Common Ingredients in tikka masala Recipes

We researched the most common ingredients in over a dozen popular tikka masala recipes and found the top 15 ingredients.

The most common ingredients in tikka masala dishes are tomatoes and garlic.

Yogurt, cilantro, onion, heavy cream, garam masala, ginger root and chicken breast are also common ingredients in tikka masala recipes. For herbs and spices, cumin, turmeric, paprika, cayenne pepper and ginger are popular. Variations include:

• ginger in place of ginger root
• chicken thigh in place of chicken breast

Salt is in 85% of tikka masala recipes.

The average tikka masala recipe has about 18 ingredients, with a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 27.

In terms of directions, tikka masala recipes have about 6.4 steps on average, ranging from 3 to 14 instructions.

An average tikka masala recipe takes about 1 hour 38 minutes to prepare, ranging from 50 minutes to 2 hours 20 minutes.

Ratios of Common Ingredients in Tikka Masala

For 1 cup yogurt (245 g), the median and average amounts of other significant ingredients are below. Some ingredients are potential substitutes for others, meaning they almost never exist together in a single tikka masala recipe, and are marked below.

Ingredient	Median	Average	% of recipes with yogurt	Potential subsitutions
garlic	4 clove (12 g)	7.6 clove (23 g)	100%
salt	1 teaspoon (6 g)	three quarters of a teaspoon (4 g)	86%
cumin	2 teaspoon (4 g)	1.9 teaspoon (4 g)	71%	chili powder
cilantro	0.43 cup (7 g)	0.53 cup (9 g)	71%
garam masala	1 teaspoon (3 g)	2.6 teaspoon (9 g)	71%
heavy cream	1 cup (120 g)	1.1 cup (128 g)	57%
ginger root	1.5 tablespoon (9 g)	1.1 tablespoon (7 g)	57%	ginger
paprika	1.4 teaspoon (3 g)	1.3 teaspoon (3 g)	57%	chili powder
turmeric	1.3 teaspoon (4 g)	1.7 teaspoon (5 g)	57%	black pepper
onion	1 large (150 g)	1.6 large (245 g)	57%
tomatoes	2 tablespoon (32 g)	3.1 tablespoon (50 g)	57%	jalapeno pepper

Ingredients by Average Weight in Tikka Masala

We also found the average content of the significant ingredients by weight in tikka masala recipes. This would be: 35% chicken breast, 27% yogurt, 18% onion, 9% heavy cream, 6% tomatoes, 2% garlic and 1% ginger.

Here are the top ingredients, listed in order of popularity.

tomatoes

Tomatoes is the most popular ingredient in tikka masala dishes. In fact, 100% of tikka masala recipes contain tomatoes.

Variations of tomatoes include:

• tomato sauce: 38% of recipes

For tikka masala recipes, tomatoes is frequently used with yogurt, garam masala, onion, garlic and salt.

Potential substitutions for tomatoes in tikka masala:

• jalapeno pepper

Also, tomatoes is not often used with cinnamon, tomato sauce and black pepper.

garlic

Another popular ingredient in tikka masala is garlic. From the recipes we've sampled for tikka masala, 100% have garlic.

Tikka masala dishes often call for garlic to be minced and grated.

Garlic is often included in tikka masala dishes in amounts of 1 clove or 4 cloves.

In tikka masala recipes that contain garlic, it is on average, 1% by weight.

In recipes for tikka masala, garlic is often used with salt, yogurt, cumin, onion and heavy cream.

yogurt

Yogurt is another common ingredient in tikka masala dishes. In fact, over 85% of tikka masala recipes contain yogurt.

Common quantities for yogurt in tikka masala dishes include 1 cup.

In tikka masala recipes that contain yogurt, it is on average, 15% by weight.

Garlic, salt, garam masala, cumin and cilantro are commonly used together with yogurt in tikka masala dishes.

salt

Another popular ingredient in tikka masala is salt. From the recipes we've sampled for tikka masala, over 85% have salt.

Salt is often included in tikka masala dishes in amounts of half a teaspoon.

In tikka masala recipes that contain salt, it is on average, 0.2% by weight.

For tikka masala recipes, salt is frequently used with garlic, yogurt, cumin, turmeric and heavy cream.

cumin

Cumin is another common ingredient in tikka masala dishes. In fact, over 75% of tikka masala recipes contain cumin.

Tikka masala dishes often call for cumin to be ground.

Cumin is often included in tikka masala dishes in amounts of 2 teaspoons or 1 teaspoon.

In tikka masala recipes that contain cumin, it is on average, 0.2% by weight.

In recipes for tikka masala, cumin is often used with garlic, paprika, heavy cream, salt and yogurt.

Potential substitutions for cumin in tikka masala:

• chili powder

cilantro

Another popular ingredient in tikka masala is cilantro. From the recipes we've sampled for tikka masala, over 60% have cilantro.

Chopped is a frequent preparation for cilantro in tikka masala dishes.

Common quantities for cilantro in tikka masala dishes include a quarter cup.

In tikka masala recipes that contain cilantro, it is on average, 0.5% by weight.

Yogurt, garlic, salt, cumin and paprika are commonly used together with cilantro in tikka masala dishes.

turmeric

Turmeric is another common ingredient in tikka masala dishes. In fact, over 60% of tikka masala recipes contain turmeric.

Ground is a frequent preparation for turmeric in tikka masala dishes.

Turmeric is often included in tikka masala dishes in amounts of a quarter teaspoon.

In tikka masala recipes that contain turmeric, it is on average, 0.2% by weight.

For tikka masala recipes, turmeric is frequently used with garlic, onion, heavy cream, cumin and salt.

Potential substitutions for turmeric in tikka masala:

• black pepper

Also, turmeric is not often used with butter and jalapeno pepper.

paprika

Another popular ingredient in tikka masala is paprika. From the recipes we've sampled for tikka masala, over 60% have paprika.

Paprika is often included in tikka masala dishes in amounts of 2 teaspoons or 1 teaspoon.

In tikka masala recipes that contain paprika, it is on average, 0.2% by weight.

In recipes for tikka masala, paprika is often used with garlic, cumin, yogurt, cayenne pepper and cilantro.

Potential substitutions for paprika in tikka masala:

• chili powder

onion

Onion is another common ingredient in tikka masala dishes. In fact, over 60% of tikka masala recipes contain onion.

Chopped and sliced are frequent preparations for onion in tikka masala dishes.

Common quantities for onion in tikka masala dishes include 1 large or 1 onion.

In tikka masala recipes that contain onion, it is on average, 14% by weight.

Garlic, yogurt, salt, garam masala and tomatoes are commonly used together with onion in tikka masala dishes. Conversely, onion is not often used with jalapeno pepper and black pepper.

heavy cream

Another popular ingredient in tikka masala is heavy cream. From the recipes we've sampled for tikka masala, over 60% have heavy cream.

Heavy cream is often included in tikka masala dishes in amounts of 1 cup.

In tikka masala recipes that contain heavy cream, it is on average, 7% by weight.

For tikka masala recipes, heavy cream is frequently used with garlic, cumin, turmeric, salt and paprika. However, chili powder is almost never used together with heavy cream in tikka masala dishes.

garam masala

Garam masala is another common ingredient in tikka masala dishes. In fact, over 60% of tikka masala recipes contain garam masala.

Garam masala is often included in tikka masala dishes in amounts of 1 teaspoon.

In tikka masala recipes that contain garam masala, it is on average, 0.5% by weight.

In recipes for tikka masala, garam masala is often used with yogurt, garlic, salt, onion and tomatoes.

cayenne pepper

Another popular ingredient in tikka masala is cayenne pepper. From the recipes we've sampled for tikka masala, over 50% have cayenne pepper.

Common quantities for cayenne pepper in tikka masala dishes include 2 teaspoons.

In tikka masala recipes that contain cayenne pepper, it is on average, 0.2% by weight.

Paprika, salt, cumin, garlic and yogurt are commonly used together with cayenne pepper in tikka masala dishes.

Potential substitutions for cayenne pepper in tikka masala:

• chili powder

Also, cayenne pepper is not often used with chicken thigh.

ginger root

Ginger root is another common ingredient in tikka masala dishes. In fact, over 50% of tikka masala recipes contain ginger root.

In tikka masala recipes that contain ginger root, it is on average, 0.3% by weight.

For tikka masala recipes, ginger root is frequently used with garlic, salt, yogurt, heavy cream and turmeric.

Potential substitutions for ginger root in tikka masala:

• ginger

ginger

Another popular ingredient in tikka masala is ginger. From the recipes we've sampled for tikka masala, over 50% have ginger.

Tikka masala dishes often call for ginger to be grated.

In tikka masala recipes that contain ginger, it is on average, 1% by weight.

In recipes for tikka masala, ginger is often used with garlic, yogurt, salt, onion and garam masala.

Potential substitutions for ginger in tikka masala:

• ginger root

Also, ginger is not often used with basmati rice.

chicken breast

Chicken breast is another common ingredient in tikka masala dishes. In fact, over 35% of tikka masala recipes contain chicken breast.

Common quantities for chicken breast in tikka masala dishes include 4 chicken breasts.

In tikka masala recipes that contain chicken breast, it is on average, 47% by weight.

Salt, garlic, heavy cream, cilantro and turmeric are commonly used together with chicken breast in tikka masala dishes.

Potential substitutions for chicken breast in tikka masala:

• chicken thigh

Also, chicken breast is not often used with tomatoes, basmati rice and coriander.

Other tikka masala Ingredients

Other significant ingredients used in tikka masala recipes include:

• butter - 35%
• vegetable oil - 35%
• lemon juice - 35%
• cinnamon - 35%
• rice - 35%
• chicken thigh - 25%
• jalapeno pepper - 25%
• ghee - 25%
• chili powder - 25%
• black pepper - 25%
• coriander - 25%

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