Easy Creamy Tikka Masala Simmer Sauce
Description
This Tikka Masala Simmer Sauce is creamy, flavorful and even vegan. It's great for meal prep—just add meat (or tofu), simmer and serve over rice. Store in the freezer and reheat whenever you need a quick no-stress dinner!
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Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or ghee
- 1 yellow onion, halved and thinly sliced
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 serrano, seeded and minced
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 tablespoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
- 1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes
- 1 (14-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk
Instructions
- Heat oil in a 12-inch satué pan over medium. Add onion and 1 teaspoon salt; cook until softened and starting to brown, 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and add garlic, serrano, and ginger; cook stirring frequently until onions are softened and golden brown, about 7 minutes. Stir in garam masala, cumin, and cardamom; cook 1 minute.
- Add tomatoes with juices, crushing them with your hands as you add them (or use your kitchen shears to cut them in the can). Bring sauce to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, stirring frequently and scraping up browned bits from bottom of pan, until thickened and deep in color, 15–20 minutes.
- Add coconut milk and simmer until thickened, 5–7 minutes. Use as desired.
Equipment
Notes
Use this sauce to make Lamb Tikka Masala or Tofu Tikka Masala.
Made with olive oil, this sauce is vegan. It’s also gluten-free.
How to use the sauce:
Boneless, skinless chicken breast or thighs—cut into 1-inch chunks and stir into the sauce; cook for 5–8 minutes. Pre-cooked chicken or cubed rotisserie chicken is a great shortcut option.
Hearty white fish such as cod or halibut—cut into 1-inch chunks, nestle in the sauce, and simmer for 3–5 minutes.
Canned/cooked chickpeas or white beans—simply toss them in to warm through.
Peeled and deveined shrimp—nestle into the sauce and simmer for about 2 minutes.
Nutrition
Serving: 1/2 cup sauceCalories: 183kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 2.5gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 10gSodium: 175mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5g
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