Store-bought tikka masala sauce can be a quick and convenient way to make this popular Indian dish, but the pre-made sauce often lacks depth of flavor. With just a few extra ingredients and techniques, you can easily take basic tikka masala from bland to grand.
What is tikka masala?
Tikka masala is a delicious curry dish that originated in India. It features tender chunks of meat (usually chicken or lamb) in a creamy, tomato-based sauce flavored with warm spices like coriander, cumin, garlic, and chile peppers.
The sauce typically contains:
- Tomatoes – Provides tangy flavor
- Spices – Adds depth of flavor
- Cream/Coconut milk – Gives a rich, creamy texture
- Garlic – Provides aroma
- Ginger – Adds subtle heat
This combination of ingredients makes tikka masala a uniquely flavorful, aromatic, and comforting dish.
Tips for improving store-bought tikka masala sauce
While convenient, store-bought tikka masala sauce is often lacking in flavor compared to homemade. Here are some tips to make it tastier:
Sauté aromatics
Sautéing onion, garlic, and ginger in oil helps bring out their flavors. Cook them for 2-3 minutes before adding the sauce.
Bloom spices
Blooming the spices in the sauce amplifies their flavor. Briefly cook the sauce with the spices for 1-2 minutes.
Add tomato paste
Stirring in a tablespoon or two of tomato paste gives the sauce more richness and body.
Simmer the sauce
Letting the sauce simmer for 10-15 minutes allows the flavors to mingle and intensify.
Finish with cream
Stirring in cream or coconut milk at the end gives the sauce a lush, silky texture.
Adjust seasoning
Taste and adjust the salt, spices, acidity to get the flavor balance just right.
Step-by-step method
Follow these simple steps to make store-bought tikka masala sauce restaurant-worthy:
- In a pan, sauté diced onion, garlic, and ginger in oil for 2-3 minutes.
- Add tikka masala sauce and spices like garam masala, cumin, coriander. Cook for 1-2 minutes to bloom spices.
- Stir in tomato paste and 1/4 cup water. Simmer sauce for 10-15 minutes.
- Add cubed chicken (or meat of choice) and simmer until cooked through, about 15 minutes more.
- When chicken is cooked, turn off heat. Stir in cream or coconut milk and add salt to taste.
- Serve tikka masala over steamed basmati rice or with naan bread.
Ingredients to have on hand
Keep these ingredients handy to doctor up any store-bought tikka masala sauce:
- Oil – For sautéing aromatics
- Onion
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Garam masala
- Ground coriander
- Ground cumin
- Tomato paste
- Cream or coconut milk
- Meat of choice (chicken, lamb, etc)
- Rice or naan bread
Recommended extra ingredients
Try adding any of these ingredients to boost flavor:
- 1-2 tsp chili powder or cayenne for heat
- 1 tsp paprika for smokiness
- 1 tsp garam masala for warmth
- 1-2 tsp lime juice for acidity
- 1-2 tsp honey for sweetness
- Chopped cilantro for freshness
- Grated fresh ginger for zing
Tikka masala sauce substitutes
If you don’t have tikka masala sauce on hand, you can substitute with:
- Tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes + garam masala + spices like cumin, coriander, chili powder
- Tomato sauce + any Indian curry sauce, like butter chicken sauce, korma sauce, etc
- Tomato sauce + a blend of spices like turmeric, paprika, cumin, coriander, ginger, garlic, chili powder
While not exact substitutes, these options combined with the blooming, simmering, and finishing techniques will produce a flavorful masala-style sauce.
Common mistakes
Avoid these errors when sprucing up store-bought tikka masala sauce:
- Not blooming the spices – skipping this step makes sauce taste flat
- Adding too much water – dilutes flavor
- Overcooking chicken – makes it tough and rubbery
- Undercooking sauce – results in raw spice taste
- Letting sauce boil rapidly – causes separation
- Forgetting to adjust seasoning – leads to unbalanced flavor
Serving suggestions
For best results, serve your homemade tikka masala with:
- Rice – Steamed basmati rice complements the rich sauce.
- Breads – Warm naan is perfect for dipping in the sauce.
- Yogurt – Cool, tangy yogurt balances the heat.
- Onions – Grilled or fried onions add texture.
- Chutneys – Mint or tamarind chutney add fresh flavor.
Leftover ideas
Leftover tikka masala sauce keeps well refrigerated for 4-5 days. Reuse it in creative ways like:
- Omelets or scrambled eggs
- Quesadillas or tacos
- Pizza topping
- Sandwich spread
- Stuffed potatoes
- Mix into rice or grains
Conclusion
With a few easy add-ins and cooking techniques, boring store-bought tikka masala sauce can be turned into a restaurant-quality dish. Sautéing aromatics, blooming spices, and simmering transforms the flavor from flat to fantastic. Creamy, fragrant, and full of spice, this boosted tikka masala is sure to become a favorite weeknight meal.
