May
It’s Magic in a Bottle!
I am so thrilled to announce the launch of my new spice blend, Tikka Masala! My blend makes it easy to create delicious recipes that are usually complex to prepare, such as the classic Chicken Tikka Masala. No, you don’t have to be a gourmet Indian chef to make this. You don’t have to buy a ton of spices when you have my Tikka Masala because it’s already conveniently bottled for you! 
A dash here, a sprinkle there, and you will see how my Tikka Masala transforms your meals from bland to magnificent. I call it magic in a bottle; it is nature’s bounty at its best and is based on principles of Ayurveda, which nurtures balance of mind, body, and spirit.
The pandemic has limited our activities that we enjoy, such as dining out at our favorite restaurants and traveling. You can have a cultural experience in your own home at your dinner table with the flavors and tastes of India.
My Tikka Masala, like all of my spice blends, is hand crafted and packaged locally in Fort Collins, Colorado. My blends are sourced worldwide and include high-quality ingredients such as cardamom, coriander, cumin, saffron, black pepper, and many others.
Not only will you elevate daily meals, but you will also reap the rewards of better health. Spices included in my blends have been shown through several scientific studies to aid digestion, immunity, metabolism, and tissue nourishment.
I can’t wait for you to try it. Click here to order today!
Tikka Masala Sauce Recipe
The origins and claim to fame of Chicken Tikka Masala are contested by many, but I think you’ll get a chuckle out of this version. I like the endearing story of a grumbling customer in Glasgow, Scotland, who complained to the Indian restaurant owner of Shish Mahal that the chicken served to him was too dry. The owner aimed to please the customer, so he took the chicken, added tomato soup, cream, spices, and garam masala and transformed it to the Chicken Tikka Masala or butter chicken we know today. Just imagine! A recipe most people think is Indian in origin was actually concocted in Scotland!
Easily create the vibrant orange, fragrant, and savory flavor of Tikka Masala with my Basic Tikka Masala sauce, which can be used for more than chicken. For example, bechamel sauce is a basic sauce in French cooking that can transformed into numerous sauces by varying the ingredients. Similarly, by learning my versatile Tikka Masala recipe, you can create your culinary gems in a snap with your favorite protein, such as roasted chicken, beef, shrimp, or fish, or roasted vegetables and paneer. Cooking times vary according to the ingredients you choose. Add cream or coconut milk at the end before serving and garnish with cilantro. Serve with Naan, rice, and yogurt.
Bina’s Basic Tikka Masala Sauce 
2 tablespoons oil or ghee
2 large onions, small diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
2 tablespoons Bina’s Tikka Masala
1 tablespoon Bina’s Garam Masala
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon Bina’s Roasted Cumin
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 16-oz can crushed tomatoes (Cento or any Italian brand)
½ teaspoon saffron
¾ cup cream or coconut milk
Chopped cilantro for garnish
Instructions for Instant Pot:
Turn on Sauté feature on medium heat. Add oil. Add the onions and cook till they turn translucent and tender, about 12 minutes. Stir occasionally.
Add the garlic, ginger, and the spice blends. Cook until fragrant, stirring constantly so as not to burn.
Add tomato paste, and cook until blended with all of the ingredients for about a minute. Add the crushed tomatoes and salt, mix, and allow to simmer.
Add the saffron and methi leaves. Cook on pressure cooker setting on high for 5 minutes. Open when pressure is release.
Now it’s time to add the cream. For best results to prevent curdling, add 3 tablespoons of the hot sauce from the Instant Pot to the cold cream or coconut milk and stir, then add this to the mixture in the Instant Pot. Mix well, garnish with cilantro, and serve with naan, rice, and yogurt.
Instructions for Slow Cooker:
Make the sauce on the stove, and then transfer to the slow cooker and cook sauce with your favorite meat or vegetables. Vegetables, fish and shrimp cook more quickly than chicken or beef. If using cooked meats, vegetables, or chicken, it will be done in a snap. Otherwise, follow slow cooker setting. For chicken, it will take 4 hours, and for beef, it will take 6 hours in a slow cooker.
Enjoy!
