Tikka Spice

Tikka Spice is a warm, aromatic blend drawn from North Indian cooking, with smoky, earthy and mildly spicy notes. It is a deep brick red in the jar, and smells of paprika and cumin first, with the sweeter clove and cinnamon notes arriving behind them.

Paprika adds gentle warmth and colour, cumin an earthy depth and cayenne a clean heat that brightens the mix without overwhelming it. Ginger gives a zesty edge, turmeric the golden hue and a mild earthiness, coriander a light citrus note, and cloves and cinnamon a rounded sweetness that ties the blend together.

How to use it

Use it in yoghurt marinades for grilling or roasting chicken, paneer or vegetables, and as the base for a creamy tikka masala sauce. Two tablespoons seasons a kilo of chicken. The technique tip: for the sauce, fry the spice in ghee with tomato paste until the oil separates and pools at the edge of the pan, usually two or three minutes. That split is the signal the spices have cooked through, and the sauce built on it tastes rounded rather than raw and powdery.

The shaker jar

The jar option is packed in a clear 8 oz shaker jar made from lightweight, food-safe PET, so the colour and texture of the blend are visible at a glance. The flip-top cap opens to a three-hole sifter for an even sprinkle straight over the pan, the grill or the plate, and closes again with a simple press. A pressure-sensitive liner seals the jar until first use, and the fitted cap keeps the blend fresh between uses. When a recipe calls for a measured spoonful, simply unscrew the cap; the wide mouth takes a teaspoon with ease. Once empty, the jar is easy to refill with your next Ameen blend and makes a practical home for dried herbs, chilli flakes, sesame seeds or homemade rubs. Hand wash only.

Details

Also known as

بهار تكا, Tikka Masala Seasoning, Indian Barbecue Spice, Tandoori-Style Spice Blend