Make your own easy homemade tikka paste in minutes. This incredibly delicious Indian paste uses simple pantry ingredients. The tikka paste is low carb, keto-friendly, gluten-free and vegan friendly.
Use it in our Chicken Tikka Masala or even make our Easy Keto Butter Chicken even easier. Trust me on this, it makes an amazing sauce that you can serve with almost anything!
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Homemade tikka paste in a glass jar with spoon.

What is Tikka Paste?

If you’re looking to whip up your own tikka paste in no time, you’re in luck! With just a few pantry staples, you can create a mouthwatering Indian paste that’s both low carb and keto-friendly. Not to mention, it’s also gluten-free and vegan friendly, making it a versatile option for all kinds of diets.

To really bring this recipe to life, use it in our Chicken Tikka Masala or with beef or vegetables.

Homemade tikka masala curry paste is a fabulous mixture of spices, garlic, ginger, chilli and tomatoes. Once you make it, you have the perfect base marinade and sauce flavour ready for any masala you want to make.

It only takes 5 minutes and uses simple everyday ingredients. An easy blender curry, or Thermomix tikka paste. Make it in a food processor or you can bash it out with a mortar and pestle.

Originating in India, tikka masala paste is one of my favourite curry pastes!

Related Recipes: Homemade Korma Paste / Panang Curry Paste

What you’ll love about this recipe:

  • LOW CARB & FAMILY FRIENDLY – this curry paste recipe has no added fillers. It is a great alternative for chicken tikka paste (store-bought) and is low in carbs.
  • QUICK & EASY – a 5-minute paste that can be used immediately. It is so simple and fast to make your own.
  • INEXPENSIVE – easy supermarket ingredients that won’t break the budget.
Homemade Tikka Paste ingredients in small bowls on black tiles.

Tikka Paste Ingredients

  • Spices – use cumin, coriander, turmeric, garam masala, and paprika. You can use whole cumin seeds and coriander seeds or use ground powders. I like to add dried fenugreek leaves (kasoori methi) to my pasta or the masala curry recipe for extra flavour.
  • Olive Oil – use extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil.
  • Tomato puree – use canned passata or tomato puree. You can use tomato paste (the paste will just be a bit thicker). I use tinned puree or Napoletana Sauce.

Scroll down to the full recipe and ingredient list below to make this recipe for tikka paste.

How To Make Tikka Paste

Tikka paste inside a thermomix bowl.

I have included methods on how to make Thermomix Tikka Paste (or Magimix), mortar and pestle or food processor.

Step 1. Place all the ingredients into a blender, food processor, or Thermomix. Blend until the mixture is smooth and becomes a paste. You may need to scrape down the side of the bowl and repeat until smooth. Add an extra tablespoon of oil if the mixture is not smooth.

Note: If you do not have a food processor, tikka masala paste can be easily made with a mortar and pestle.

Storing

Fridge – store in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Freeze – in silicone ice cube trays before placing them into an airtight bag for easy use. 

Tikka Paste Hacks: Surprising Ways to Use This Delicious Ingredient

Tikka paste can add flavour to almost any dish. Use to marinade chicken, beef or lamb or brush over kebabs of meat and vegetables before grilling.

You can substitute the tandoori paste with homemade paste in our Baked Tandoori Baked Chicken, or a substitute in Chicken Korma.

Add it to your favourite Chicken Soup, Garlic Sauce or Mayonnaise or add it to shredded beef or Instant Pot Chicken to give it some Indian flair.

Homemade tikka paste in a small jar with a big green spoon with chillies to the side.

FAQs about Tikka Paste

Tikka paste is not generally spicy. It has a mild to medium heat. When making your own you can control the level of spices.

This recipe is gluten free, grain free and sugar free. It is suitable for coeliac and diabetic-friendly. The paste is also vegan and keto friendly.

Use two tablespoons of paste for every serve if making a tikka masala sauce with protein or vegetables. If using as a marinade or mop sauce use 1-2 tablespoons per 1/3 cup of yoghurt or coconut cream.

Tikka Paste and Beyond: Exploring the World of Indian Spices and Flavors

Be sure to tell us how much you love our easy tikka paste recipe in the comments. Happy cooking and watch for more Indian cuisine recipes coming soon. Meg x

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Tikka paste in a small jar with a big green spoon.

Homemade Tikka Paste

Make your own easy homemade tikka paste in minutes. This incredibly delicious Indian paste uses simple pantry ingredients. The tikka paste is low carb, keto-friendly, gluten-free and vegan friendly.
Use it in our Chicken Tikka Masala or even make our Easy Keto Butter Chicken even easier. Trust me on this, it makes an amazing sauce that you can serve with almost anything!
5 from 55 votes!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Course: Sauce/Marinade
Cuisine: Indian
Diet: Diabetic, Gluten Free, Vegan
Recipe Category: Low Carb
Calories: 74kcal
Author: Megan Ellam
Servings: 4 serves
Tap or hover over number to scale ingredients
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Equipment

  • Food Processor or Blender

Ingredients 

  • 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) ground turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) garam masala
  • 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) paprika
  • 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) salt flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon (½ teaspoon) black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons (2 tablespoons) avocado oil
  • 2 tablespoons (2 tablespoons) tomato puree
  • 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) crushed garlic
  • 1 teaspoon (1 teaspoon) crushed ginger
  • 1-2 teaspoons (1 teaspoons) fresh chilli peppers finely chopped, see notes
  • 2 tablespoons (2 tablespoons) fresh coriander, stems and leaves, chopped

Instructions

CONVENTIONAL METHOD

  • BLEND – Place all the ingredients into a blender or food processor. Blend until the mixture is smooth and becomes a paste. You may need to scrape down the side of the bowl. Add an extra tablespoon of oil if the mixture is not smooth.

THERMAL METHOD

  • BLEND – Place all the ingredients into mixer; mix 6 seconds/speed 6. Scrape downsides and repeat until the mixture is smooth and becomes a paste. Add an extra tablespoon of oil if the mixture is not smooth.

Notes

Storing
Fridge – store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Freeze – in silicone ice cube trays before placing them into an airtight bag for easy use. 
How to use Tikka Masala Paste
Looking to add some flavor to your grilled protein? Tikka curry paste is a great option! This versatile paste can be used as a marinade for your favorite meats or veggies before grilling or barbecuing. Try using your homemade tikka paste to make dishes like tikka masala chicken or veggie skewers.
You can substitute the tandoori paste with homemade paste in our Baked Tandoori Baked Chicken, or a substitute in Chicken Korma.

Your Own Notes

Click here to add your own private recipe notes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serve | Calories: 74kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 586mg | Potassium: 78mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.5g | Vitamin A: 296IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 1mg | Magnesium: 7mg | Net Carbs: 1g
Tried this recipe?Mention @meganellam or tag #madcreations!

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13 responses to “Homemade Tikka Paste”

  1. Eileen C

    5 stars
    Made this yesterday so that I could make the Murgh Tikka Masala for dinner last night. So easy to make! I added half a long red chilli that was in my freezer and that gave the perfect amount of heat for me (I’m a chilli wuss). Will definitely be making more of this so that I have a supply of it in the freezer whenever I need it. Thanks Megan! Yum! 😋😋😋

    Reply
    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      You are very welcome Eileen

      Reply
  2. Melinda

    5 stars
    Delicious! I used this tikka paste to season chunks of chicken that we cooked on the grill. The spice combination was perfect. I didn’t have salt flakes so used sea salt, but other than that no other substitutions. Great recipe!!

    Reply
    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Glad you enjoyed it Melinda

      Reply
  3. Helen at the Lazy Gastronome

    5 stars
    This paste is really easy to make. I’ll be using it on many things! Chicken, fish, tofu!!

    Reply
    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Yay! So goo to hear it went well

      Reply
  4. Andrea

    5 stars
    love how easy this paste is to make! So tasty and flavor-packed!

    Reply
    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      So happy you enjoyed it Andrea

      Reply
  5. Nicole

    5 stars
    I made this for my diabetic friend and they were so happy with the flavors! I used it on chicken breast and served over rice.

    Reply
    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      Yay! So good to hear you enjoyed it Nicole

      Reply
    2. Kevan

      I’m a diabetic. Rice is bad. Brown rice slightly less so. Best of all – cauliflower rice – that’s diabetic friendly.

      Reply
  6. megan

    5 stars
    So full of flavour! We had this with paneer and it was so good! The kids loved it. It has loads of flavour and not too spicy. Thanks Megan for a great recipe.

    Reply
    1. Megan Mad Creations Hub

      You are very welcome!

      Reply

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