Where did the Indian dish chicken tikka masala originate and what was the original recipe?
There’s a great article about this in the latest issue of Cook’s Illustrated. It claims that chicken tikka masala is not from India at all, but rather comes from Glasgow. The story is that a diner sent back a plate of chicken tikka (marinated cutlets cooked in a tandoor) because it was overcooked. The cook doused it with cream of tomato soup, added some masala spices, and sent it back. The story is somewhat suspicious because it doesn’t cite the name of the restaurant, but even if it had, urban legends often make such stuff up. One article I found cites a chef who claims to have made up the legend. Certainly chicken tikka masala is incredibly popular in the UK, probably more than in India. It’s said to be the most popular dish in the UK. Certainly the Brits love Indian food. It is kind of similar to Chicken Makhani, which has tomatoes and dairy in the form of butter. Whoever first dubbed the dish “chicken tikka masala” probably knew of the makhani dish and was making a milder or simple
