Glasgow 'invented' Tikka Masala

Chicken Tikka Masala is said to have been created in Glasgow

An MP has called for Glasgow to be officially recognised as the home of Britain's favourite curry, the Chicken Tikka Masala.

The dish is one of the most popular in the UK.

Mohammad Sarwar, Labour MP for Glasgow Central, said he wanted the city to be given EU Protected Designation of Origin status for the curry.

He has tabled an early day motion in the House of Commons calling for other politicians to back his campaign.

It has previously been suggested that the mild curry was created decades ago in a Glaswegian kitchen by Asian immigrants catering to Western palates.

Mr Sarwar claimed the dish owed its origins to the culinary skills of Ali Ahmed Aslam, proprietor of the Shish Mahal restaurant in Park Road in the west end of the city.

He is said to have prepared a sauce using spices soaked in a tin of condensed tomato soup after a customer said his meal was too dry.

Glaswegian twist

The restaurant owner wants the dish to have the same legal protection as other famous Scottish foods like Arbroath smokies.

Mr Sarwar said: "Glasgow's contribution to popular cuisine deserves to be more widely recognised.

"Tikka Masala is perhaps one of the earliest examples of the modern fashion for 'fusion' cuisine.

"Glaswegians loved the flavour of Asian spices but still wanted a bit of gravy on their meat. The Shish Mahal pioneered great Asian food with a Glasgow twist."

He added: "I am very hopeful that the EU will give Chicken Tikka Masala the official stamp of Glasgow origin."

Mr Sarwar's campaign is being backed by Glasgow City Council.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version