What is chicken tikka masala, and why is it India's most ordered dish
Ask anyone who doesn't usually eat Indian food to name "the Indian dish", and chances are they'll say chicken tikka masala. That's no accident — it's probably the most ordered Indian dish outside India, Spain included.
The process has two parts. First the "tikka": chunks of chicken breast marinated in yoghurt, garlic, ginger and spices, roasted in the tandoor oven until lightly charred outside and juicy inside. Those pieces are then finished in a "masala" sauce — a blend of tomato, cream or yoghurt, and spices such as cumin, coriander and garam masala, slow-cooked until creamy.
The exact origin is debated (there are several versions, between India and the UK), but the result is the same in any good Indian restaurant: a rich, not-too-spicy dish that pairs perfectly with basmati rice or naan for dipping.
On our menu it's available both to eat in and to order for takeaway or delivery. If it's your first time trying Indian food, it's the safest way in before working up to a spicier vindaloo or korma.