Chickpea Tikka Masala Recipe - Vegan, Dairy Free & Oil-Free Option (2024)

FAQs

Can I use yogurt instead of cream for tikka masala? ›

However, when it comes to adding it to a curry, I just can't. My brain just won't allow that addition. So, instead of cream, I use yogurt and butter (cream's close cousin) to get that rich and velvety tomato gravy for my Chicken Tikka Masala.

The key to making an incredible vegan tikka masala is to focus on the core flavors in the original version. So, in this recipe, chickpeas replace chicken. Of course, no one is trying to make chickpeas taste like chicken, but they yield an absolutely phenomenal-tasting dish, nonetheless.

Chana masala is typically simmered on the stove until the chickpeas are tender. In contrast, tikka masala involves marinating and grilling the meat before adding it to the sauce. In terms of flavor, chana masala has a mild, earthy flavor. It is not typically as spicy as tikka masala, which can be hot and spicy.

Normally heavy cream is used in tikka masala, but coconut milk is the perfect substitute and I actually like it here better than cream. Yum. For you do-aheaders, you can make the masala sauce the night before and then cook the chicken right before dinner, heat up the sauce and you're done!

Chicken tikka masala is usually made with heavy cream, but I like to use coconut milk instead; its subtle sweetness works beautifully with the spices in the dish. Serve with steamed rice.

Ingredients and substitues for the homemade tikka masala

Greek yogurt: If you don't like Greek yogurt, use plain whole milk. For a dairy-free option, you may use almond or coconut milk. Fresh lemon juice: Do not use botteled lemon juice unless you have no other choice. Garlic and ginger: use fresh, not powder.

Regarding nutrition, Butter Chicken and Tikka Masala are high in calories, fat, and sodium. Butter Chicken has more fat and calories than Tikka Masala due to the use of cream and butter in the sauce. However, Tikka Masala has more sodium than Butter Chicken due to the use of canned tomato puree.

Cumin mixed with allspice: This two-part blend makes sense if you think about it. Allspice's flavor is reminiscent of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and pepper—mixed with cumin, that's a pretty darn good garam masala substitute. Just mix 1 part cumin with ¼ part allspice.

Bite-sized chicken pieces are marinated in a mixture of yogurt, cumin, paprika, and garam masala to tenderize and flavor the meat. Once marinated, the chicken is baked in the oven, then simmered in a rich, creamy tomato-based sauce infused with aromatic spices.

Tikka masala is pieces of meat or chicken marinated with spices, whereas garam masala is the term used for 'hot spices' that are not spicy but can keep the body warm. Garam masala powders may contain chilli and peppers, although they can be aromatic but are not spicy.

Is paneer masala the same as tikka masala? ›

Paneer Tikka Masala is a North Indian dish of grilled paneer (Indian cheese) served in a spicy gravy known as Tikka masala. It is a vegetarian version of the world famous Chicken Tikka Masala.

Taste. Butter chicken is mildly spiced, whereas tikka masala has more of a kick. Chicken in tikka masala sauce tends to be more tender and juicy than butter chicken due to its marinade-containing yogurt. Butter chicken also tends to have a creamier texture.

If you want to replace coconut milk in your cooking, try other plant milks like soy or almond milk. You can also use tofu or heavy cream if you're not sensitive to dairy.

The good news about coconut cream and coconut milk is that although they may be different consistencies, they're very similar. You can use coconut cream in place of milk if you dilute it with additional water. Different coconut cream brands vary on fat content.

Cashew cream is a perfect vegan substitute for heavy cream in North Indian dishes. Add 2 tablespoons to half a cup of cashew cream to curries like Butter Chicken, Paneer Makhani, Chicken Tikka Masala, or Salmon Tikka Masala.

I think you can just about get away with a full-fat natural or greek yoghurt in a Korma. There are obvious calorie or syn benefits by choosing yoghurt. Namely, for the slimming world syn counters, choosing yoghurt over cream frees up syns for a beer with your curry.

Use whole fat yogurt and don't skip the cream.

This recipe isn't the one to lighten up with lower fat yogurt or milk. Plain full-fat yogurt and cream make the sauce of this curry perfectly rich and mouth-watering. The yogurt helps to tenderize the chicken and along with the cream, it balances all the spices.

Blend together equal parts Greek yogurt and whole milk and use it in place of the same amount of heavy cream. Note that this substitute can add thickness to dishes like soups or sauces, but it shouldn't be used in recipes that require whipping.

You can make a similar heavy cream alternative using regular milk and butter. Whole milk has a fat percentage of around 3.5% and is preferable to lower-fat varieties, but you'll still want to use more melted butter than you would with half-and-half. For best results, try mixing ⅔ cup of whole milk with ⅓ cup butter.