Chicken Tikka vs Chicken Tandoori: What Are Their Differences?

SUHEL AHMED • 20 May 2021

Indian cuisine transformed into an international phenomenon. Its dishes boast rich flavours and lovely aromas that make every Indian restaurant feel like home. The cuisine is quite versatile, making the meals unique and special. Aside from the wonderful combination of delicate spices, they are typically made of the freshest ingredients that are filled with nutrients.

If you love Indian food, you may already be familiar with chicken tikka and chicken tandoori. They are popular tender chicken dishes cooked in tandoor, which are special ovens made of clay. Because of their similarities, even some food connoisseurs consider them to be the same. But the truth is there is a world of differences between them. Find out more about it by reading the information below.

The History and Origin

The vast difference between these culinary delights is in their creation dates. Chicken tandoori dates back to 3,000 BCE in Harappa, Punjab. Meanwhile, chicken tikka originated in the 1970s in a Scottish curry house. It became popular in India during the era of royal Nawabs. However, these grilled appetisers share ingredients that resemble one another.

The Ingredients and Cooking Procedures

Chicken tikka is prepared with salt, plain yoghurt, lemon juice, and garlic cloves. It uses skinless and boneless chicken chunks taken from the breast part. These chicken chunks are smeared in yoghurt, spices, and lemon juice and then placed on skewers for grilling for about 25 minutes or until tender.

For chicken tandoori, the main ingredients are Greek yoghurt, red chilli powder, pepper powder, coriander powder, garam masala, and ginger-garlic paste. It can be made with both half and full chicken using mostly breasts, legs, and wings. Unlike chicken tikka, this delicacy is not boneless.

To cook chicken tandoori, coat its chicken slices with spices and marinated in a mixture of red chilli paste, ginger garlic paste, oil, curd, lemon juice, tandoori masala, chaat masala, and salt. Put them on a tandoor or griller and heat at 250-300 degrees Celcius for 40 minutes to make them tender. The high heat of a tandoor oven will give this chicken dish its signature flavour.

The Nutritional Value

The ingredients, portions, and cooking methods of these chicken dishes influence their nutritional value. Chicken tikka is packed with protein, fibre, fat, and carbohydrates. It contains 0.7 grams of fibre, 4.2 grams of protein, and 5 grams of net carbs.

On the other hand, Chicken tandoori is enriched with protein, fibre, and carbohydrates. It has 8.7 grams of net carbs, 1.8 grams of fibre, and 17.5 grams of protein. While both meals are nutritious, opt for chicken tandoori if you want a healthier meal.

Conclusion

Food enthusiasts, especially those new to Indian cuisine, might not immediately know the difference between chicken tikka and chicken tandoori when placed side-by-side. But through this guide, you can now figure out what makes each dish unique. So the next time you go out for dinner or order through pickup or delivery, you can have an easier time deciding which dish to try.

Whether you are craving chicken tandoori or chicken tikka, you are sure to enjoy the best Indian food in London when you order takeaway at Tower Tandoori. Our Indian restaurant near Tower Hill is one oldest in the city that serves authentic delicacies you will definitely love. Order online now!

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