Chicken Tikka Masala, A British National Dish?

           When I was first introduced to Indian food by my friends during my freshman year of college, we traveled in a large group to one of the local Indian restaurants near the University of Pittsburgh. About half of us had never eaten Indian food before, and recognized very few dishes on the menu. Those that were more experienced simply instructed all of us to order the same dish – Chicken Tikka Masala. Since that night, Indian food has become a regular part of my diet, though I have added a variety of other dishes to my list of favorites. However, without the warm invitation that Chicken Tikka Masala provided, I would have never delved into the realm of Indian cuisine.

            When asked to think of what foods are quintessentially Indian, most people generally mention curries, and if asked for a specific dish, those that have experienced Indian food will often be quick to name Chicken Tikka Masala. However, much like assuming that General Tso’s Chicken is a traditional Chinese dish, the belief that Chicken Tikka Masala, in its current form, came from India, is false. Though it sounds much like an urban legend, the origin of the dish mentioned by nearly all sources, is Glasgow, Scotland. As the origin story goes, a Glasgow man went to a local Indian restaurant, Shish Mahal, and ordered a dish known as chicken tikka. This dish, rather than chicken tikka masala, is a sauce-less dish of bite size pieces of chicken that can be served with rice or as a starter. However, to this Glasgow man, accustomed to food served with gravy on top, the dish was far too dry, and sent the dish back to the chef. Whether out of anger or innovation, the chef decided to throw together a sauce made of tomato soup, yogurt, and spices, and thus chicken tikka masala was born^[1,2,3,4].  Thus, in order to cater to the need of the English to have their meat dishes with gravy, the traditional Indian chicken tikka, which claims ties back to the founder of the Mughal Empire, was altered to add a satisfying sauce with Indian influence.^[5]

            As mentioned before, the dish is quite simple in its ingredients and preparation. Chicken is first cut into small, bite size pieces, and then marinated with spices. After being cooked, normally in a skillet or, if available, a tandoor (a type of clay oven), and then covered in a sauce comprising of tomato sauce/soup, yogurt, and spices. A spiciness ranking scale is often used in restaurants (at least in the United States) to determine how hot you would like your food, on a scale from 0-10. While the scale determines how spicy your dish will be in terms of heat, it also influences both the type and quantity of spices that will be used in preparing your dish. Choosing a low spiciness level will often yield a thin, very tomato flavored sauce, as fewer spices will be used, and a higher spice level may lead to a slightly thicker, somewhat grainy sauce where the spices are both pungent smelling and noticeable when chewing. Typical spices include cayenne, cinnamon, cumin, garlic, paprika, and ginger, and a multitude of other spices that vary from chef to chef.^{[6, 7, 8]} Traditionally, the dish is served with rice and either naan or roti, types of bread used to convey the meat and sauce to the mouth, especially in traditional meals where utensils might not be used. Together, the meat, rice, and naan work to provide a filling meal, and nutritionally, they provide mainly protein and carbohydrates. As with many south Asian cuisines, rice is a staple of the diet, in order to both be filling and provide sustainable energy throughout the day. The sauce of the chicken tikka masala mainly contains tomato sauce/soup, yogurt, and butter as its liquid ingredients, which provide little nutritional value (the only nutrient being calcium from the yogurt). The spices and other ingredients of the sauce provide no direct nutritional value.

            Whether you believe the origin story or not, it is clear that cultural colonialism has had an enormous impact on the global popularization of this dish. Exploding in the United Kingdom and gaining popularity in the United States, Indian food is spreading into the Western world at a fast rate, and is a popular option for the Westerner to show off their “multiculturalism.” Claiming to be a Biritsh national dish may seem very unusual, but is it unprecedented? Arguably, hamburgers and hotdogs could be considered two of the most readily recognizable American dishes, but these were based on foods and techniques popularized in Hamburg and Frankfurt, Germany, respectively. However, it is very subtle differences that establish these dishes as American rather than German, so is it really that difficult to classify chicken tikka masala as a British dish? I say that it is not. While many dishes often have varying origins or similar dishes elsewhere, it is the signature touches that are put on a dish that make it unique, and give it a distinct feel in one country that you may not be able to get anywhere else.

            Today, this dish belongs to the common consumer, drawing no lines between culture, race, or gender, at least in the Western world. While many in India still stress the important of eating the foods that belong to your region and caste, chicken tikka masala is a wonderful Westernized dish that helps to draw people further in to Indian cuisine. Just as a person will most likely try spaghetti or pizza before delving more deeply into Italian cuisine, a dish like chicken tikka masala is important for helping to spread Indian food around the world.

Image Courtesy of  MultiCulturalFamilyRecipes

References

[1] Baksh, Sabrina S. "Curry: The Quest for Dominance in Plated Form." THE HISTORICAL EPICUREAN. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2014.

[2] "Chicken Tikka Masala - A True British National Dish." University of Pittsburgh - Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2014.

[3] "Chicken Tikka Masala." Shish Mahal. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2014.

[4] Hay, Mark. "Who Owns Chicken Tikka Masala?" Roads Kingdoms. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 July 2014.

[5] "A Brief History of Chicken Tikka Masala." Food Detective's Diary. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 July 2014.

[6] "Chicken Tikka Masala." Allrecipes.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 July 2014.

[7] "FoodNetwork." Chicken in Creamy Tomato Curry: Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe : Food Network. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 July 2014.

[8] "The Best Chicken Tikka Masala." Serious Eats. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 July 2014.

[9] N.d. Multiculturalfamilyrecipes Pakistani Chicken TikkaMasala Comments. Web. 22 July 2014.