Fish tikka masala (Salmon tikka masala)
By Swasthi on August 28, 2022, Comments, Jump to Recipe
Fish tikka masala recipe with step by step photos. This simple, delicious and easy to make dish is one of the less known of the Indian seafood dishes. It is very rarely prepared in Indian homes & is mostly eaten in the restaurants. In this post I am sharing a recipe that will give you the same restaurant style fish tikka masala. It can be eaten with basmati rice, jeera rice, roti or naan.

What is fish tikka masala?
Fish tikka masala is an Indian dish made by simmering grilled fish in a spicy masala. It is a variation of the most popular chicken tikka masala.
How is it made?
It is made by first marinating the fish in a yogurt marinade and then grilled to perfection. In restaurants the fish is grilled in clay ovens. However you can grill them on the pan. I have included the instructions in the recipe card below.
Next a spicy masala is made by cooking onions, tomatoes & ground spices. This grilled fish is then added to this masala.
Preparation for fish tikka masala
1. Heat oil in a pot. Then add cumin & cardamoms. I also used bay leaf and a small piece of cinnamon. All the spices are optional.
2. Then add onions and sprinkle salt. Fry them until golden.

3. Then add ginger garlic paste. Saute well for 1 minute.

4. Add tomatoes and turmeric.

5. Saute until the tomatoes turn soft and mushy. Then add red chilli powder.

6. Saute this for 2 mins. Cool this and blend with 3/4 cup water to a smooth mixture. If you have a hand blender, you can directly use it here.

7. Pour the purred mixture back to the pot and pour 1/2 to 3/4 cup water. Stir and add garam masala. I added kasuri methi too here. But doing it at the end keeps more flavors.
8. Cook this until the gravy turns thick. Add more salt if needed. While the masala gets cooked proceed preparing the fish.

Preparing fish
9. Rinse fish and cube it. Ensure there is no excess moisture. I used salmon here. You can use any large variety fish.

10. Mix together the ingredients mentioned under marinade – Yogurt, chilli powder, turmeric, garam masala, salt and lemon juice. Taste the marinade first. Then smear the marinade to the fish. I also used a few bell pepper cubes and half of a onion. Set aside for 5 to 6 mins.

11. You can grill them on the pan or in oven.
To grill on the pan, pour 1 tbsp oil to a non-stick pan and heat it. Place the fish cubes on it and fry until the fish is cooked through. Flip each piece & grill until the fish is cooked through and the marinade dries well.
To grill in oven: Preheat the oven to 370 F or 190 C for atleast 15 mins. Then place a wired rack over a baking tray. Thread the fish to skewers. I arranged alternately onion-bell peppers-fish. Grill for 12 to 13 mins. Then move the tray to the top rack and broil for 3 to 4 mins.

How to make salmon tikka masala
12. Pour the cream.
13. Before adding fish to the tikka masala gravy, ensure fish is cooked through well and the marinade has dried up completely. If there is any oil left in the grill pan, just pour that to the gravy along with the fish.

14. Rest the fish tikka masala for 30 mins before serving. Please handle the pieces gently as they are delicate after resting in the gravy.

Garnish salmon tikka masala with coriander leaves.

Tips:
Choice of fish: You can use any fish that has lesser bones or is boneless. Usually large fish fillets go well here. Salmon, batang are some of the fishes I have tried with.
Marinade: Avoid marinating fish for too long as it can make the fish mushy.
Gravy or sauce can be made ahead and refrigerated. Just grill the fish when needed and add to the reheated curry.

More Indian fish recipes on the blog
Amritsari tawa fish
Grilled fish
Vanjaram fry
Fish fingers
Related Recipes
Recipe card

Fish tikka masala
For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card
Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )
To marinate
- 1 lb fish cubed (about 450 grams) (any large variety)
- ¾ teaspoon red chilli powder
- ½ to ¾ teaspoon garam masala
- ⅛ teaspoon turmeric
- ½ teaspoon ginger garlic paste
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 to 2 tablespoon greek yogurt (thick curd)
- ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
For gravy
- 1½ tablespoons Oil as needed
- ½ teaspoon cumin (optional)
- 2 green cardamoms (optional)
- 1 cup onions chopped or cubed (1 large)
- 1 teaspoon ginger garlic paste
- ½ cup tomatoes , chopped (2 medium)
- ⅛ teaspoon turmeric
- ½ to ¾ teaspoon red chili powder
- ½ to ¾ teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder (optional)
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon salt to taste
- ½ teaspoon dried fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi) (optional)
- ¼ cup cream or (cashew milk made by blending 12 cashews)
Instructions
Making gravy
- Heat oil in a deep pan, then add the cumin and cardamoms.
- When the spices sizzle, add the onions and very little salt.
- Saute until they turn translucent. Then saute ginger garlic for a minute.
- Add ginger garlic paste and fry for a min.
- Then add in the tomatoes & turmeric. Saute till the tomatoes turn fully mushy.
- Add red chili powder and saute for 2 minutes till the raw smell goes away.
- Blend this with ¾ cup water to a smooth mixture. If using a blender, then cool this completely & then blend.
- Pour this back to the same pan. Then pour ½ to ¾ cup water and add garam masala.
- Cook this until the gravy thickens and you see some traces of oil over it.
- Stir in the cream and kasuri methi. Taste it and adjust salt if needed.
Making fish tikka masala
- Meanwhile, mix together all the ingredients mentioned for fish. Smear this over the fish and rest for 5 to 6 mins.
- Heat a nonstick pan with 1 tablespoon oil and place the fish over the pan. Fry the fish on both sides until golden and the marinade is cooked well. Alternately you can also thread the fish on to skewers and grill them in a preheated oven at 370 F or 190 C for 12 mins. Move to the top rack and grill or broil for another 3 to 4 mins.
- Ensure the fish is cooked through and slightly charred to get the right flavors.
- Transfer the fish along with any juices or oil left in the pan to the tikka masala gravy.
- Let the fish rest in the gravy for at least 30 mins before you serve. Sprinkle coriander leaves. Serve gently as the fish turns delicate after resting.
- Serve salmon tikka masala with roti, chapathi or butter naan
Notes
Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.
For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.
NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)
© Swasthi’s Recipes
Fish tikka masala was originally published in 2013 January. Republished in Dec 2019 with detailed step by step pictures.

About Swasthi
I’m Swasthi Shreekanth, the recipe developer, food photographer & food writer behind Swasthi’s Recipes. My aim is to help you cook great Indian food with my time-tested recipes. After 2 decades of experience in practical Indian cooking I started this blog to help people cook better & more often at home. Whether you are a novice or an experienced cook I am sure Swasthi’s Recipes will assist you to enhance your cooking skills. More about me
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Comments
I’ve eaten fish tikka masala in restaurants for decades. I decided to learn how to make it at home, and followed this recipe. Now I’m spoiled and can only eat it at home — it’s that good. I’ve made it many times now and came back to say thank you:)
So glad you like this Meghan. Thank you so much for sharing back.
Can we skip lemon juice ?
Yes You can skip
Can any boneless cubes of fish (Barramundi/Bhetki/Mackerel) be used or does it have to be salmon only? Also for the gravy, instead of tomatoes, can anything else substituted?
Yes you can use any boneless fish. Yes you can use 3/4 cup chopped red or green capsicum instead of tomatoes.
I am very happy to use this recipes…It giving a wonderful experience for me..thank you
Glad you like it. Thank you
So nice of Madam. You are giving the cooking information very clearly, it is very helpful to young & newly married couples and beginners.
Glad to know Srinivas Garu
Thank you
This one turned out brilliantly! Lovely rich sauce. Thanks!
Welcome!
Thank you
As always thanks swasthi for this recipe. It was a roaring success. Instead of using skewers i pan fried my fillets but still the dish turned out to be extraordinary,as per the praises of my guests.
Welcome and thanks for the feedback.
Glad to know it turned out good
So delicious ? thks
welcome
Your recipe looks lovely. Planning to make this but don’t have biryani masala. Is there any substitute for biryani masala?
Hi Sujatha,
you can use any good garam masala that has a good aroma
I want best fish receipi
Love to have this gravy…..
rich and creamy..
Creamy and yummy gravy
This fish tikka masala looking irresistable. good one.
I soo wish you lived close by .. sigh this is so tempting!
delicious gravey..
U r one non veg specialist dear 🙂 looks awesome must have been tasty though I don't eat non veg the bowl looks inviting:)
Fish tikka masala looks absolutely irresistible, wish to dive into the masala,super tempting.
lovely tikka with delicious gravy.
Very Delicious gravy with fish n perfect vth steam rice
Yum!!! Can you pass me some Swasthi 🙂 Would love to dig in 🙂