The Perfect Turkey Tikka Masala Recipe

Turkey Tikka Masala is a popular curry dish that originated quite recently and in a location, you might not first expect. While it’s not known to be 100% confirmed, there is a belief that the sauce that gives the food its distinctive flavor comes from 1970s Glasgow in Scotland.

The story goes that a restaurant customer wasn’t happy with his order and requested a milder, more creamy tomato taste to his curry. The chef eagerly obliged, creating a brand new dish, and the rest, as they say, is history. Orange in color, with a rich, creamy texture, the curry dish became popularized by many chefs in South Asia, who relocated to the shores of Great Britain.

So, if you’re looking for a great turkey tikka masala recipe to sample for yourself, we’re pleased to be able to tell you that you’ve most certainly come to the right place. Read on for our step-by-step guide to recreating this festival of flavor in the comfort of your own home.

Your Required Ingredients

This recipe can serve up to 4 people, so you’re going to need around 600g of cooked turkey, chopped up into large chunks - leftovers are fine for this particular purpose. After that, you’ll want to have a selection of ingredients that include the following:

• A finely chopped onion
• 3 finely grated garlic cloves
• 400g of chopped tomatoes
• Mango chutney (1 tsp)
• Sunflower oil
• 100ml double cream

If you’d like a simple, quick way to add the necessary rich, mouthwatering flavors to your turkey tikka masala, then we’d recommend using a top-quality tikka masala spice. Although, for this blog, we’re going to assume that you’re using all the necessary, basic ingredients.

For that, you’ll also need:

• Chopped coriander
• Toasted flaked almonds,
• Some peeled and grated ginger (1 tsp)
• 1 finely chopped, deseeded red chilli
• Cumin seeds (1 tsp)
• Ground coriander (1 tsp)
• Paprika (½ tsp)
• Turmeric (½ tsp)
• Garam masala (½ tsp)
• Tomato Puree (1 tsp)

So, to the cooking part...

You’ll begin by cooking a little oil in a shallow pan, ideally over medium heat. Once it boils, throw in the onions for around 10 to 12 minutes, up until the point where they appear golden and slightly crispy. Next, add your spices, including the chili and ginger, and cook for two minutes until it's paste-like.

Once you’re happy with the texture, you should stir in the chopped tomatoes, tomato puree, and your mango chutney. Keep stirring until everything becomes fully blended, and then gently bring your turkey tikka masala mix to a simmer. Then leave for 10 minutes.

Finishing Off Your Tasty Dish

When returning to the pan, you should see a bubbling mixture. Your next step is to stir in your yogurt and most of the double cream until properly blended and then return everything to a simmer once you’ve got a nice even coloring to your pan’s contents.

Once this is done, you need to add the cooked turkey and stir before returning your ingredients to gently simmer. Be sure to leave everything in place for long enough for the turkey you’ve added to become piping hot throughout.

Then it’s a matter of removing your turkey tikka masala off the heat and drizzling the remainder of your double cream over the top. The final touches involve liberally sprinkling some flaked almonds and a little coriander over your masala. Now it’s time for those tastebuds to get excited, as you’re ready to serve!

Popular Optional Extras

We haven't mentioned the need for enough steamed rice for everyone to enjoy this wonderful meal. Some other popular additions to your turkey tikka masala include naan bread, which comes in a variety of different forms, such as Peshwari, garlic, and nawabi - each offering their own unique and individual flavors and aromas.

If you want to add an even more authentic feel to your meal, you could choose to include poppadoms, together with some finely chopped tomato and onion salad. Either eaten alongside your turkey tikka masala or enjoyed as a pre-meal starter, these additions can add a greater depth to the range of complementing tastes on offer.

Enjoy This Amazing Cuisine Today!

As they say, a variety is the spice of life, including internationally-renowned spices and herbs in meals. You get to experience all the amazing and unmistakable flavors they offer firsthand.

We sincerely hope you enjoy trying out our turkey tikka masala recipe, and as we’ve seen, it doesn’t take too much time or effort to create dishes like this one. So, why not break up your boring meal-time routines with delectable cuisine like this one for yourself and add a little color and stimulation into proceedings?

There are dozens of international spices out there to try, from cumin to coriander to Kofte. What’s more, sampling them couldn’t be easier and involves just a few clicks of your phone’s screen. Simply visit the Little Istanbul shop today and see for yourself.