Tandoori Paste
Tandoori paste; also known as tikka paste or tikka masala is used as a marinade on chicken that is then baked in a tandoor oven. A tandoor oven is a traditional Indian earthenware cooking pot made from clay. This recipe for this tandoori paste can be used for any form of cooking and marinating. You will find our recipe Chicken Tikka Masala and Tandoori Chicken is a great way to use it.
Making your own tandoori paste is so easy. I know so many of us just grab a jar of Pataks Tandoori Paste at Woolworths or similar, but once you make your own, you won’t go back. This is not just a tandoori paste substitute it is more authentic and in my opinion the best tandoori paste.
Related Recipes Tandoori Chicken / Easy Keto Red Curry Chicken
Why We Love This Recipe
Flavour-packed! The best part of making your own tandoori paste is being able to adjust the flavour. Make it spicier or as mild as you like.
Low in carbs – at only 2g net carbs this keto-friendly Indian Tikka Paste recipe is low carb and keto-friendly.
Family Friendly – tandoori sauce recipe is very family friendly. Not too hot or spicy. Add as much or as little as you like to flavour your favourite curry recipes.
Freezer Friendly -make ahead, and freeze in portions for easy healthy freezer meals.
The Ingredients
Scroll to the bottom of this post for the quantity of each ingredient used in our low carb recipe for tandoori spice paste.
Garlic – I use fresh garlic cloves but you can use any store-bought or homemade garlic paste.
Ginger – I use fresh ginger. In fact, I used frozen fresh ginger I purchased on special. Ginger paste can be used as well.
Kashmiri chili powder – is a mild chili powder that can be found in Asian markets. If you have none and cannot easily purchase it use a mild (or hot) chili powder.
Curry powder – I used my homemade Meat Curry Powder but you can use any curry powder you enjoy.
Fenugreek leaves – also known as kasoori methi, dried fenugreek leaves is one of my favourite dried herbs for Indian cooking. Available at most Asian markets or online. You can use a little ground fenugreek powder as a substitute.
Spices – I always use fresh spices. Check the best-before dates of all the spices you use. The older they are, the less flavour they have. Add more or less salt flakes and black pepper to taste.
How to Make It
Step 1. Homemade tandoori paste is very simple to make. It is as easy as blending in a food processor until it forms a paste.
To make tandoori paste in a Thermomix add all the ingredients to the mixer; mix 20 sec/speed 5. Scrape and repeat until finely chopped into a paste. You can use whole cumin seeds and coriander seeds if you prefer. I would recommend blending them first for 10 sec/speed 10 before adding the remaining ingredients.
How to Use Tandoori Curry Paste
To use the tandoori marinade paste is very simple. You can use it as a dry marinade by just rubbing into chicken, beef, lamb or pork.
Mix with Greek yogurt for a tandoori sauce or marinade. This can be used to flavour meat or vegetables or used as a simple tandoori dip.
Use in place of spices for chicken korma, chicken tikka, or tikka masala.
Hot Tips and FAQs
They are all much of a muchness some spices and quantities might vary a little from recipe to recipe. The real difference is in the cooking style and method. Tikka and tikka masala is usually cooked in a pot in the sauce or with diced chicken, vegetables or other protein. Tandoori is mostly used on whole pieces of chicken and cooked in a tandoor oven.
Yes, you can. Spoon any leftovers (or double the recipe) into a silicone ice cube tray. Freeze it. Transfer to a ziplock bag. Use straight from frozen as needed or defrost to use as a marinade.
More Recipes To Try
Here are just some of my favourite keto recipes for easy quick low carb dinners.
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Tandoori Paste
Ingredients
- ½ small onion
- 6 cloves garlic
- 3 tablespoons grated ginger
- 2 tablespoons paprika
- 1 tablespoon Kashmiri chilli powder
- 2 teaspoons ground turmeric
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
- 2 teaspoons ground coriander
- 2 teaspoons garam masala
- 2 teaspoons curry powder optional
- 2 teaspoons fenugreek leaves optional
- 2 teaspoons salt flakes
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar or lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil optional
Instructions
CONVENTIONAL METHOD
- Place all ingredients into a food processor or blender. Scrape and repeat until smooth.
THERMAL METHOD
- Place ingredients into mixer; chop 20 sec/speed 5. Scrape and repeat until smooth.
Notes
Your Own Notes
Nutrition
40 responses to “Easy Homemade Tandoori Paste”
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This is a great tandoori recipe! I love the combination of spices, and I just used it on salmon the other day. So good!-
Yay!
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This spice mixture is terrific! So glad to keep some in my fridge or freezer for quick flavorful meals.-
That is so good to hear Lisa x Enjoy!
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Oh Wow! The flavors are spot on! It was so easy to throw together. I used it on chicken and it turned out fabulous.-
That is so good to hear. Thanks for letting us know Katie.
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This tandoori paste recipe is full of flavor and super easy to make! Perfect, classic recipe!-
It sure is Leslie
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This homemade Tandoori Paste looks amazing. I love this combination of spices .I will be making this for sure.-
Enjoy!
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I adore tandoori paste but have never made it. I’m definitely going to try, as it’s much easier than I would have imagined! -
I love to make my own spice and paste blends, and this tandoori paste didn’t disappoint. I made a big batch and it’s so yummy!-
So happy you enjoyed it Keri.
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This is simply soooo delicious and quite authentic! My partner kept on calling out asking when tea would be ready as he could smell the chicken cooking! He almost inhaled it when I eventually served it to him. I will be keeping a stash in the freezer for sure! Q-
That is so awesome to hear Helen. I will be creating a few recipes to use it, so make a double batch at least 🤣
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Haha! That is so good Helen.
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love how tasty this paste turned out! so incredibly flavorful!-
Yay!
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Delicious! Very well balanced flavor and texture. I made exactly as instructed and it turned out perfectly! Thanks for sharing!-
Yay! Winner winner!
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I made this and cooked the chicken with a charcoal grill and it was fantastic. I did cut back on the chili since my wife is not a fan of spicy but the recipe was still great.-
That is so great to hear James.
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This tandoori paste is loaded with so much flavor, simple to make, and absolutely delicious!-
Thanks for trying it out and leaving feedback LaKita.
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Oh I love tandoori! Never knew I could make it myself. Thank you for including the substitutions…so helpful!-
You are very welcome Heather.
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Wow, I had no idea it was this easy to make. I’m going to make a big batch to gift to my sister too. Thanks!-
It is so incredibly easy.
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This paste is so, so good! Definitely way better than anything you can buy. The spice kick is much more complex and deeper in flavor when you make it yourself, but it really was simple to prepare.-
So happy you enjoyed it Amanda.
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I tend to always buy tandoori paste but this one was so easy to make that I never wanna go back to the store-bought stuff again! So delicious!-
Yay! I love hearing that!
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Really easy to make. Smells devine. Can’t wait to use it in a dish soon.-
Thanks for making it Karen. I hope you enjoy it in a meal soon.
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Easy to make, smells amazing! Can’t wait to cook some chicken with it – this is ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ recipe!-
Yay! Thanks for trying it Nina x
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Very easy and flavoursome recipe!!-
Yay! Good to hear you enjoyed it
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This paste was so easy to make. I had all the ingredients here. I made tandoori prawns and halloumi. It was so amazing. Thanks Megan for all you do.-
You are very welcome Kylie. I am happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe
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