Tikka Masala Sauce is a creamy and luscious tomato-onion based gravy. This sauce is super versatile and can be used as a base for many dishes. While this recipe uses cream, I have included Vegan options.
Sharing both stove top and instant pot method.
Love Indian food? Then do check out – Vegetable Pulao, Vegan Red Lentil Curry, Curry Roasted Cauliflower, and Indian Style Veggie Burger.
What is Tikka Masala Sauce?
For starters this sauce is the gravy part of the popular Chicken Tikka Masala. While you may not find this dish in India, Chicken Tikka Masala is quite famous in Indian restaurants in the west and is UK’s national dish.
It is believed that Chicken Tikka Masala was popularized by cooks from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh living in Britain. They used the flavors of India and adapted it to suit to the western palates.
Today I am sharing the gravy (sauce) part of the Chicken Tikka Masala.
You may ask why share just the tikka sauce?
This tikka sauce is super versatile and can be paired with meat, paneer, tofu, grilled veggies, lentils, chickpeas and more.
Double the recipe and store the left overs in the freezer. Defrost and add them to your curries for a quick meal.
Tikka – tikka is the part where vegetables, paneer or meat is marinated with yogurt and spices and grilled till done.
Masala Sauce – onion-tomato are cooked with aromatic spices and finished with cream ( for vegans – cashew cream or coconut milk)
How to make Tikka Masala Sauce?
Heat one tablespoon butter and one tablespoon oil in a pan on medium heat. Add one teaspoon cumin seeds and small piece of cinnamon stick. Toast the cumin seeds for 30 seconds and 2 chopped medium onion, 1 ½ inch ginger, 4 large garlic cloves and a pinch of salt.
Saute for 7-8 minutes till onions turn slight brown.
Add four large ripe tomatoes with the juices, 2 teaspoon tomato paste, ½ teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon Indian red chili powder, 1 tablespoon coriander powder, 1 teaspoon cumin powder and salt to taste. Mix it well and cook for 12-15 minutes till mixture turns soft and some the water from the tomato is evaporated.
Remove the cinnamon stick and cool the mixture and transfer it to a blender. Make a fine paste.
Now transfer the sauce back to the same pan, add ¼ cup heavy cream, ½ teaspoon honey or sugar, 1 ½ teaspoon dried fenugreek leaves, ¼ teaspoon garam masala, 1 tablespoon butter, water to adjust the thickness of the gravy ( about ½ to ¾th cup)
Mix and check for seasoning. Simmer the tikka sauce for 5 minutes and its done.
Freezing Tikka Masala Sauce
Left over tikka sauce can be stored in small portions in the freezer. Remove as needed and defrost over night in the fridge or couple of hours over the counter.
To make Vegan Tikka Masala Sauce
Replace regular butter with vegan butter
Replace cream with cashew cream or thick coconut milk
How to use Tikka Masala Sauce –
Saute onion, bell peppers and paneer cubes and add them to the sauce.
You can also oven roast or air fry cauliflower, zucchini, green beans and mix it with the tikka masala.
Pair it with just paneer cubes or sautéed tofu.
Add cooked lentils or boiled chickpeas to the tikka sauce and simmer the curry for few minutes.
Tikka Masala Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 2 tablespoon butter (divided) ( or vegan butter)
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds
- ½ inch cinnamon stick
- 2 medium white onion, diced
- 1 ½ inch ginger
- 4-5 large garlic cloves, chopped
- 4 large ripe tomato
- 2 teaspoon tomato paste
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon Indian red chili powder (spicy)
- 1 tablespoon coriander powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon garam masala (divided)
- ½ teaspoon honey or sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoon kasuri methi (dry fenugreek leaves)
- salt to taste
- ¼ cup cream ( vegan : use cashew cream or thick coconut milk)
- ½- ¾ cup water
Instructions
Stove Top Method –
- Heat one tablespoon butter and one tablespoon oil in a pan on medium heat. Add one teaspoon cumin seeds and small piece of cinnamon stick. Toast the cumin seeds for 30 seconds and 2 chopped medium onion, 1 ½ inch ginger, 4 large garlic cloves and a pinch of salt.
- Saute for 7-8 minutes till onions turn slight brown.
- Add four large ripe tomatoes with the juices, 2 teaspoon tomato paste, ½ teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon Indian red chili powder, 1 tablespoon coriander powder, 1 teaspoon cumin powder and salt to taste. Mix it well and cook for 12-15 minutes till mixture turns soft and some the water from the tomato is evaporated.
- Remove the cinnamon stick and cool the mixture and transfer it to a blender. Make a fine paste.
- Now transfer the sauce back to the same pan, add ¼ cup heavy cream, ½ teaspoon honey or sugar, 1 ½ teaspoon dried fenugreek leaves, ½ teaspoon garam masala, 1 tablespoon butter, water to adjust the thickness of the gravy ( about ½ to ¾th cup)
- Mix and check for seasoning. Simmer the tikka sauce for 5 minutes and its done
Instant Pot Method –
- Turn on the instant pot and press sauté mode. Add the butter and oil and let it melt. Add one teaspoon cumin seeds and small piece of cinnamon stick. Toast the cumin seeds for 30 seconds and 2 chopped medium onion, 1 ½ inch ginger, 4 large garlic cloves and a pinch of salt.
- Saute for 3-4 minutes till onions turn slight brown.
- Add four large ripe tomatoes with the juices, 2 teaspoon tomato paste, ½ teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 teaspoon Indian red chili powder, 1 tablespoon coriander powder, 1 teaspoon cumin powder and salt to taste. Mix it well and saute for 2 minutes. Add ½ cup water and mix it well scraping the bottom of the pot.
- Cancel the saute mode, close the lid and adjust the vent to sealing position. Press the manual or pressure cooker mode and adjust the time to 6 minutes.
- Naturally release the pressure. Remove the cinnamon stick and puree the mixture using a immersion blender. If using a regular blender, let the mixture cool before grinding.
- Add ¼ cup heavy cream, ½ teaspoon honey or sugar, 1 ½ teaspoon dried fenugreek leaves, ½ teaspoon garam masala and 1 tablespoon butter.
- Mix and check for seasoning. Simmer the tikka sauce for 5 minutes and its done
How to use Tikka Masala Sauce?
- Saute onion, bell peppers and paneer cubes and add them to the sauce.
- You can also oven roast or air fry cauliflower, zucchini, green beans and mix it with the tikka masala.
- Pair it with just paneer cubes or sautéed tofu.
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