Chicken Tikka Masala Soup Recipe – A Nerd Cooks (2024)

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This soup tastes just like your favorite Indian takeout!

This Chicken Tikka Masala Soup is a big, warm, flavorful, slightly spicy bowl of Indian food goodness. Even though the weather is starting to warm up, don't pass up a chance to enjoythis soup.

Chicken Tikka Masala Soup Recipe – A Nerd Cooks (1)

I <3 Indian food

Yes, yes I know that I say this every time I post something that is even vaguely resembles Indian food, but seriously: Indian food is one of my weaknesses. Most recently, I shared some seriously delicious Butter Chicken. Before that there was the Chicken Currythat my husband loves so dearly. And of course, there is Chicken Tikka Masala.

Chicken Tikka Masala Soup Recipe – A Nerd Cooks (2)

Tikka masala... in soup form?

When I came across this recipe, I was really intrigued. Chicken Tikka Masala is my go-to order, and soup is one of my favorite things on the planet. Now, I know that combining two things that are great on their own doesn't necessarily produce even greater results (think nacho cheese + rocky road ice cream = blech)... but this seemed like a pretty good bet.

In this case, Chicken Tikka Masala + soup = a very, very good thing. I served this with some warm pieces of naan for dipping and sopping up every bit of this soup.

Chicken Tikka Masala Soup Recipe – A Nerd Cooks (3)

This recipe was adaptedfromThe Modern Proper

✨ Recipe

Chicken Tikka Masala Soup Recipe – A Nerd Cooks (4)

Chicken Tikka Masala Soup

Lauren Pacek

This Chicken Tikka Masala Soup is a big, warm, flavorful, slightly spicy bowl of Indian food goodness. Even though the weather is starting to warm up, don't pass up a chance to enjoythis soup.

4.44 from 44 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Course Soup

Cuisine Indian

Servings 4

Calories 736 kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 3 cloves of garlic minced
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 tablespoon garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon curry powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 2 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
  • 14 oz can coconut milk
  • 2 lbs chicken breasts cooked and shredded
  • 1-2 teaspoon kosher salt

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Sauté the onion and garlic until the
    onions are translucent; it should take about 5 minutes.

  • Next, add the spices and sauté for a few more minutes. Add the tomato paste and stir to coat the onions and garlic.

  • Add the chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, and coconut milk to the pot. Simmer for 30 minutes.

  • Use an immersion blender (or blend in a regular blender, in batches) until smooth. Add the cooked chicken and simmer until warmed through. Last, add salt to taste.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 736kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 78gFat: 38gSaturated Fat: 22gPolyunsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 195mgSodium: 2187mgFiber: 6gSugar: 12g

Disclaimer: Nutritional information is a generated estimate and is not guaranteed to be accurate.

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Chicken Tikka Masala Soup Recipe – A Nerd Cooks (5)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply

  1. Heather

    I was excited to make this as the dish is one of my favorites. I didn’t care for this at all. It tasted nothing like the Chicken Tikka Masala, which I’ve had here in the US and the UK. Husband like it so that was good.

    Reply

    • laurenpacek

      Sorry to hear that this wasn't to your taste, but glad to hear that your husband liked it!

      Reply

  2. Heather

    Chicken Tikka Masala Soup Recipe – A Nerd Cooks (10)
    I was so excited to make this. I LOVE this dish and have had it in numerous countries. This tasted nothing like it. Blending it made no difference. Husband liked it so that’s good but I had a grilled cheese instead for dinner.

    Reply

  3. Kaye

    Nutrition information would be nice.

    Reply

    • laurenpacek

      Added!

      Reply

  4. sbchica

    Just made it! DEEEE-licious. Mine came out a little sharp and acidic so I put in one teaspoon of sugar; hated to do that, but it works.

    How many calories is this soup (without my added sugar), please?

    Reply

    • laurenpacek

      Sorry for taking SO LONG to reply to this, but I've finally added nutrition info.

      Reply

  5. Debbie Sheegog

    Chicken Tikka Masala Soup Recipe – A Nerd Cooks (11)
    This is a great recipe that we love and will keep in our favorite dinner plans for many days to come. Imagine my delight to find that I actually had all of the ingredients except technically for the Garam
    Masala, which then lead me to discover what exactly those words mean. Fortunately there was a new pack of spices in the cupboard that was almost identical to it except of course everything in it had already been gathered fresh, dried, and ground into perfection. I will be sure to check out your other recipes and out of curiosity also “The Modern Proper “.Thank you for sharing it.

    Reply

  6. geekswhoeat

    This sounds absolutely delicious! I love all things chicken tikka! Working on a recipe of my own with those flavors too!

    Reply

    • ANerdCooks

      I love all things chicken tikka masala, too! Can't wait to see what you come up with!

      Reply

  7. Elizabeth @ SugarHero.com

    Yum, this sounds delicious! Tikka masala is one of my favorite dishes - I get it almost every time we go out for Indian.

    Reply

    • ANerdCooks

      Thank you, Elizabeth!!

      Reply

  8. Allie | In This Kitchen

    Great idea for sure! I'm with you, Indian food is one of my food true loves. And honestly... it's never too hot for soup for me *haha*. As long as I'm somewhere with air conditioning, I'll eat it year round 🙂

    Reply

    • ANerdCooks

      I'm with you =). Gimme a hot bowl of soup in a cool house any day!

      Reply

  9. Jasmine S.

    Chicken Tikka as a soup! Interesting! I could get on board with this 🙂 Looks yummy

    Reply

    • ANerdCooks

      Thanks, Jasmine!!

      Reply

Chicken Tikka Masala Soup Recipe – A Nerd Cooks (2024)

FAQs

Can I use yogurt instead of heavy cream in tikka masala? ›

So, instead of cream, I use yogurt and butter (cream's close cousin) to get that rich and velvety tomato gravy for my Chicken Tikka Masala.

Why does chicken tikka masala taste so good? ›

Everyone loves this dish worldwide. It is a delicious combination of marinated chicken with a creamy tomato-based sauce. So, it's not hard to understand why it's become so popular Indian dish. The aromatic herbs and unique mix of flavors make this dish genuinely one-of-a-kind.

Is tikka masala healthier than butter chicken? ›

Regarding nutrition, Butter Chicken and Tikka Masala are high in calories, fat, and sodium. Butter Chicken has more fat and calories than Tikka Masala due to the use of cream and butter in the sauce. However, Tikka Masala has more sodium than Butter Chicken due to the use of canned tomato puree.

What is the difference between masala and tikka masala? ›

Tikka refers to grilled or roasted pieces of meat that are either marinated in yogurt or spiced water before being cooked on skewers. Masala refers to a sauce made with cream, yogurt, or tomatoes; or a mixture of spices used to flavor food.

Can I use Greek yogurt instead of heavy cream in soup? ›

When you really need to thicken a dish, Greek yogurt gets the job done — in fact, it's much thicker than heavy cream. Combine equal parts Greek yogurt and milk for a substitute closer to heavy cream's thickness. Be sure to add it while your dish is off the heat to avoid curdling, and don't use it for whipping.

What is a substitute for heavy cream in chicken tikka masala? ›

Chicken tikka masala is usually made with heavy cream, but I like to use coconut milk instead; its subtle sweetness works beautifully with the spices in the dish. Serve with steamed rice.

What are the disadvantages of chicken tikka masala? ›

Skip: Chicken Tikka Masala

But like many Indian dishes that were originally low fat, the modern recipe for chicken tikka masala is anything but. An average portion has whopping 1,249 calories and 90.8 grams of fat. A lot of that comes from the ghee and heavy cream.

What does tikka masala mean in English? ›

/ˌtɪkə məˈsɑːlə/ [uncountable, countable] ​(in British cooking) a mild Indian-style dish made with pieces of meat, usually chicken, cooked in a sauce with cream and spices.

Do Indians eat chicken tikka masala? ›

While its exact origins are a subject of debate, it is widely believed that it was invented in the UK by chefs of Indian origin and has since become one of the most popular dishes in Indian restaurants both in India and around the world.

What is better than chicken tikka masala? ›

Butter chicken is a healthier option than tikka masala. Tikka masala has a shocking 400–500 calories per serving on average, but a serving of butter chicken may have 438 calories. If you're concerned with the amount of fat it has, you can always switch to low-fat substitutes for butter and heavy cream.

What is the difference between tikka masala and vindaloo? ›

Vindaloo is known for its spicy and tangy profile, often made with vinegar and hot spices. Tikka Masala, on the other hand, has a creamy tomato-based sauce with milder spices, resulting in a rich and mildly spiced flavor. Your preference depends on your taste for spice and degree of creaminess.

Is chicken tikka masala bad for cholesterol? ›

High Fat and Cholesterol Content

Saturated fat can increase your risk for heart disease and raise your cholesterol levels, and each serving of chicken tikka masala contains 28 grams of saturated fat, or 138 percent of the daily value.

Is tandoori masala the same as tikka masala? ›

Tandoori chicken is often marinated with lemon juice and yogurt in addition to various spices before being cooked at high heat, while 'Tikka' dishes are often chunks of meat in a spiced sauce (and thus more commonly called 'Tikka Masala').

What does the Indian word tikka mean? ›

The word “tikka” means small pieces of meat in Punjabi. And “masala” means mixture in the Punjabi language. These small pieces of chicken are marinated, traditionally and baked. In this article we look at the origin of Chicken Tikka Masala Indian curry and learn about its popularity in Western-worlds.

What is the best Indian dish? ›

With endless options for must-have Indian foods to try, we have put together our top picks of foods to try at an Indian restaurant:
  • Papad (also known as Papadum) Papad is an Indian version of a tortilla chip. ...
  • Samosa. ...
  • Chicken Tikka Masala. ...
  • Daal Makhani. ...
  • Garlic Naan. ...
  • Gulab Jamun.
Jan 27, 2023

Can I use yogurt instead of heavy cream in curry? ›

While cream and Greek yogurt are both dairy products, they have different textures and flavors, so substituting one for the other can affect the taste and consistency of the dish. In Tikka Masala, Greek yogurt is often used to provide a tangy and creamy base for the sauce, while cream adds richness and sweetness.

Can you substitute yogurt for heavy cream? ›

Blend together equal parts Greek yogurt and whole milk and use it in place of the same amount of heavy cream. Note that this substitute can add thickness to dishes like soups or sauces, but it shouldn't be used in recipes that require whipping.

Is it better to put yogurt or cream in curry? ›

A Yes, you can use cream or crème fraîche in your curries. What you will get is the same delicious creamy quality to the curry as if you had used yogurt, but it will simply be a little sweeter and milder in taste. You should spice your curry with this in mind.

Can I use yogurt to thicken curry? ›

A thick yogurt, like Greek yogurt, works best. Simply add a small amount of yogurt, like a spoonful, at a time. Stir your yogurt into the curry and keep adding a little more at a time until it reaches your desired thickness. This is great for Indian-style curries as a cream substitute.

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