Day 1: Paneer Tikka Masala from Chloe Flavor
Chloe Coscarelli’s cookbooks are all amazing, and when I can’t decide what to make I always know that a recipe of hers is going to be a safe bet. Tonight I was craving something really delicious, somewhat indulgent, but not overly complicated, and as I flipped through some books I knew this “Paneer” Tikka Masala from her latest cookbook Chloe Flavor was just the thing.
Before I went vegan, paneer tikka masala was my go-to order every time I went to an Indian restaurant, and I would also regularly eat the frozen ones from Trader Joe’s as a quick meal at home. Once I went vegan, I branched out to some new Indian dishes and left tikka masala behind me for the most part, though the recipe for Cheater Butter Chicken from Mary’s Test Kitchen is a pretty similar flavor and an old favorite in my household.
Based on my extensive research (5 minutes Googling), Tikka Masala is a dish of British origin while Butter Chicken (or Murgh Makhani) was actually invented in India. Either way it sounds like the versions we typically get here in the U.S. are not super authentic to Indian cuisine, despite being darn tasty.
Anyway, I made the recipe in about 30 minutes. Firm tofu is the replacement for paneer, and it works fine. There’s just a little bit of prep chopping onions and pepper. I used pre-minced garlic and ginger because I had it on hand. Everything came together pretty easily and quickly. I served it with rice and sad pita bread because my grocery store unsurprisingly had no vegan naan.
As with any Chloe recipe I’ve ever tried, it tasted great. That being said, I do think there’s way too much brown sugar (2 tablespoons!) in the recipe, and next time I make it I’m going to start with half a tablespoon and adjust it to taste. Lime juice and a little extra salt balanced the sweetness, and fresh cilantro on top was a lovely addition. Next time I think I would also puree the sauce which I think would help to balance the flavors. Overall, if you’re looking for something authentically Indian, this isn’t it, but if you’re looking for a creamy, Indian-inspired dish that comes together with little time and effort, I highly recommend trying this one out.
