British · main
Chicken Tikka Masala
Chicken Tikka Masala reads richness 6.2, citrus 4.9 and sourness 4.9 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a British main, about 2 hr 40 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.
The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10
- Umami & Savory — 5.4 / 10
- Sweet & Fruity — 2.2 / 10
- Sour & Bright — 6.4 / 10
- Bitter & Earthy — 2.3 / 10
- Rich & Fat — 6.5 / 10
- Aromatic & Spice — 4.5 / 10
The measured notes (of 18)
Richness 6.2 · Citrus 4.9 · Sourness 4.9 · Umami 4.8 · Allium 3.8 · Salinity 3.1 · Herbaceous 3.0 · Warm Spice 3.0 · Funk & Ferment 2.6 · Earthy 2.0 · Heat 1.8 · Sweetness 1.7 · Floral 1.5 · Fruity 1.5 · Bitterness 1.2 · Nutty 0.9
What's in it (16)
- 2 lbs chicken thighs
- 1 cup plain yogurt
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp garam masala
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1/2 tsp turmeric
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 2 onions
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 tbsp ginger
- 1 can (14 oz) canned tomatoes
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1/4 cup cilantro
- salt to taste
Time & effort: about 2 hr 40 min (20 min active) · effort: involved
Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 120.5 kcal, 9.3 g protein, 7.8 g fat, 3.7 g carbs
Dietary: Contains meat · Contains dairy — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.
How it's cooked (4 steps)
- Marinate chicken in yogurt and spices for at least 2 hours, then grill or broil until charred.
- Fry onions in butter until golden, add garlic and ginger, then spices, tomatoes, and cream and simmer 15 minutes into a rich sauce.
- Add the cooked chicken and simmer 5 more minutes to blend flavors.
- Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve with naan or basmati rice.
Dishes with a similar flavor shape
- Chicken Quesadillas with Melted Pepper Jack — Tex-Mex
- Tandoori Chicken Drumsticks — Indian
- Spiced Lamb and Rice Stuffed Cabbage — Middle Eastern
- Sheet-Pan Kashmiri Lamb Chops — Indian
- Chicken Piccata — Italian-American
Keep reading: what richness, citrus, sourness mean in the flavor lexicon · the world's cuisines, by flavor.
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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.