Indian cuisine is a powerhouse of zesty and flavorful dishes. Thus, we’re often confused with the spice blends they use. In that case, let’s learn some interesting details about tikka masala blend vs tandoori masala!
Tikka masala blend and tandoori masala are two very similar spice blends but with subtle differences. The main difference between these two spice blends is some ingredients used and their proportions. Moreover, the tikka masala blend is specifically used in various tikka dishes. At the same time, tandoori masala powder is primarily used to marinate the chicken in the tandoori chicken dish.
What is best for your Indian dishes? So, let’s differentiate between these spice blends to observe them more closely.
Tikka Masala Blend vs Tandoori Masala- SpiceRally Drilldown
| Tikka Masala Blend | Tandoori Masala | |
|---|---|---|
| Base flavor | Spicy and warm | Spicy and warm |
| Main ingredients | Green cardamoms Black cardamoms Cinnamon Coriander seeds Cloves Cumin seeds Black peppercorns Kashmiri red chile powder Dry mango powder Turmeric powder Nutmeg Some variations might also contain the following ingredients: Fennel seeds Paprika powder Dried papaya powder | Cumin seeds Green Cardamom Black Cardamom Ginger Garlic Coriander seeds Cinnamon Cloves Black Pepper Kashmiri Red Chilies Nutmeg Mace Fenugreek Leaves Some variations might also contain the following ingredients: Orange or red food coloring Beetroot powder Salt Other artificial color additives and preservatives (commercially-made options) |
| Flavor and aroma profiles | Has a pleasingly spicy aroma with potent, robust spice notes. The spiciness is well-balanced with heat and slight tart hints can be savored as undertones. | Has a delightful aroma with vibrantly flavored overtones. Tandoori masala typically has intense spiciness with heart and warm flavors. |
| Level of spiciness | Less spicy than tandoori masala | Spicier than the tikka masala blend |
| Level of heat | Generally, the tikka masala blend is considerably less hot than tandoori masala due to the fewer red chilies. But the level of heat is adjustable. | Usually, tandoori masala possesses a more vibrant heat than the tikka masala blend. But the heat level is comparable if more red chiles are included in the tikka masala blend. |
| Texture | A fine, ground spice mixture | A fine, ground spice mixture |
| Color | Pale to deep brown in color | Deep brown to deep orange or reddish in color |
| Mode of usage in cooking | Spice blend | Spice blend/ seasoning spice |
| Usage in cooking | – Primarily used in various tikka masala dishes. – Elevates egg dishes – Amps up fusion Indian wraps and sandwiches – Spices up savory batters and doughs – Can be used as a seasoning for seafood, meat, and fish. | – Mainly used to marinate chicken in making the chicken tandoori dish. – Can be incorporated with yogurt to marinate vegetables. – Is great to be mixed with creamy dips and salad dressings – Can be used to marinate tofu, paneer, and mushrooms to make vegetarian or vegan dishes – Can be used to flavor minced meat or fish mixtures. |
| Variations | No specific variation is recognized. But recipes could slightly vary depending on the production or maker. | No specific variation is recognized. But recipes could slightly vary depending on the production or maker. |
| Origin | Indian cuisine | Peshawar, Pakistan/ Indian cuisine |
| Availability | – Broadly available under many brand names across India. – Can be bought from the international spice aisle of leading supermarkets, online sellers, and Asian stores outside of India. | – Broadly available under many brand names across India. – Can be bought from the international spice aisle of leading supermarkets, online sellers, and Asian stores outside of India. |
| Storage | – Can be stored with the rest of the dry spices, herbs, and spice blends in your spice cabinet. Refrigeration is not required. – Should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place. | – Can be stored with the rest of the dry spices, herbs, and spice blends in your spice cabinet. Refrigeration is not required. – Should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place. |
| Mode of Production | Both homemade recipes and commercially produced products exist. | Both homemade recipes and commercially produced products exist. |
Digging Deeper Into The Difference Between Tikka Masala Blend And Tandoori Masala
Cooking with spices and spice mixtures is nothing new to Indian cuisine. They’ve been doing it for centuries and spread their unique culinary art across the globe. The flavorful, aromatic nature of Indian food is simply unparalleled and this nature is mostly accomplished by the spice blends used.
Likewise, tikka masala blend and tandoori masala powder are two popular, widely used spice mixtures in Indian cuisine. People even familiar with Indian spice blends tend to confuse them as they are very similar. But, they possess subtle differences that need your attention.
The Difference of Ingredients
These spice blends are made using dry spices, which seem similar. Yes, they are, but most of them are used in different amounts which can make a huge difference in the flavor of each spice blend. Mainly, tandoori masala powder is a more robust blend due to its content of more spices.
It contains some spices like star anise, fennel, mace, etc. And that of cardamom used is also relatively more than the amount used in the tikka masala blend. The next signature difference is that the tikka masala contains turmeric and dried mango powder.
These ingredients are not typically used in tandoori masala. This makes the tikka masala blend hold a sour undertone which we don’t usually get in the tandoori masala blend. Moreover, tandoori masala powder usually contains dried fenugreek leaves (Kasuri methi) while this addition is not visible in the tikka masala blend.
The Difference in Flavor and Color
Adding dried fenugreek leaves lends a slightly bitter, herbal undertone to tandoori masala, making it more intense in flavor.
If you buy tandoori masala from the store, most commercially-made tandoori masala options may also contain artificial colors like red or orange. Some homemade options also include colorants like beetroot powder. These coloring agents are not usually available in the tikka masala blend.
How Do These Two Spice Blends Differ When It Comes To Usage?
Apart from the differences in content, tikka masala blend and tandoori masala have their own characteristic ways of adding up to the dishes. The main usage of the tikka masala blend is to flavor various traditional tikka dishes.
On the contrary, tandoori masala is the key addition to tandoori chicken dishes. Here, tandoori masala serves as the seasoning of the chicken before it is roasted in the special oven known as the “Tandoor”. In this case, we can categorize tandoori masala as a more special blend than tikka masala.
The content of the tikka masala blend is versatile enough to use in many other recipes. But, with tandoori masala’s robustness and color, it can only be used in a limited amount of ways other than its main usage.
However, both spice blends give a tremendous flavor to most traditional Indian radishes and fusion recipes. Therefore, we cannot choose one to be the best since they have their own unique way of upgrading your daily dishes.
Differences apart, it is important to discuss what they have in common as well. The common characteristics of these two spice blends allow them to be suitable substitutes for each other.
But it is important to remember that they cannot be utilized in place of each other regarding their primary usages. Hence, the tikka masala blend will not be suitable for marinating chicken for the tandoori dish while tandoori masala will not be a good fit to go in the tikka dishes.
Nevertheless, most similar ingredients can replicate the base flavor of each other. Therefore, the tikka masala blend can be used instead of tandoori masala and vice versa where these spice blends are required as secondary ingredients.
You may have to make simple adjustments, but still, they work better than any other options since they share the same roots.
