Tofu Tikka Masala Recipe

Make restaurant style Tofu Tikka Masala at home! Oven baked or pan fried marinated tofu is served with tikka masala for a hearty meal. Serve it over rice or with flatbreads.

For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips.

Prep Time15

Cook Time40

Marinating Time4

Total Time55

Servings2 to 3

AuthorSwasthi

Ingredients (1 cup = 240ml )

To make Tofu Tikka

200 grams (7 ounces) extra firm pressed tofu (cubed to 9 pieces, read notes to prep them)
¼ cup thick yogurt (read notes)
½ teaspoon ginger paste or grated
½ teaspoon garlic paste or minced/crushed
½ teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder or smoked paprika (less spicy kind)
½ teaspoon garam masala
½ teaspoon coriander powder
½ teaspoon chaat masala (or ¼ tsp ground cumin)
½ teaspoon Kasuri Methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
¼ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste, as per your tofu)
½ tablespoon lemon juice (omit if your yogurt is sour)
½ tablespoon oil
1 small (½ cup ) onion (diced & layers separated, optional)
¾ cup carrots (thinly sliced or bell peppers diced, optional)

To make Tikka Masala

2 tablespoons oil (or ghee, divided)
½ teaspoon cumin seeds
2 inch cinnamon piece
2 green cardamoms
1 cup (80 g, 1 medium) onion sliced
1¾ cups (225 g, 2 medium) tomatoes sliced/ chopped
⅓ inch ginger peeled, sliced
2 small garlic cloves
½ to ¾ teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder (or paprika) less spicy kind
1 teaspoon garam masala (more to adjust)
14 cashewnuts (or nut butter/sunflower seeds or ½ cup coconut milk)
½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
1 cup water (to blend + cook the sauce, ½ cup to use coconut milk)
¾ to 1 teaspoon kasuri methi

To Garnish (optional)

1 tablespoon coriander leaves (cilantro chopped finely to garnish)
2 to 3 tablespoon cream of choice (cashew cream/heavy cream/coconut cream)
1 green chili deseeded and slit

How to make the recipe

Preparation - Marinade

To a mixing bowl, add yogurt, red chili powder, ginger garlic paste, garam masala, coriander powder, chaat masala, kasuri methi, oil, lemon juice & salt.
Mix well and taste test. Add more salt if required depending on how well your tofu is salted. Reserve 2 tbsps of this marinade if using veggies - bell pepper/carrots.
Add tofu cubes & gently mix well to coat with the marinade. Cover and rest for a minimum of 4 hours to overnight in the refrigerator.

How to Make Tofu Tikka Masala

Heat oil in a pan and add cumin seeds, cardamoms, cinnamon and onions. Saute on a medium heat until golden, for about 7 to 8 mins.
Add sliced ginger garlic and saute for 2 mins. Add the tomatoes, salt & nuts, cook until they break down and turn mushy.
Stir in red chili powder and garam masala, Cook this masala until aromatic for 2 minutes.
Pour water (& coconut milk if using) to a blender jar and transfer the cooled down mixture. Remove and return the cinnamon to the pan.
Make a smooth puree and return it to the same pan. Bring it to a rolling boil and reduce the heat to medium.
Cook covered until the gravy turns thick and you see traces of oil on top. Keep stirring in between.
Once the gravy is thick yet of a pouring consistency, crush the kasuri methi in your palms and sprinkle. Taste the gravy & add more salt and a little sugar if needed. Stir in 1 tsp ghee or butter. Rest this aside to keep it hot/warm.
Optional – If using onions & bell pepper, dice them to the same size as that of tofu. Separate the layers in the onion. Add them to a bowl along with bell pepper and marinate gently with the reserved marinade.
Preheat the oven to 460 F or 240 C for at least 15 mins. Line a deep baking tray with foil. Thread onion, carrots/bell peppers & tofu alternately on the skewers. Place them in the tray, move to middle rack & bake for 10 minutes, turn them to the other side and bake for 5 mins. Broil 1 to 2 mins for charred spots.
You can serve the tofu tikka on the side and masala separately over the rice or stir in the tikkas into the masala. It is best to add them to the sauce only at the time of serving. Garnish with chopped coriander leaves and green chilies if you want.

NUTRITION (estimation only)