Chicken Tikka Masala vs Chicken Vindaloo: What’s The Difference?
In the world of Indian cuisine, there is a dish that has traveled back and forth between India and England.
Tikka Masala was originally an English recipe for chicken in tomato gravy.
Indians then began to make their own version called Chicken Vindaloo – “is traditionally served with rice or bread.”
The two dishes are very similar but have different spice levels and cooking methods.
In this blog post we will explore the differences between these two iconic dishes from Indian cuisine.
What is special about chicken vindaloo?
Vindaloo is a spicy and tangy dish that originated in Goa, India.
It contains more vinegar than other curries, which helps to counteract the spiciness of the chili peppers.
The vindaloo usually contains potatoes and sometimes carrots, but it also can be made without any vegetables at all if you want to reduce your chances of getting heartburn or indigestion later.
Vindaloos are traditionally served with rice and naan bread for dipping into the sauce!
What is special about chicken tikka masala?
Tikka masala is a dish that originated in India.
It consists of chunks of chicken marinated in yogurt, spices, and garlic, which are then cooked with onions and tomatoes until the sauce becomes thick.
This dish has many variations but typically includes cream or coconut milk to provide richness to the curry.
Tikka masala is traditionally served with rice or naan bread as a main course meal.
Tikka Masala goes by many names including butter chicken, murgh makhani (in Hindi), tandoori kabob (in Urdu), and randari perasaana (in Sinhalese).
The name “tikka masala” comes from the Persian word meaning “spicy.”
What are the differences between chicken vindaloo vs tikka masala?
Many people are often confused by the difference between chicken vindaloo vs tikka masala, as they have similar ingredients.
So, for you, we’ve created this table to help explain the differences!
| Chicken vindaloo | Tikka masala | |
| Texture | The texture of chicken vindaloo will be thicker than the tikka masala because it contains fewer liquid ingredients | Chicken tikka masala’s ingredients include yogurt which gives it its distinct creamy texture |
| Flavor | Chicken vindaloo is usually spicy and made with a garlic paste | Tikka masala has a milder taste due to the use of tomato paste |
| Calorie’s level | The calories in chicken vindaloo are about 300 per serving | Tikka masala has 400-500 calories per serving |
| Cooking methods | Vindaloos can be made vegetarian by substituting vegetable oil for butter or ghee while cooking it – Chicken vindaloos are simmered in oil | Tikkas masala cannot because they use ghee to cook them – Tikkas are grilled over high heat |
| Price | Chicken vindaloo can be found at most Indian restaurants for about $10-$12 USD | Tikka masala can be found at most restaurants for around $8-10 USD |
What are the similarities between chicken vindaloo vs tikka masala?
Vindaloo and tikka masala are two different dishes from India, but they have a lot of similarities.
1. They both use spices like ginger, garlic, turmeric, cardamom, and chili peppers to give them flavor
Chicken vindaloo and tikka masala are both traditionally Indian dishes that use a combination of ginger, garlic, turmeric, cardamom and chili peppers to give them flavor.
2. Both dishes are spicy and have a tomato-based sauce
Chicken vindaloo and tikka masala are spicy curries that have a tomato-based sauce.
This delicious dish originated in the Indian city of Calcutta, now known as Kolkata.
3. They both require marinating meat before frying them in oil
To make chicken vindaloo and tikka masala, the meat must be marinated before frying.
The oil in which it is fried will then give these Indian dishes their unique flavor.
4. They are both served with rice and/or naan breads on top
They’re often served with rice or naan breads as the main dish in an entree meal but can also be used for appetizers too!
Which one is better?
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We hope that this blog post helped you to understand the difference between chicken vindaloo and tikka masala.
Tikka Masala is a creamy curry dish with tomato-based sauce, while Chicken Vindaloo is spicier than its cousin and has an onion-and-garlic based sauce.
If you want to enjoy one of these dishes for dinner tonight, be sure to choose wisely!