Why is Indian food so red?

Tandoori chicken also happens to be bright red in colour. This is due to it being marinated (normally overnight) in a mix of red food colouring, garlic, ginger, and a few other herbs and spices.
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Why is tikka masala so red?

Red food colouring is used to give chicken tikka masalas their bright red colour. However, food colouring has no flavour so this is done purely for appearance. I tend to leave the food colouring out when cooking at home.
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Why is Indian food chicken red?

The red color in tandoori chicken comes from Kashmiri red chilies. It's these chilies that really make this dish look so fiery. In case you don't know, Kashmiri chili is one of the most popular chilies in India. It is highly used for its color than taste or pungency.
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Is chicken tikka masala meant to be red?

So how can we tell between a good and a bad curry? "A garish red colour is not normal. It would point to artificial colouring," says Sarkhel. "Ideally a chicken tikka masala should be light orange, which would show that it contained paprika."
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Why are some curries bright red?

Shaf explained why the two curries were different: "The difference is the bright red one has food colouring and the orangey one has absolutely no artificial colours in it.
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Why your local 'Indian' isn’t actually Indian - BBC Stories



Why is Indian curry red?

Red curry is an every-curry paste – it's perfect for just about anything. It is bold with a mild spiciness. It's a good starting point if you aren't afraid of spice. The deep, rich flavor and color comes from the red chilies that are used to make this paste.
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What makes chicken tandoori red?

While the spices certainly add color, the distinctive red-orange color of tandoori chicken is the result of the flavorless tandoori coloring which is made from annatto seed (also responsible for the orange coloring in some cheeses, like cheddar).
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Which Indian curry is bright red?

Traditional Bright Red Tikka Masala, A deliciously mild and creamy textured dish made with coconut, almonds, cream and tikka spices. If you've made Tikka Masala before and it's been gritty or grainy it's most likely because you've not soaked your ground almonds to help them turn to mush.
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Which Indian curry is red?

1. Rogan josh is a lamb curry loaded with the bright red and very mild chilli powder of Kashmir where the dish originates.
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What spice makes Indian food red?

Mace. This spice is part of the nutmeg plant, but it's more subdued, sweeter, and more delicate than nutmeg—it even has hints of cinnamon and coriander. It's used in both savory and sweet dishes, traditionally in the North Indian cuisine, and it's bright red in color.
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Why is tandoori pink?

Tandoori Chicken is classically served in restaurants in a bright red hue because of the addition of a few drops of red food coloring. You can create a similar color with the addition of harissa paste and turmeric if you are averse to using the red food coloring.
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What is the red in chicken tikka?

If you are using a paste, I would use the same amount ie. 4 tsp of tandoori paste. Add 1/4 tsp of red food colouring and a little yellow/orange colouring too, if you want a deep red colour you may use 1/2 tsp. Stir all the ingredients thoroughly.
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Why is tikka masala orange?

The sauce usually includes tomatoes (frequently as purée), cream, coconut cream and a masala spice mix. The sauce and chicken pieces may be coloured orange using foodstuffs such as turmeric, paprika, tomato purée or with food dye.
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Does tikka masala have food coloring?

Food colourings linked to hyperactivity, asthma, and even cancer, have been detected in chicken tikka masala, which has arguably become the UK's national dish, consumer chiefs warned today.
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What is tandoori powder made of?

Tandoori masala is an Indian spice blend consisting of a variety of spices; it will include cumin, coriander, and turmeric but can vary slightly from recipe to recipe, sometimes calling for the Indian seasoning blend garam masala.
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Which is hotter red or yellow curry?

Although all three colors may be spicy-hot depending on the chef, normally green is the mildest and red the hottest with yellow falling somewhere in between.
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Which is the tastiest curry in the world?

Forget Korma and Tikka - Here are 10 of the Best Curries to Try
  • Makhani. ...
  • Goan. ...
  • Dhansak. ...
  • Rajma Masala. ...
  • Bhuna Gosht. ...
  • Massaman. ...
  • Thai Red Curry. ...
  • Thai Green Curry. This milder Thai curry is fragrant, creamy and full of exotic flavours including lemongrass, coriander, fish paste and chillies.
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Is Indian food similar to Thai?

Thai uses curry, but it's different than Indian curry

Thai cuisine includes a version of the dish that bears little resemblance to Indian curry. In fact, Thai food uses coconut milk as a base to create curry, and it's often combined with spices, shrimp, onion, and other flavorings.
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How do I make my curry taste like a takeaway?

A couple of suggestions that seem to work for me:
  1. Marinade the meat in spices before cooking.. ...
  2. Blend onions in a food processor until smooth(ish). ...
  3. Use lemon juice to taste. ...
  4. In addition to 2, and depending on the type of curry you are making fry chopped onions for a long time, until they are golden brown.
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How do I make my curry more red?

Turmeric will give your curry a more orange colour, whilst adding extra dhania, jeera or soomph powder will make it slightly browner, so if you like to add extra of these powders then simply add some Kashmiri Chilli Powder to make your dish more red.
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Can chicken tikka pink?

I am going to show you seven beautiful chicken tikka kebabs with natural colours. The seven colours presented are red, yellow, green, white, pink, brown and black.
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Is it healthy to eat tandoori chicken?

Tandoori chicken, fish and tandoori paneer serve as a healthy and yummy source of protein. Protein helps induce the feeling of satiety that helps keep your cravings in check. Since tandoori goods are not smeared in heavy, creamy or fattening gravies, they make for an ideal addition to a healthy weight loss diet.
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Is Thai or Indian spicier?

What ingredient(s) make the spiciness from Indian food distinct from the spiciness of, say, Thai food? Indian good seems to have a longer, slower burn, rather than a "sharper" spiciness of Thai.
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What's the difference between Thai and Indian food?

Thai curry heavily relies on the usage of coconut milk, whereas the Indian curry is about the sauciness and spiciness. The other major difference between the two curries is that Indian food relies on cream and ghee, but Thai food uses dairy products.
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Is yellow and green curry the same?

"Yellow curry is yellow due to the presence of turmeric in the paste whereas green curry is green due to the green chilies in the paste," she wrote. "The ingredients traditionally used in both curries are also different."
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