, Salt.

What Indian sauces are vegan? β€Ί

Some vegan-friendly North Indian curries include chana masala (chickpea curry in a tomato sauce), aloo gobi (potatoes and cauliflower in a ginger garlic turmeric sauce), baingan bharta (mashed eggplant), bhindi (okra), cabbage, and aloo matar (potatoes and peas in a spiced tomato sauce).

Is masala usually vegan? β€Ί

Tikka masala, most commonly made with chicken, is a curry which is sometimes also called butter chicken. You're not as likely to find vegetarian tikka masala since it's typically made with meat, but if a vegetable or legume-based tikka masala is offered, skip this dish.

What is tikka masala powder made of? β€Ί

Tikka Masala Curry Powder is a blend of spices that will help you create delicious, authentic tasting curries. It is a mix of Coriander, Turmeric, Salt, Mustard Powder, Cumin, Garlic Powder, Ginger, Chilli Powder, Paprika, Citric Acid, Cardamom, Turmeric Extract and Sunflower Oil.

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