What Is Tandoori Masala? How to Use It for Chicken, Paneer, Fish & BBQ

What is tandoori masala?

Tandoori masala is a fragrant Indian spice blend traditionally used to season foods cooked at high heat, especially chicken, lamb, fish, paneer and vegetables. Its appeal comes from the combination of warmth, aroma, colour and gentle heat that works particularly well in marinades and grilled dishes.

At Zouk, we use the tandoori style of cooking as part of the wider Indian and Pakistani food tradition that inspires our Manchester kitchen. Our Zouk Tandoori Masala 60g Tin is designed to make that flavour easy to recreate at home.

What does tandoori masala taste like?

A good tandoori masala should be aromatic rather than simply hot. Expect warming spice, savoury depth and a gentle chilli kick that works with yoghurt, lemon and oil.

How to use tandoori masala

Tandoori chicken

Mix natural yoghurt with tandoori masala, lemon and a little oil. Coat chicken thoroughly and marinate before grilling, roasting, air frying or barbecuing.

Paneer tikka

Use the same yoghurt marinade with paneer, peppers and onions. Thread onto skewers and cook until lightly charred at the edges.

Fish and prawns

Mix the spice with oil, lemon and a little yoghurt, then coat fish or prawns shortly before cooking.

Vegetables

Tandoori masala works especially well with cauliflower, aubergine, mushrooms and potatoes.

Popular Zouk tandoori recipes

• Easy tandoori chicken
• Air fryer tandoori chicken
• Tandoori chicken wings
• Tandoori paneer tikka
• Tandoori lamb chops
• Tandoori fish
• Tandoori prawns
• Tandoori cauliflower

Tandoori masala for BBQ cooking

Because tandoori flavours suit high-heat cooking, this spice is a natural choice for BBQs. It pairs particularly well with our other grilling seasonings in the Zouk BBQ Spice Collection.

Tandoori masala vs garam masala

Tandoori masala is typically used to season or marinate food before grilling or roasting. Garam masala is usually used more broadly in curries, dals and stews. Read our Tandoori Masala vs Garam Masala guide for the full comparison.

Cook Zouk at home

If you want one versatile spice for chicken, paneer, fish and BBQ dishes, start with Zouk Tandoori Masala. For better value across several blends, explore our 4-tin and 7-tin spice collections.