Tikka Masala Sauce (Easy Homemade Recipe)
Creamy tikka masala sauce made with tomatoes, spices, and cream. Perfect for pairing with chicken, paneer, chickpeas, or roasted vegetables.
Servings: 4 Cups
Calories: 137kcal
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons oil or ghee
- 1 large onion finely chopped
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons garam masala
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional, to taste
- 1 can 15 oz / 425 g crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 cup 240 ml heavy cream (or coconut milk for dairy-free)
- Salt to taste
- Fresh cilantro chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the onions: Heat oil or ghee in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook 6–7 minutes until golden brown.
- Add garlic and ginger: Stir in garlic and ginger. Cook 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
- Toast the spices: Add cumin, garam masala, coriander, paprika, turmeric, and cayenne. Stir for 30 seconds.
- Build the sauce base: Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, and a pinch of salt. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Finish with cream: Stir in cream and simmer 5 minutes more until the sauce is silky and slightly thickened.
- Taste and adjust: Add more salt, cream, or cayenne to your liking. Garnish with fresh cilantro.
Notes
Ingredient Swaps:
- Use coconut milk instead of cream for dairy-free.
- Swap butter for ghee for richer flavor.
- Cook tomatoes long enough to remove raw taste.
- For smoother sauce, blend before adding cream.
- Store in fridge for 3 days or freeze up to 1 month.
- Reheat gently and add water if too thick.
- Toss grilled chicken, paneer, or roasted veggies in the sauce.
- Serve with naan, rice, or parathas.
- Add kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves) for authentic flavor.
- Stir in a spoon of yogurt for extra tang.
Nutrition
Calories: 137kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 37mg | Potassium: 153mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 425IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg