Tikka vs Tikka Masala: Difference and Comparison

All chicken lovers know about the deliciousness of the delicacies of Tikka and Tikka Masala. These dishes have been a popular choice of specialty which have originated in India.

Key Takeaways

  1. Tikka is a type of Indian dish where small pieces of meat are marinated in spices and grilled, while Tikka Masala is a type of Indian dish where the grilled meat is cooked in a tomato-based sauce.
  2. Tikka is served as an appetizer or a snack, while Tikka Masala is served as a main dish.
  3. Tikka is less creamy and less spicy than Tikka Masala.

Tikka vs Tikka Masala

In Tikka, the pieces of meat or vegetarian choices like paneer are cooked inside a tandoor after being marinated in spices and curd. Tikka Masala is prepared with beef or vegetarian foods like paneer, cooked with extra herbs, roasted, trained, and curried.

Tikka vs Tikka Masala

Tikka is a dish that originated from the Mughal Dynasty when they ruled India. The Mughals introduced the delicacy of this dish to the Indian people. Tikka translates to pieces, cubes, or chunks of food like chicken or paneer.

Tikka Masala is the main course dish prepared by marinating roasted chunks of meat or paneer in masala or spices and a blend of curd and cooked in a spicy sauce curry. The curry of this dish is essentially dark orange colored.

Comparison Table

Parameters of ComparisonTikkaTikka Masala
PreparationTikka is prepared by marinating pieces of meat or paneer, stringing them along on a skewer, and cooking them in a tandoor.Tikka Masala is prepared by cooking roasted chicken or paneer chunks in a spicy curry. 
CourseTikka is served as an appetizer along with other meals.Tikka Masala is served as the main course and is eaten with rice and Indian bread.
RootsTikka has been originated in the Indian subcontinent, where it is a popular starter dish.Tikka Masala traces its origins back to the United Kingdom or the Indian subcontinent (disputed).
Main IngredientsThe main ingredients used while preparing Tikka are meat, paneer, marinade, yogurt, spices, or curry. The main ingredients used while preparing Tikka Masala are chicken, yogurt, cream, tomato, onion, garlic, ginger, and chili pepper. 
VariationsThe variations of Tikka are Chicken tikka masala and Paneer tikka masala. The variations of Tikka Masala are Lamb, fish, or paneer tikka masala. 

What is Tikka?

Tikka is a dish served as an appetizer that is popular in the Indian subcontinent as well as in the regions of Great Britain. The origins of the word Tikka are traced back to the Mughal dynasty.

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Tikka is prepared by chopping down meat or paneer and other veggies in cubes and later marinating in a blend of gram flour, ginger and garlic paste, lemon juice, curd, and a mixture of different spices. The chicken or paneer cubes are added to the marinade and set aside overnight.

The Tikka dishes are a portion of popular street food in India and are the favored dishes of foreign tourists. There have been controversies about Chicken Tikka’s origins; some claimed it originated in Britain, and some claimed it derived from North India.

tikka

What is Tikka Masala?

Tikka Masala is a variation of Tikka. The dish is mainly prepared using chicken pieces or paneer cubes. Chicken tikka masala is a dish that is made with roasted marinated chicken chunks or chicken tikkas in spicy gravy.

There are many variations of this recipe. Surveys have found around 48 variations of Tikka Masala recipes; the only common ingredient is chicken.

Chicken Tikka Masala is the second most popular foreign dish in the world. It is served atop rice and roti (Indian bread). 

tikka masala

Main Differences Between Tikka and Tikka Masala

  1. Tikka is prepared by marinating pieces of meat or paneer, stringing them along on a skewer, and cooking them in a tandoor. At the same time, Tikka Masala is prepared by boiling the roasted chicken or paneer chunks in a saucy curry. 
  2. Tikka is served as an appetizer along with other veggies. Meanwhile, Tikka Masala is served as the main course and is eaten with rice and Indian bread.
Difference Between Tikka and Tikka Masala
References
  1. https://centromvs.com/Nutrition/nPq-chicken-tikka-zYK-masala-nutrition/
  2. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/NFS-02-2015-0010/full/html

Last Updated : 11 June, 2023

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