Is Chicken Tikka Masala Truly British? Unveiling The Origins Of The Popular Dish

The recent ranking by TasteAtlas, which placed a British flag next to chicken tikka masala in its list of "50 Best Chicken Dishes Around the World," has sparked a lively debate among Indian food enthusiasts.

The dish, often celebrated for its rich, flavorful sauce, is now at the centre of a discussion about its true origins. While some claim it is a British creation, others argue that its roots are deeply embedded in the Indian subcontinent.

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The TasteAtlas Controversy

The latest rankings from TasteAtlas have stirred controversy by labelling chicken tikka masala as a British delicacy. The list, which features four Indian chicken dishes -utter chicken at number four, tikka at number six, Chicken 65 at number 10, and tandoori chicken at 18- has left many wondering how chicken tikka masala ended up with a UK tag. The inclusion of this dish as a British speciality has not only confused Indian foodies but also reignited the age-old debate about its origins.

One user on social media questioned, "How come chicken tikka masala became British? Look at the name itself! Does it sound British to you?" Another pointed out, "Pretty sure it was created by South Asian folks who lived in the UK. The place of origin might be the UK, but culturally it's South Asian/Indian."

The Origin Story: A Culinary Debate

The origins of chicken tikka masala have been a topic of debate for decades. The word 'tikka,' which means "bite-sized" meat, was brought to the Indian subcontinent by Mughal emperor Babur. Chicken tikka, a dish popular in northern India and Pakistan, consists of spiced chicken marinated in chilli powder and yoghurt, then cooked in a tandoor.

Chicken tikka masala, on the other hand, is characterized by small chunks of roasted chicken served with a rich, creamy curry. The exact moment of its invention, however, is contested.

The Glasgow Connection

One of the most famous claims comes from the late Ali Ahmed Aslam, a Pakistani-origin chef who lived in Scotland. Aslam, who passed away in December 2022, is said to have created the first chicken tikka masala in 1972 at his Glasgow restaurant, Shish Mahal.

According to a 2009 interview, Aslam made the dish when a customer complained that his chicken tikka was too dry. In response, Aslam added a yoghurt-based tomato sauce to the chicken, thus giving birth to what is now known as chicken tikka masala.

Aslam's version of the dish quickly gained popularity across Britain. In 2001, it was even ranked higher than the quintessential British dish of fish and chips, according to a report by CNN. At the time, Robin Cook, the UK's then foreign minister, famously declared chicken tikka masala as "a true British national dish," highlighting how Britain absorbs and adapts external influences.

Competing Claims

Despite the Glasgow story, others argue that chicken tikka masala is simply a variation of India's butter chicken. Kundan Lal Jaggi and Kundan Lal Gujral, who fled to India during the Partition in 1947, are credited with inventing butter chicken in the 1950s. Their story mirrors Aslam's, suggesting that the dish's origins may indeed be rooted in the Indian subcontinent.

Monish Gujral, head of the popular Indian restaurant chain Moti Mahal, claims that his grandfather was serving chicken tikka masala to Indian leaders as early as 1947. This adds another layer of complexity to the already murky origin story.

The Bangladeshi Angle

Another theory posits that chicken tikka masala was created by Bangladeshi chefs who migrated to the UK in the 1960s. According to the Multicultural Handbook of Food, Nutrition and Dietetics, these chefs developed the dish to cater to British tastes, adding yet another cultural twist to the dish's history.

A Debate Without End?

Given the multiple claims to its origin, the debate over chicken tikka masala's true birthplace seems unlikely to be resolved anytime soon. Food writer Leena Trivedi-Grenier, who has investigated various origin stories, believes the dish could have been invented by multiple people simultaneously. She also criticizes the notion that chicken tikka masala was created solely to satisfy British tastes, calling it "garish."

As the debate rages on, perhaps it's best to focus on enjoying the dish rather than quarrelling over who invented it. After all, chicken tikka masala's enduring popularity across the globe is a testament to its universal appeal, transcending borders and cultural divides.