Monday, June 12, 2006
6/12/2006 11:58:00 AM

Chicken Tikka Masala – Britian’s Favorite National Dish!

posted by FH2o

One of the nicest thing about my kayaking trips business is that I now get to meet and make friends with people from all over the world. In the last two months I have met people from Australia, Britian, South Africa, Canada, Denmark, Holland, Sweden, Germany and the United States. And you get to learn about all sorts of interesting things from them. They don't have 'lychee or 100plus' drinks for instance! And a large number of angmohs love hot and spicy food. So shame on those of you here who don't!

So I nearly fell out of my kayak last week when Tom, a brit taking my kayak trip asked and answered for me what I thought would be the British’s favourite national dish. No, it’s not fish and chips (that’s second) but the Indian dish, chicken tikka masala! Surprise huh?

Even the former British Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook, laid claim that it is Britain true national dish.

"Chicken Tikka Massala is now a true British national dish, not only because it is the most popular, but because it is a perfect illustration of the way Britain absorbs and adapts external influences. Chicken Tikka is an Indian dish. The Massala sauce was added to satisfy the desire of British people to have their meat served in gravy. "

Here are some facts and figures from Sonzy’s Kitchen (there’s also a recipe there)

Facts and Figures about Chicken Tikka Masala (CTM)

  • Sainsbury's sell 1.6 million CTM meals every year and stocks 16 CTM-related products including chicken tikka masala pasta sauce. Other derivations include CTM crisps, CTM pizzas, CTM kievs and Marks and Spencer's famous CTM sandwiches (18 tonnes devoured every week).
  • A 1998 survey by Real Curry Restaurant Guide of 48 different CTMs found only common ingredient was chicken.
  • 23 million portions a year are sold in Indian restaurants.
  • 10 tonnes of Chicken Tikka Masala a day are produced by Noon Products destined for supermarkets.
  • Most schools and charities in Sylhet, Bangladesh are run by proceeds from its sales.
  • Chef Iftekar Haris from Newport, Gwent has written a musical in praise of it.
  • Organisers of Kingfisher National Curry Day claim that if all the portions sold in one year in UK were stacked they would constitute a tikka tower 2770 times taller than the Greenwich Millennium Dome.

Chicken Tikka Masal for father’s day? Maybe I should print out the recipe and give it to my youngest son!

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7 Comments:

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  At Monday, 12 June, 2006 Blogger FH2O said:

Ooop!

Sorry folks, I inadvertently clicked on 'no commenting' in my haste to leave the office when I posted this. :(
See, I don't like Mondays ...

Thks Wuching for letting me know!

  At Monday, 12 June, 2006 Blogger Robin said:

haha.. I dun like CTM..

  At Monday, 12 June, 2006 Blogger fish fish said:

Heeee... I'm looking forward to seeing you eating the CTM cooked by him to you on this Sunday then. ;)

  At Monday, 12 June, 2006 Blogger agus said:

Hmmm, gotta try a genuine CTK this week. Indian food is in my love list. So are Chinese, Malay, Iban, Bidayuh, Italian, Mediteranean, ... wait, no, I just love food, period.

  At Monday, 12 June, 2006 Blogger Happysurfer said:

FH2o, didn't know that. Thanks for info.

Agus, didn't know that either. ;)

  At Monday, 12 June, 2006 Blogger Pandabonium said:

That is a surprise, but now that I think about it, perhaps it shouldn't be. After all, he British ruled India for a while and it would be odd if they didn't aquire a liking to some things. But #1? That is interesting, Unker.

  At Monday, 12 June, 2006 Blogger fullmoon said:

Hmm.., this is one dish I must confess I have not tried.

Looks delicious!


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