Take a classic grilled cheese, add a homemade tikka masala sauce, and you have a tikka masala grilled cheese. Saucy, cheesy, spicy, and very easy to put together! And dare I say…better than the classic.
Imagine you’re in a coming of age movie, at the diner where all the kids hang out, but instead of ordering a plain grilled cheese you get a tikka masala grilled cheese. Yeah, that probably isn’t realistic, but we can do it at home. Kraft cheese on sandwich bread was cool when I was 10, but I’m a little cooler now, so my grilled cheese game had to upgrade. This tikka masala grilled cheese is made with a flavorful tikka masala sauce that you never knew you needed to eat in the form of grilled cheese.
What exactly is tikka masala?
Tikka masala is most famously served in the form of chicken tikka masala, which consists of tandoor-roasted chicken in a creamy and spicy yogurt-based gravy.
I say that this tikka masala grilled cheese is “Indianish” because tikka masala itself is a very Indianish dish. Some say that it came from Punjab, a region that tends to have very saucy and creamy dishes, while others claim that it didn’t really come from India as much as it came from Indian immigrants in Europe trying to satisfy their patron’s needs. Chicken tikka masala is even known as Britain’s unofficial national dish! Yet another potential origin story (there are lots of them; truth is controversial) said that it was inspired by a Scottish customer’s complaint that the chicken served to him was too dry!
How to Make Tikka Masala Grilled Cheese
Cheese
Make your cheese or use store bought vegan cheese. If you don’t have any vegan cheese on hand, I’ve tried this with a homemade cheese recipe (cashew-based) linked in the recipe card. Any vegan cheese will do, but I’ve been loving Chao cheese slices for the purpose of grilled cheese!
Homemade tikka masala sauce
If you’ve made any kind of gravy before, the steps are pretty much the same. Start with aromatics, spices, and tomatoes, and blend it with cashew cream or yogurt to make it extra creamy. Add some kasoori methi for that special touch that makes Indian food taste more…Indian.
Fillings
Obviously we have tikka masala sauce and cheese, but add a veggie or two! I went with red bell peppers, but here are some more that would also be great: mushrooms, spinach, kale, and caramelized onions.
Prepare the grilled cheese
I hear that everyone as their own way to make grilled cheese so you do you, but here’s how I like to make this one.
Sprinkle some sourdough or bread of choice (but really, go with sourdough) with a little olive oil. I found I liked olive oil more than vegan butter, but you can try out both. Add bread to the pan, add the cheese, pile on the veggies and sauce (but not too much because then it might fall apart), and add the second slice of bread. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side!
Vegan Tikka Masala Grilled Cheese
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp avocado oil, divided
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 red onion, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 inch ginger, minced
- 2 green chilis, minced
- ½ tsp turmeric
- 1.5 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp red chili powder
- ½ tsp garam masala
- 6 small tomatoes (~ 2 cups diced)
- ½ cup unsweetened plant-based yogurt or cashew cream (see note for recipe)
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 2 tsp kasoori methi optional, but recommended
- salt to taste
- 8 slices of sourdough
- 4 slices of vegan cheese *see note for homemade vegan cheese
- olive oil for the bread
Instructions
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in a pan over medium heat. Sauté the chopped red bell pepper until it is cooked, which should take 6-8 minutes. Remove from the pan.
- Add another tbsp of oil to the pan. Cook onions for 4-5 minutes until translucent. Add garlic, ginger, and green chili, and cook for 2 minutes.
- Add turmeric, coriander, and red chili powder and cook for a minute. Add the tomatoes and ¾ tsp salt.
- When excess water from the tomatoes has mostly evaporated, remove the pan from the heat. Let it cool off a little and blend its contents with yogurt or cashew cream.
- Pour the gravy back in the pan and keep it over medium low heat. Clean out the food processor with ½ cup water (check gravy consistency; it should be pretty thick) and add the water to the pan. Finish with garam masala, crushed kasoori methi, and salt to taste. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Drizzle olive oil on one side of two slices of bread and place the oiled side down on a pan over medium heat. Add cheese, sauteed red bell peppers, and ~ 2 tbsp of tikka masala sauce. Top with the other slice of bread, oiled side facing up.
- Press the sandwich lightly with the back of a spatula. Flip it when it holds together well (~ 3 minutes) and continue to press it for 3-4 minutes on the other side. Cook until both sides are golden-brown.
- Repeat for the remaining slices of bread, depending on how many sandwiches you're making. The tikka masala sauce keeps well in the fridge for up to 5 days and a few months in the freezer, so make extra!
Notes
- The homemade vegan cheese recipe I’ve tried and loved is here if you want to make it: https://thevegan8.com/best-vegan-mozzarella-cheese-no-oil/
- If you would prefer to use cashew cream over vegan yogurt, this is my recipe: process 1/2 cup quick-soaked cashews (soaked in boiling water for 15 minutes), 1 tbsp lemon juice, pinch of salt, 1/2 cup water blended in a small processor
If you like this fusion recipe, wait til you try…
Masala Tofu Toast (Tofu Bhurji)
Thanks Anisha! I will try that.
I’ve never purchased it online, but this is the one I use! https://www.amazon.com/MDH-Peacock-Kasoori-Methi-0-8/dp/B002U283NC
Is there any place/brand online that sells good quality kasuri methi? I tried buying two different time and it had bugs in. I don’t have access to an Indian grocery store.
It was linked earlier in the post, but thanks for pointing out that it’s hard to find! I just added it as the final step on the recipe card.
I don’t see the recipe for the cheese…or a link in the ingredient list? Thanks.
Yay! Glad you liked it!
Loved this recipe! Amazing with shredded chicken too. 5 stars!