Easy Tikka Masala Sauce Recipe-Vegan and Gluten Free

Easy Tikka Masala Sauce Recipe-Vegan and Gluten Free-A quick and easy recipe of Tikka masala sauce without the heaviness of cream. Made with canned tomatoes, this recipe of vegan Tikka masala sauce comes together very easily with things readily available in every home. I like to use canned crushed tomatoes as they are just that-crushed Roma tomatoes.

Easy Tikka Masala Sauce Recipe-Vegan and Gluten Free is a creamy tomato based sauce, usually made rich by adding heavy whipping cream or cashews. Since I wanted to make the tikka masala sauce vegan, I skipped the heavy cream. Instead I used cashews and melon seeds for the rich flavor that Tikka Masala sauce is known for. Butter/vegan butter is recommended for bringing out the aroma of the dry spices.

Substitutions-If you don’t have the whole spices, skip that step and add 1/2 tsp garam masala in the end, along with kasoori methi.  Again, if you don’t have melon seeds, add some more cashews. If you don’t have cashews in hand-  use a couple of spoons of almond or cashew flour. This sauce is so versatile, it can be used with chicken, paneer, tofu, chickpeas, mixed vegetables, peas, koftas, any kind of beans and meatballs. tastes awesome with pasta as well!

A fun fact– the most ordered dish in any Indian restaurant in the US is Chicken Tikka masala. It is so popular all over the world, so much so that the national dish of England is not Fish and Chips instead its Chicken Tikka Masala!

This is a 2 step process-first cook the whole spices, onions, ginger, garlic and cashews and blend them smooth. Then mix them with canned tomatoes and simmer together with basic spices for a smooth creamy, delicious versatile sauce. Crushed tomatoes have a lot of texture, so I did blend the sauce a second time. if you are looking for smooth, velvety sauce texture, then you can use canned tomato puree or tomato sauce(not ketchup) or just give it a quick whir in the blender like I did.

The sauce is pretty thick and will continue to get thicker as it cools as the cashews absorb water. Depending on what you are using the Tikka Masala sauce for-thin out the sauce accordingly. Use water, milk or heavy cream to thin the sauce.

Freezing Instructions-Freeze in freezer safe bags or in ice cube trays. Once ice cube tray is set, remove the individual servings and store in a freezer safe bag. Last 4-5 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before using.

 

Here is the written recipe, followed by the step by step pictorial one-

Here is the step by step pictorial recipe-

Heat pan, add butter/vegan butter or oil. Add cumin seeds and let them crackle

Add cardamoms, cloves, cinnamon, bay leaf and cook for a minute till a nice aroma emanates

Add chopped onions and cook till translucent

Add red chilies, ginger, garlic and cook for a minute

mix in the cashews and melon seeds and stir for a couple of minute.

Remove from heat and cool completely

Remove the bay leaf and cinnamon stick and blend with one cup of water till a smooth paste forms

In same pan, add canned tomatoes, I have used crushed tomatoes, you can use puree or sauce

Add in the onion, cashew melon mixture to the tomatoes

put salt, paprika, turmeric and coriander powder and cook for few minutes on low

Mixture will splatter, cover with a lid and let it simmer on low for 5-7 minutes

Add some sugar and crushed kasuri methi and cook for a couple of minutes till the flavors blend in

Store in the fridge for 4-5 days or freeze in freezer bags

Use this vegan, gluten free versatile tikka masala sauce with

chicken, paneer, potatoes, corn, tofu, chickpeas, kidney beans or any vegetables, beans or protein of choice!

If You try my recipes, please choose a star rating.

Share your feedback on my blog or my facebook page with a comment, review or picture. 

Follow me on Instagram and Pinterest

Please like my Facebook page to continue to get healthy, easy and tasty recipes from me.

Subscribe to my you tube channel Aanchals Food Fitness Beauty and More

Your comments and reviews make my day and help me grow as a blogger.

Your shares encourage me to keep doing what I love most

Love, thanks and appreciation

Aanchal