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Definition of tikka masala
tikka masala
Plural:tikka masalas
tikka masala Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
6
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
• noun
1
A savory culinary dish consisting of roasted, marinated chunks of meat (especially chicken), paneer, or vegetables, simmered in a creamy, mildly spiced tomato-based sauce.
Example
"For dinner, we ordered a large bowl of chicken tikka masala with a side of garlic naan and basmati rice."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for tikka masalaWord Origin & Etymology
Derived from Hindi/Urdu 'ṭikkā' (piece or chunk, from Persian) and 'masālā' (spices, from Arabic). The dish itself is widely considered to have been created or popularized by South Asian chefs in Great Britain during the mid-20th century to suit local palates.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Tikka masala. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/tikka masala