There is nothing quite like chicken tikka masala, a dish of spiced chicken chunks smothered in a sauce made of tomato and yogurt.
It’s been announced that Ali Ahmed Aslam, the man credited with inventing the famed Indian dish, has died at 77.
In 1964, Ali Ahmed Aslam opened his restaurant Shish Mahal in Glasgow, Scotland. His experience and expertise eventually led the international community to recognize him as one of the world’s top curry chefs.
When a customer complained that the traditional chicken tikka dish was too dry, Aslam saw the light bulb flash above his head.
To go with the meat, Aslam made a yogurt-based tomato sauce. He had used a can of Campbell’s Tomato Soup specifically as he had spare servings following a stomach issue recovery.
A 2001 survey showed that chicken tikka masala was more popular than fish and chips.
In a speech by Robin Cook, the UK’s late foreign minister, he complimented Indian curry as “a true British national dish, not only because it is the most popular, but because it is a perfect illustration of the way Britain absorbs and adapts external influences… Coming to terms with multiculturalism as a positive force for our economy and society will have significant implications for our understanding of Britishness.”
And on the topic of Aslam’s creation, Cook noted that “Chicken tikka is an Indian dish. The masala sauce was added to satisfy the desire of British people to have their meat served in gravy.”