The dish that you will learn to make today is a very famous Indian dish full of flavors. If you love Indian cuisine, you’ll definitely want to try this one. I am talking about Chicken Tikka Masala.
Of course, as you probably know, this Indian dish is always served along with rice. You might be wondering how you are going to avoid all those carbs. Well, don’t worry at all! Because we will be eating this delicious keto tikka masala dish with cauliflower rice.
The cauliflower rice is super easy to make. Simply place a cup of cauliflower florets in a food processor and process it until you get grain-size pieces. After that, simply add a little bit of olive oil to a frying pan and stir fry the cauliflower with a pinch of salt until it looks soft.
In addition to being super easy to make, cauliflower rice has tons of health benefits. Research shows that it contains the bioactive compounds sulforaphane and indoles, which have been shown to protect against certain types of cancer (1).
Sulforaphane also helps keep your heart healthy and has been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (2).
There are many keto dishes with cauliflower rice on our blog which you can try.
This keto tikka masala recipe is full of healthy fats from the coconut cream, heavy cream, and olive oil, which help you absorb the antioxidant nutrients from the cauliflower.
The garlic and ginger provide additional anti-inflammatory and disease-fighting properties. For example, ginger contains gingerols, shogaol, and paradol, which have been shown to protect against cancer (3), while garlic contains antimicrobial properties to help boost immunity (4).
This low carb tikka masala is best enjoyed right away. However, the flavors will marinate together with the chicken to make delicious leftovers for tomorrow’s lunch!
How to Make Low Carb Chicken Tikka Masala
Cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized chunks. You can use skinless chicken thighs if you want to.
Cook them in olive oil in a pan over medium heat for five minutes. You can also use butter or ghee.
Add the heavy cream and coconut cream (or coconut milk) to the pan. Simmer for 2 minutes.
In the pan, mix in the garam masala, garlic powder, minced garlic, tomato paste, ginger, paprika (or cayenne pepper powder), and salt. Ensure the chicken is well-coated with the mixture.
Cook for 5 minutes. Serve with cauliflower rice. Check my Low Carb Cauliflower Rice recipe to learn more!
Note: While the traditional stovetop method is always a classic, this dish can also be adapted for modern cooking appliances. Using an instant pot can significantly speed up the cooking process, infusing the chicken with the aromatic spices in a fraction of the time.
On the other hand, opting for a slow cooker allows the flavors to meld and deepen over several hours, resulting in a Chicken Masala that’s incredibly tender and bursting with flavor. Whichever method you choose, you can still use the ingredients in my recipe and adjust the cooking time.
Related:
- Easy Chicken Curry With Coconut Milk
- Creamy Tuscan Garlic Chicken
- Easy Creamy Shredded Chicken
- Keto Tandoori Chicken
- Keto Garlic Butter Chicken Breast
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Keto Chicken Tikka Masala
Ingredients
- 1 chicken breast (skin on, about 3 oz)
- 1 tbsp olive oil or ghee, for frying chicken
For tikka masala sauce
- 4 tbsp coconut cream or full fat coconut milk
- 2 tbsp heavy cream
- 1 tsp ginger grated
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1/2 tbsp Garam Masala
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- fresh cilantro to garnish
Instructions
- Cut the chicken breast into bite-sized pieces.
- In a pan over medium heat, warm the olive oil and fry the chicken for about 5 minutes.
- Pour in the coconut cream and heavy cream, stirring gently. Let it simmer for 2 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic, garlic powder, ginger, garam masala, tomato paste, paprika, and salt to the pan. Stir well to coat the chicken.
- Let the mixture simmer for another 5 minutes then turn off the heat. Serve over cauliflower rice and garnish with chopped cilantro. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition/Macros
FAQ
Can I use Greek yogurt instead of heavy cream in tikka masala?
Yes, you can use yogurt as a substitute for heavy cream in tikka masala to achieve a tangy flavor and creamy texture. However, ensure you add it at a lower heat to prevent curdling.
What is the most keto-friendly Indian dish?
The most keto-friendly Indian dish is probably Tandoori chicken and Butter Chicken, as it is rich in fats from butter and heavy cream and has minimal carbs, making it a popular choice for those on a ketogenic diet. But again, I suggest you check the ingredients to make sure they don’t have sugar and too much spices, as spices have carbs too!
How to reheat chicken tikka masala
You can reheat Chicken Tikka Masala in a microwave-safe dish for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through, or warm it over low heat in a saucepan on the stovetop until heated through.
