Easy Lamb Tikka Masala Recipe

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This Easy Lamb Tikka Masala is made up of an excellently spiced and flavorful tender meat that will most probably convince you to cook and serve Indian dishes in your household once or twice a week.

a bowl of rice topped with Lamb Tikka Masala

Lamb Tikka Masala offers one of the most nicely spiced and aromatic sauces that perfectly coat and cover the juicy and tender chopped pieces of lamb. This recipe is so easy to make that it will surely be one of your dinner staples. It has that fancy Indian dish vibe, but the process of making it will surprise anyone who is trying to make it at home for it is quite simple and quick to prepare.

Serve this delicious and savory dish at home for dinner; weeknights or on weekends. This recipe is very flexible as well since you can just double it to accommodate more people at the table for when you are having friends and relatives over. Formal or casual dinner, this recipe will be excellent nonetheless.

This dish is also good for lunch and can be paired with other food such as naan bread, boiled white rice, and other dishes that are umami in flavor. Let your family enjoy the spiced and robust taste of this easy Lamb Tikka Masala!

What is Lamb Tikka Masala?

Tikka masala is usually done with chicken. Chicken is the favorite of chefs and wonders moms because it is easy to cook, juicy, and flavorful. However, this time around, you will be playing with much juicier and more tender meat in the form of a lamb. This recipe is a modern-day classic, famous both in its native land of India and in Britain. Its fame comes in no surprise though because the spice and savory of this dish serve as a cozy and comforting combo to munch around at home.

Why Does This Recipe Work?

Lamb Tikka Masala is a must-try recipe at home. But why, you ask? Here are some of the best reasons why you should not let the opportunity to make this pass you by:

This recipe may take time to finish, but the process is actually easy to follow.
Lamb Tikka Masala is made out of the most common spices and ingredients, the list of ingredients in this recipe is a pantry staple, and if one or two of the ingredients are not available at home, you can surely buy them from the nearest store.
This dish offers a creamy and savory sauce that complements the tender and juicy meat of the lamb. Both the taste and texture make this dish a perfect healthy comfort food at home.
It is a great and delicious weeknight meal for the family!
You can pair it with a variety of other dishes that have umami flavor!

What's in This Easy Lamb Tikka Masala Recipe?

Lamb. The base meat of this recipe, the lamb will give your Lamb Tikka Masala the tender and juicy texture and taste once seasoned properly.

Ginger. It is a perfect ingredient in marinating your lamb, it adds a certain earthy spice to the meat of the lamb. But most importantly, ginger helps in tenderizing the meat of the lamb so that you will have the perfect flavorful and tender meat.

Garlic. It is a good flavoring agent that can enhance the flavor of your lamb as it undergoes the marinating process.

Spices: paprika, garam masala, ground cumin, ground coriander, and chili flakes. This recipe promises the perfectly spiced sauce, and with this array of spices, you are promised an earthy, warm, and spicy Lamb Tikka Masala.

Lemon Juice. In marinating your lamb, lemon juice will not only provide a boost of flavor and acidity, but it will also help the ginger in tenderizing the meat. The outcome would be super flavorful, vibrant, juicy, and tender lamb.

Coconut Milk. Your sauce will only be savory and not creamy without coconut milk in the mixture.

Bell Pepper. Bell pepper somehow contributes the tiniest sweetness to this savory food.

Onion. Add onion to the recipe for a more definitive texture and flavor.

Tomatoes. One of the base ingredients for your sauce, tomatoes add a mildly sweet and tangy flavor to the dish.

Ground Almonds. Mildly sweet but with a robust nutty flavor, do not forget to add ground almonds for a more interesting taste.

Coriander. A strong aromatic with a fresh citrus taste, coriander is the perfect finishing touch to this recipe.

How To Make Lamb Tikka Masala?

Marinate the lamb
In a mixing bowl, mix together all the marinade ingredients, add the chopped lamb, stir to coat thoroughly. Put in the fridge for 1-2 hours.

Heat the oil in a large pan, add onions and red pepper and cook for 3-5 minutes or until softened.

Add the lamb with all of the marinades, tinned tomatoes, coconut milk, garam masala and ground almonds, and bring to a boil.

Reduce the heat and cook for about 1 hour until the meat is fully cooked.
Remove from the heat and stir in the fresh coriander, then serve.

Top Tips!

If by chance you have a leftover roasted lamb, you can utilize it for this recipe. It will save you time since leftover roasted lamb no longer has to be marinated.
Be generous with the number of spices you add. Spice things up as much as you like, this recipe is famous for its spice anyway.
Sprinkle a little bit of salt as you bring the dish to boil since salt can increase the aroma and balance other flavors present in the dish; plus, it also makes the lamb taste juicier.
Use the lamb leg sirloin or shoulder roast part of the lamb for better meat.

Recipe Variations

If coriander is unavailable, you may easily substitute it with fresh basil. Basil works well in the presence of lemon juice, garlic, and tomato. Fresh basil will add an intense and pungent flavor as you add it at the end of the cooking process.
Consider adding plain unsweetened yogurt in marinating the lamb since yogurt tenderizes meat gently and effectively.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this Lamb Tikka Masala with pilau rice or naan bread for lunch, and turmeric rice for dinner. You may have this dish with your favorite drink or any salad you fancy, such as Malfouf Salad, Rocket Salad With Parmesan Or Spinach And Potato Salad.

Recipe FAQs

Can Tikka Masala be frozen after prep?

Certainly, this is possible! The simplest method is to place the cooked and cooled Tikka Masala in an airtight plastic container with a cover and store it in the freezer for up to 1 month.

How can I reheat my leftover Tikka Masala?

To reheat this dish, place it in a saucepan with a splash of water and heat over medium heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a low setting and cook for 10 minutes, or until it is piping hot throughout.