Mix in a Little India: Two Masala Recipes

A couple of years ago, I wouldn’t even have tried Indian food. Sad, right? My husband, however has loved it forever and I slowly opened my mind and tried some Indian food at a local restaurant he adores. Eventually, I even started cooking it at home with recipes like this Butter Chicken and my current favourite, Pub Style Chicken Curry. So when Patak’s Canada put out a call for ambassadors I jumped all over it. First, I was eager to mix in a little India to our everyday cooking and second, as I told Patak’s in my application, I was pretty sure I was going to get lucky a whole lot more cooking Indian for my husband. I can’t say for sure, but I’m pretty sure that got me the gig. Right, Pataks?

While I’m converting myself into an Indian food lover though, I’ve decided I’m taking others along for the ride on this one year journey to mix in a little India.

First up, my daughter’s best friend. Reputed to refuse her mother’s offers of Indian Food, among other things, I decided that we would have her over for our first Patak’s meal. This kid, whom I’ve known since nursery school, never says no to what I put in front of her. I decided to keep the heat to a minimum and served Classic Chicken Tikka Masala and Chickpea Masala. Did we have a winner? You be the judge?

Classic Chicken Tikka Masala

1 jar Patak’s Tikka Masala Cooking Sauce
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 lb boneless chicken, skinned and cut into 1 inch cubes
14 oz can diced or chopped tomatoes
2 tbsp cream (optional)

Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Sauté the onions until translucent. Stir in the chicken and cook until the meat is sealed. Shake the jar of Patak’s Tikka Masala Cooking Sauce and stir into the meat with the diced tomatoes. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 15 minutes until chicken is cooked through. Stir in the cream just before serving. Serve with rice and naan bread.

I also served a Chickpea Masala (aka Chana Masala) on the side. The recipe can be found here on Patak’s Canada site. I am so in love with this recipe that I can’t stop making it. Really.

Both these recipes were a hit in our house and I’m proud to say I’m expanding our Indian food repertoire a little bit more all the time. Since the celebration of Diwali was this month as well, we lit some candles and brought a new festivity into our house. It was a little Diwali, a little Thanksgiving around here. Fun. Can’t wait to share what’s in store next month as we continue to mix in a little India!

Disclosure: I am part of the Patak’s Canada Ambassador program with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.