tikka masala

First attested in the 1970s. Borrowed from Hindi टिक्का मसाला (ṭikkā masālā, “spicy pieces”).

• IPA^(key): /ˌtiːkə məˈsɑːlə/, /ˌtɪkə məˈsɑːlə/
• Rhymes: -ɑːlə

tikka masala (not comparable)

1. Of a style of Indian dish in which the main ingredient (such as chicken) is marinated, usually (but not necessarily) cooked in a tandoor and served in a masala sauce.

• Usually placed after the noun, e.g. chicken tikka masala. Such a phrase can also be read as the noun tikka masala modified by an attributive noun (here chicken). But compare mushrooms tikka masala (in the captions of the picture), where tikka masala is clearly adjectival.

tikka masala (plural tikka masalas)

1. A dish prepared in this manner.

• chicken tikka masala on Wikipedia.Wikipedia