Beef Tikka Masala | Pakistani Beef Masala Curry

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Beef tikka masala is a thing and it’s a curry you need to try soon.

Everyone has heard of chicken. tikka masala. My local curry house does a nice lamb tikka masala too but beef tikka masala? Using flavourful beef with this lightly spiced sauce is incredible. 

Following you will learn everything you need to know to make this authentic Pakistani beef tikka masala recipe.

What is beef tikka masala?

You should not confuse this beef tikka masala with the bright red chicken tikka masala you find at most curry houses.  Yes it is made with beef but there are other differences too. You prepare this beef tikka masala completely from scratch without the need for  the base curry sauce you need for curry house curries.

It is also spicier than the more famous curry but the texture is really quite similar. For your information, ‘tikka’ means ‘pieces’ in Urdu and Hindi and ‘masala’ means mixture. 

So what you are getting here is beef pieces that are cooked in a mixture of spices and fresh ingredients. I guess you could say that all beef curries are exactly that but with beef tikka masala you normally cook the meat off the bone and the sauce is different to other beef curries.

Which cut of beef should you use for this recipe?

When you make curries with beef, it is best to use cheaper cuts of beef like chuck and topside (top round). These cuts need to cook for longer to become tender but as they simmer, they release their flavour into the sauce.

You could also use more expensive cuts such as ribeye and sirloin. These cuts to not need to cook as long to become tender. Using these cuts, you will be able to cook your beef tikka masala in less than 30 minutes but you will not achieve the same depth of flavour as using the cheaper cuts.

Although it is not common to find marrow in a beef tikka masala, if you can find marrow bones to add to your curry, do it! The marrow oozes flavour and is a great addition.

Are there any other variations of beef tikka masala?

Beef is of course important if you want to make beef tikka masala. The sauce, however is amazing with other proteins.

You could make this same beef tikka masala recipe using other proteins. For example, try it with mutton or lamb and the sauce will taste amazing.

You could even use paneer to make a paneer tikka masala. Use paneer or lamb and use this beef tikka masala recipe or try the same proteins in this curry house style tikka masala sauce. 

How long can you store beef tikka masala in the fridge?

If you happen to have leftovers, I rarely do, you can store them in your fridge for 3 to 4 days. In fact, curries taste better with time as the flavours develop.

This means that you can also work ahead if you like. Go ahead and prepare you beef tikka masala a day or two before serving. Then just heat it up on your stove to serve.

Can you freeze this curry?

Yes and it freezes really well too. If it’s not too late, I recommend freezing it before adding the yoghurt and cream as dairy products like these don’t freeze well.

If it’s too late and you have already added them, go ahead and freeze it anyway. You might notice a texture difference when you heat it back up but it will still be very good.

Step by step photographs.

Get all of your ingredients together and prepared before you start cooking.

Place your chopped onions and chillies in a blender. You can add a drop of water if needed to assist blending.

Blend the onions and chillies in your blender until smooth. Set aside.

Pour the oil or ghee into a pan over a medium-high heat. Infuse the whole spices for about 30 seconds.

Add the beef tikka (cubes) to the pan in one layer. You might need to do this in two batches.

Brown the meat all over for a few minutes and then stir in the garlic and ginger paste.

Stir in the ground spices, chopped tomatoes and the blended onions and chillies. Stir well to combine and coat the meat and fry for about 5 minutes, stirring regularly.

Pour in the stock or water and add the mango chutney. Stir well to combine.

Cover the pan and simmer over a medium heat until the beef is tender. This could take up to 30 or 40 minutes with some cuts of beef. But watch it! Do not over or under cook the meat.

When the meat is tender, remove the lid and cook the sauce down to your preferred consistency. Then whisk in the yoghurt one tablespoon at a time.

Now add the cream and whisk it in too.

To finish, add the kasoori methi by rubbing it between your fingers over the curry. Season with salt and the lemon juice to taste.

Serve the curry over hot rice, garnished with the coriander (cilantro).

You can also wrap the curry up in a chapatti. Very good.

Enjoy!

If you like this beef tikka masala recipe, you might like to try some of these delicious beef recipes too.

1. 1. Beef Tibs – Ethiopian beef curry
   2. 30 Minute Beef Madras
   3. Beef Biryani
   4. Thai Beef Green Curry
   5. Thai Beef Panang Curry
   6. Chinese Crispy Beef
   7. Moroccan Beef Tagine
   8. Sri Lankan Beef Curry
   9. Chinese Beef in Oyster Sauce
   10. Japanese Beef Curry
   11. Vietnamese Shaking Beef
   12. Beef Chow Mein
   13. Korean Braised Beef Stew
   14. Beef in Black Bean Sauce
   15. Beef Kofta Curry with Chickpeas
   16. Mapo Tofu with Beef
   17. Beef Samosas
   18. Beef Chapli Kebab
   19. Shredded Beef Tacos
   20. Beef Haleem
   21. Beef Chow Fun
   22. Mongolian Beef
   23. Turkish Beef Shish Kabobs
   24. Beef Rendang
   25. Vietnamese Beef Pho