Indian · medium · 50 min · serves 4
How to make chicken tikka masala vegan
Short answer
Replace chicken, yogurt, cream, ghee with soy chunks or seitan, soy yogurt, cashew or coconut cream, vegan ghee. The method is unchanged and takes about 50 minutes for 4 servings.
What makes the classic version non-vegan
- Chicken
- Yogurt
- Cream
- Ghee
Swap table
| Instead of | Use | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken | Soy chunks or seitan | Marinate then char |
| Yogurt | Soy yogurt | Best tang and protein |
| Cream | Cashew or coconut cream | Add at the end |
| Ghee | Vegan ghee | For blooming spices |
Method
- 1Marinate soy chunks in soy yogurt with ginger-garlic and tandoori spices for 2 hours.
- 2Char under a hot grill until edges blacken.
- 3Fry onions in vegan ghee until deeply golden, then add tomato and spices.
- 4Simmer, blend if you like it smooth, and stir in cream.
- 5Add the charred pieces and rest 10 minutes before serving.
The one thing people get wrong
The char matters more than the protein — without blistered edges it tastes like curry sauce, not tikka.
Frequently asked questions
- Can chicken tikka masala be made vegan?
- Yes. Replace chicken, yogurt, cream, ghee with soy chunks or seitan, soy yogurt, cashew or coconut cream, vegan ghee. The method stays essentially the same and takes about 50 minutes.
- What is the hardest part of veganizing chicken tikka masala?
- The char matters more than the protein — without blistered edges it tastes like curry sauce, not tikka.
- How long does vegan chicken tikka masala take?
- About 50 minutes for 4 servings — a medium recipe.
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