Looking for a spectacular way to end your summer? Spend an enjoyable evening with Little India of Denver savoring the small morsels of chicken tikka, our featured dish of the season. Chicken tikka is a longtime favorite of all the Indian dishes that we serve. You might be wondering what makes it so special, well, let us tell you.
What Is Chicken Tikka?
Chicken tikka means small pieces of chicken prepared without bones. In fact, the word “tikka” means “small pieces.” This favorite dish is marinated in yogurt and spices before being cooked in a tandoor oven. The most significant difference between chicken tikka and chicken tandoori is that chicken tikka is first cut off the bones and divided up into small pieces.
Where Did Chicken Tikka Originate?
Chicken tikka grew out of the popular chicken tandoori dish that was being made thousands of years ago in traditional tandoor ovens. The story goes that emperor Babur didn’t want to choke on the bones in tandoori chicken, so he ordered that the bones be removed first. The resulting dish has become quite popular in its own right and is now considered something considerably different from tandoori chicken.
Chicken Tikka Dishes
As previously mentioned, tikka means “small pieces,” which indicates that chicken tikka is merely a way of cooking chicken. Just as tandoori chicken is used to make various dishes such as butter chicken, chicken tikka is also combined with different ingredients and sauces to create different meals. Here are a few of the varieties of chicken tikka that you can try at our Indian restaurant.
Chicken Tikka
The dish the way it was originally meant to be enjoyed: marinated in yogurt and spices and cooked in a tandoor oven.
Chicken Tikka Masala
Declared the national dish of Great Britain, this is simply chicken tikka smothered in India’s famous spiced masala sauce.
Chicken Tikka Saag
Saag translates to “spinach.” In this favorite dish, chicken tikka is served with finely chopped spinach, spices, yogurt, and tomato.
Chicken Tikka Korma
In this dish, the chicken, yogurt sauce, and spices are braised, bringing a unique cooking technique to this delicious variation.
The Best Indian Food in Denver
Whether you’re interested in trying chicken tikka for the first time, or you consider this delicious dish an old favorite, you won’t be disappointed when you order it at Little India of Denver. Known for almost two decades as having the best Indian food in Denver, we have two locations, East Sixth Avenue and South Downing Street. Visit us today!
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FAQs
Chicken tikka masala is now a true British national dish, not only because it is the most popular, but because it is a perfect illustration of the way Britain absorbs and adapts external influences. Chicken tikka is an Indian dish.
What is special about chicken tikka? ›
It is traditionally small pieces of boneless chicken baked using skewers on a brazier called angeethi or over charcoal after marinating in Indian spices and dahi (yogurt)—essentially a boneless version of tandoori chicken.
What is the story of chicken tikka? ›
Some believe that it was invented in the 1970s by a Bangladeshi chef in Glasgow, Scotland, who, in order to please a customer, added a mild tomato-cream sauce to his chicken tikka, which is pieces of boneless chicken marinated in yogurt and curry spices and served on a skewer, kebab-style.
Who made chicken tikka masala the national dish? ›
Aslam was the owner of Glasgow's popular Shish Mahal restaurant, which he opened in 1964 after immigrating from Pakistan as a boy. In his telling, Aslam devised the globally beloved recipe one night in the 1970s, when a customer complained that traditional chicken tikka was too dry.
What is India's national dish? ›
India has no national dish. However, Khichdi is sometimes suggested as the unofficial national dish. A majority of Indians consider Khichdi to be their national dish. However, there are other popular foods such as bhajiyas, jalebis, biryani, and golgappas that a considerable number of Indians identify with.
What is a tikka in India? ›
The word “tikka” means small pieces of meat in Punjabi. And “masala” means mixture in the Punjabi language. These small pieces of chicken are marinated, traditionally and baked. In this article we look at the origin of Chicken Tikka Masala Indian curry and learn about its popularity in Western-worlds.
What is the fancy name for chicken tikka? ›
Tandoori Chicken Tikka is a popular gastronomical delight from the North Indian Cuisine. Also known as Murgh Tikka, these are chunks of chicken marinated in a spiced yogurt and grilled to perfection.
Is Indian chicken tikka healthy? ›
An average serving of Chicken Tikka (around 250 grams) contains 312 calories. Although this number might look big, if prepared right, Chicken Tikka is actually healthy, since it is marinated with curd and spices and baked using skewers, it has the least oil usage, and roasted chicken is always beneficial.
What is America's national dish? ›
The United States does not officially have a designated national dish, but hamburgers and Apple Pie are unofficial national dishes of USA due to their popularity and widespread consumption across the country. Hamburger is the most popular dish in America due to its popularity.
Why is tikka so good? ›
Everyone loves this dish worldwide. It is a delicious combination of marinated chicken with a creamy tomato-based sauce. So, it's not hard to understand why it's become so popular Indian dish. The aromatic herbs and unique mix of flavors make this dish genuinely one-of-a-kind.
The Origin Of Chicken Tikka Masala
While many people assume that this dish originated in India, the most popular origin story places its roots in Scotland when a Bengali chef had to improvise in a jiffy. Today, many consider it to be the national dish of the UK.
What is a fun fact about tikka masala? ›
Aslam, a Bangladeshi chef residing in Glasgow, Scotland, is credited with creating the dish in the 1970s. Legend has it that Aslam improvised the recipe by combining grilled chicken tikka with a creamy tomato-based sauce, resulting in the iconic dish we know today.
What to serve with tikka masala? ›
What is traditionally served with chicken tikka masala? Traditionally, chicken tikka masala is served with vegetables, steamed long-grained basmati or white rice, toasted pita, or any type of naan bread.
Which Indian dish is actually British? ›
We all love a traditional and heart-warming curry from time to time, and you may be surprised to discover that one of India's most infamous dishes is actually thought to be a British invention!
What is the USA's national dish? ›
The United States does not officially have a designated national dish, but hamburgers and Apple Pie are unofficial national dishes of USA due to their popularity and widespread consumption across the country.
What is the national dish of Italy? ›
Commonly known around the world as spaghetti bolognese, in its authentic form 'Ragu alla Bolognese' is recognised as the national dish of Italy. Its origin can be traced back to Imola, a town near the city of Bologna, where a recipe was first recorded in the 18th century.
What is England's national dish? ›
Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding was always a higher class nationally popular meal. There is no national dish of England nor is there any national dish of the UK.
Is Chicken tikka a UK dish? ›
It is widely believed that chicken tikka masala was invented in the United Kingdom in the 1970s by Indian chefs trying to adapt their traditional dishes to Western tastes. Others believe it originated in India, but it became popular in the UK after it was introduced by immigrants moving to Britain.
