Vegan Chicken Tikka Masala

This vegan chicken tikka masala recipe is packed with flavor and makes enough that you'll have leftovers for the rest of the week! The combination of spices in a creamy tomato gravy dipped in warm garlic naan bread are to die for!

We used soy curls as the meat substitute in this recipe and they work so well. The original recipe calls for chicken "chunks" which soy curls very closely resemble, and their meat-like texture makes this recipe almost indistinguishable!

The Details

Chicken tikka masala is a relatively new-age recipe. The roots are somewhat debated but most accounts say that the recipe was created by an Indian chef living in Great Britain in the 1960s. The recipe is quite similar to other Indian dishes as well (butter chicken). We love the combination of spices and creamy tomato sauces that constitute many Indian-based dishes!

I was first introduced to chicken tikka masala when I attended the University of Guelph. They had it available at "The Bull Ring" (if you know you know) but it was so popular it quickly became too expensive to purchase regularly on my broke student budget.

This is the first time I've had vegan chicken tikka masala since going vegan and it's exactly like I remember. Making it at home, and buying the soy curls in bulk, means this meal is much more budget-friendly now!

How To Make Vegan Chicken Tikka Masala

This vegan chicken tikka masala recipe is easy to make and doesn't take up a huge amount of time! You don't need any special cooking tools or techniques just a few bowls and pans big enough to fit all the food because this recipe does make a lot!

Ingredients for Vegan Chicken Tikka Masala

• Soy curls (or chicken substitute)
• Vegan chicken broth
• Soy Yogurt
• Onion
• Ginger
• Garlic
• Passata (or tomato puree)
• Coconut Cream
• Vegan Butter
• Garam Masala
• Spices
• Basmati Rice
• Naan
• Lime
• Cilantro

Kitchen Equipment I used for recipe:

• Pack of 3 Bags of Soy Curls – Soy curls are notoriously difficult to find, especially in small-town Manitoba. They are however easy to find and have free two-day shipping on Amazon, which is where I normally get mine from!
• Chickenless Vegan Chicken Broth – Better Than Bouillon is a top-of-the-line broth with deep rich flavors, but the vegan versions can sometimes be hard to track down. In Ontario you can find them at Costco in Winnipeg I usually order them here.

Instructions for Vegan Chicken Tikka Masala

1. First, reconstitute the soy curls in a large bowl with 4 cups of chicken broth for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes dump soy curls in a strainer and squeeze excess broth from the soy curls with your hands.
2. In a large bowl mix 1 cup of vegan greek yogurt (we used Silk), 1 tablespoon of turmeric, 2 tablespoons of garam masala,1 tablespoon of paprika, 1 tablespoon of cumin, and 1 teaspoon of chili flakes. Mix in the soy curls and ensure they're fully coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes but up to 24 hours. Dice onion, mince 4 garlic cloves, grate 2 tablespoons of ginger, and set aside.
3. In a large cast-iron pan or similar pan melt 2 tablespoons of vegan butter on medium to high heat. when butter is melted and begins to bubble add your marinated soy curls and scrape the yogurt in the bowl into the pan with a spatula. Fry the soy curls and brown them on all sides for about 3 minutes per side. Set the soy curls aside.
4. Heat the same pan on medium-high heat and add 2 more tablespoons of vegan butter. Add in your diced onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes being careful not to brown. Add in your minced garlic and grated ginger, and cook until they become fragrant about 3 min. Next add in 1 can of coconut cream, 2 cups of Passata, 1 teaspoon of coriander, and ¼ cup of water to thin the sauce. Stir together bring to a slight boil and reduce heat to low. Simmer on low for 20 minutes.
5. While the soy curls are cooking prepare your rice and naan bread.
6. Plate your rice and top with butter chicken and cilantro. Serve with warm naan bread and a lime wedge.

Full Measurements & Instructions Below!

Commonly Asked Vegan Chicken Tikka Masala Questions

Can you make this recipe ahead of time?

Yes, this vegan chicken tikka masala recipe is perfect to make ahead of time. Allowing more time for all of the spices to mix together in the creamy tomato sauce will bring them out more. I would avoid making the rice or naan bread ahead of time because they tend to go stale quicker.

How do you store this vegan chicken tikka masala recipe?

This recipe can be stored in an airtight container for up to 5 days. But this recipe has never lasted more than 2 days in my house so do with that what you will!

What can you use instead of Passata?

There are plenty of substitutes for passata that is acceptable giving you slightly different results. Tomato puree is the closest direct substitute to passata. Other substitutes include; tomato sauce, canned tomatoes, and crushed tomatoes.

If you try this recipe, please leave a 5-star review in the comments section below! I’d love to hear from you! You can rate it, comment about it, send us pictures about it on Instagram @RescueDogKitchen.

Other recipes you might like:

• Vegan Butter Chicken
• Vegan Beef & Broccoli
• Vegan Sesame Chicken