Chicken Tikka Masala Not Indian? The Fascinating History And Origin Of This Iconic Dish

Bangladeshi Chef

[{"selector":"#anim-f2d48108-4862-4afe-9b13-7d681f00be0b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-62dc3895-08dc-4f7d-88bc-feb92b2c428b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 209.34346%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Invented in 1970s Glasgow by Ali Ahmed Aslam at Shish Mahal restaurant, combining tandoori chicken with a tomato-based curry sauce. Credits: Unsplash

Customer complained

[{"selector":"#anim-6c1c998f-99a1-4764-9b75-62c356faf46d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1557dc29-7715-4ea3-9684-0822d99f78be","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 175.36605%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Legend claims it originated when a customer complained about dry chicken, prompting Aslam to create a sauce using tomato soup and spices. Credits: Unsplash

British curry houses

[{"selector":"#anim-2164c5ad-cdd9-4428-a2c1-2273b4904219","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-91e39b5c-78a1-43b7-840b-c2c8d058f288","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 885.62060%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Dish rapidly gained popularity across British curry houses, becoming a staple of British-Indian cuisine. Credits: Unsplash

Britain's most popular dish

[{"selector":"#anim-f7df5c9e-8c52-412a-a25c-42b85f8cfead","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-acdc6948-e932-4a2f-b6e1-d315fb8d4211","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 242.97380%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Named Britain's most popular dish in 2001, surpassing traditional British fare like fish and chips. Credits: Unsplash

South Asian cooking techniques

[{"selector":"#anim-0b90bd5b-656e-47b8-af0e-ff958fd9f72c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-063eb2a8-4098-47ea-a38d-63bc3baa7daa","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 631.35786%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Recognised as a distinctly British creation, representing the fusion of South Asian cooking techniques with Western tastes. Credits: Unsplash

Protected Geographical Indication

[{"selector":"#anim-eb55c585-f684-4ce0-9eed-7b2ea36fea4e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0310aa22-e290-40ac-a348-07ac6f482f2a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 206.91356%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Government of Glasgow campaigned to secure Protected Geographical Indication status for the dish in 2009. Credits: Unsplash

Historical evidence

[{"selector":"#anim-e2abeea5-ad4b-4a06-8543-67b228337771","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e4f60d44-8abc-4cff-875e-8fd080374e08","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 208.02466%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Despite claims from Delhi and Punjab about the dish's Indian origins, strongest historical evidence points to Scotland. Credits: Unsplash

Annual sales

[{"selector":"#anim-d9ba55eb-b897-4cc6-a213-6579d085aa0e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6c39e09a-0e4e-4eb0-8d2d-13b4b59510a3","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 676.91345%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Now generates over £250 million in annual sales across British restaurants and is exported globally as a ready meal. Credits: Unsplash

[{"selector":"#anim-ab8865b3-0041-4967-aeb0-85744d7bf7ce","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d59bb62f-7ffa-4f67-b377-882b2e4665e2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 1317.12967%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Did you know the story of Chicken Tikka Masala? Credits: Unsplash