Bottle masala chicken curry is a restaurant curry you’ve never heard of. Nobody has. It isn’t a thing. Not yet anyway. But it should be.
Lush sauce. Tender chicken. And incredibly complex flavours. Courtesy of a magical spice mix. Bottle masala.
Never heard of it? That’s OK. Follow me down the rabbit hole. It will all become clear.
Bottle masala is a spice blend. Like garam masala. Or chaat masala. But not really.
It’s a crazy, crazy spice blend. With an unbelievable list of ingredients.
Things like stone flower. Mugwort. Nagkesar bulbs. Sounds like ingredients in a Harry Potter potion. Except there’s no eye of newt. Or mandrake root.
Can be as many as 60 different spices in the blend. It’s the stuff of secret family recipes. Handed down from generation to generation. You can’t fake this level of complexity.
And if you’re wondering. It’s called bottle masala because it is stored in bottles. Nothing more complicated than that.
Coloured bottles. Keep the light out. And the spices fresh. Good thinking…
East Indian bottle masala comes from west India
This one gets curiouser and curiouser. Bottle masala comes from western India. Made by East Indians. That live in Mumbai. And didn’t come from east India.
Confused? I’m a little fuzzy myself. Seems it goes back to the days of the East India Company. I think.
All these history lessons have something to do with the East India Company. So it could be true. Or not. Take it with a grain of salt.
A few hundred years ago the Portuguese arrived in west India. And set out to converting people to Christianity.
The Portuguese worked their way to Bombay. Did their thing there. Converted a bunch of Bombay residents.
Then the English came along. The East India Company maybe? With money. And work. For locals.
Enterprising and recently converted Christian residents of Bombay wanted jobs.
They spoke English. And it seems they were good at marketing. Not sure what religion had to do with it though…
They took to calling themselves East Indians. After the East India Company. That’s how “East” Indians came to live in west India.
I don’t know if that’s true. I wasn’t there.
But I do know they make a wicked spice blend. Which lets me make bottle masala chicken curry. So I’m happy.
Another thing I know. The Portuguese brought chilies with them. And the rest is history…
Bottle masala chicken curry
Don’t worry. I won’t make this a regular thing. But there’s a story behind this bottle masala chicken curry.
I had never tasted bottle masala. Until a long time friend of glebekitchen sent me some. Thanks Patricia. You started this one.
Still can’t believe she shared. It’s so good. Came to her from a friend in Goa. Who got it from a local lady who makes it.
I remember getting it. Clearly. I could smell it through the bag. Intense. Amazing even. Something special.
I tried it. I loved it. Made an amazing curry that night. Everything was perfect. I was happy.
Until I realized I don’t have friends in Goa that know ladies that make bottle masala. Big problem. Fatal flaw even.
You can get bottle masala – you just have to want it
I started researching bottle masala. Had to get my fix. Looked hard at recipes online.
There are some out there. They are non-trivial. And the ingredient list is daunting. Even for me.
I’m all out of nagkesar bulbs. And we all know what happens if you hear a mandrake root scream.
You can make it if you are determined enough. Or you can buy it. There are guys out there that sell it. Boutique spice purveyors.
I get mine from a shop in Derby. That’s in the UK. The Herb and Spice Emporium. Look them up. Top notch stuff.
Bottle masala chicken curry is all about the bottle masala
How’s that for a shocking headline? Think about it for a second.
What spices are you going to add to a blend of just about every spice known? None. That’s my answer anyway.
Bottle masala is the star. What this one is about. It works. Incredibly well.
But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t play with it. Shouldn’t slip it into other dishes. For a bit of complexity. Think of it as a bit of fairy dust. Magic powder.
I’m slipping it into dishes all over the place. Not a lot. But enough to get a little of that magic.
The Kitchen King variations
OK. It’s one variation. Nod to J S Bach there. Couldn’t resist.
But there is a variation that works. Not the same. But it will still be a pretty special chicken curry.
There’s a commercial blend called Kitchen King. Sounds like it would suck. That’s a name nobody can take seriously.
But it is actually pretty good. 20 ingredients. If you’re counting. No nagkesar bulb. But still.
Swap out the bottle masala for 2 1/2 teaspoons of Kitchen King and a teaspoon of kashmiri chili powder. Drop the salt. There’s salt in Kitchen King. Adjust salt at the end if needed.
It won’t be bottle masala chicken curry. Obviously. But it will be a really good chicken curry. Call it chef’s special chicken curry.
“Succulent chicken morsels in a rich sauce with fresh green chilies and chef’s secret spices”. Seen that one before? Indian restaurant menus always make me laugh.
This is cooking just like they do in Indian restaurants
The techniques may seem a little odd to you. Unusual even. There’s a lot of prep. You need to make this stuff called curry base. Or base gravy. Depending who you ask.
Curry base gravy isn’t rocket science. It’s basically a bunch of boiled onions and some spices. Some garlic and ginger. Tomato. A bit of cilantro. Oil.
Some people put a bunch of other stuff in their gravies. Coconut. Peppers. Carrots. I’ve even seen evaporated milk.
I don’t like that approach. The more you put into the gravy the more all the curries taste the same. It’s a trap.
The other big thing is cooking technique. It’s different. If you’ve never cooked restaurant style take the time to read this primer on Indian restaurant cooking. There’s even a video. Worth a look.
It’s not hard. It’s certainly not rocket science. But it does take a little getting used to. So don’t plan on having a dinner party the first time you try.
Try bottle masala chicken curry if you can
This one is tough for me. I almost didn’t do it. Because it sets the bar high. Really high. Asking you to get bottle masala a big one.
I am unapologetic on glebekitchen when it comes to ingredients. I know I don’t make it easy. This is a blog for passionate cooks.
My goal is to get you to an Indian grocer. Or a Thai grocer. Or a Japanese grocer. For the experience. Food shopping is an adventure. For me anyway. Just fun.
I don’t usually suggest a trip to Goa. Or push you to hunt the internet. But this one blindsided me too. One taste and I was an addict.
If you can’t get bottle masala don’t worry. You can always make a really good “chef’s chicken curry”. It won’t disappoint.
But if you can get it. Then bottle masala chicken curry is something that you really need to try.
bottle masala chicken curry
Ingredients
The spice mix
- 3 1/2 tsp bottle masala – there isn't really a substitute
- 1/2 tsp kasoor methi – dried fenugreek leaves
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- pinch asafoetida – if your bottle masala doesn't smell like asafoetida already (optional). Really. Just a pinch. It's potent stuff.
The curry ingredients
- 3 Tbsp oil
- 1 Tbsp garlic/ginger paste – recipe link below
- 2 finger hot green chilies – aka jwala. Cut in half lengthwise then into 1 inch pieces
- 1 Tbsp tomato paste with enough water to dilute to the consistency of pasatta
- 15 oz curry base – recipe link below
- 10-12 oz pre-cooked chicken – I prefer thighs cut into bite sized pieces
- 1/2 tsp jaggery or brown sugar
- 5-6 cherry tomatoes – halved
Instructions
Do your prep – this goes fast
- Make the spice mix. Combine all the spice mix ingredients in a small bowl.
- Dilute the tomato paste with enough water to get to the consistency of passata.
- Prep your chilies and tomatoes. Pre-cook your chicken.
Make bottle masala chicken curry
- Heat your frying pan (don't use non-stick) briefly over medium heat. Add the oil.
- When the oil starts to shimmer add the garlic ginger paste and green chilies. Cook, stirring constantly, until the garlic ginger paste stops sputtering. Stand back. Wear old clothes. Restaurant style can get messy.
- Turn the heat down to medium low and add the spice mix. This step is critical. Stir it constantly for around 30 seconds. If it starts to darken lift the pan off the heat. You want the spice mix to bubble in the oil. That's called blooming spices. Flavour magic happens here. You know the smell of Indian restaurants? This is where it comes from. What you don't want to do is burn the spices. That's a one way trip to starting over. Seriously. There's no coming back. So be a little careful until you get the hang of this.
- Turn the heat up to medium high. Add the diluted tomato paste. Stir to combine and cook until little bubbles start to form. This takes around 30 seconds to one minute. You are now in the safe zone. Really hard to burn spices at this point.High heat is important here. You will be frying the curry base, generating all sorts of wonderful flavour compounds. That's more flavour magic. As you become more comfortable with this technique try pushing it.
- Add 3 oz of curry base. Stir until bubbles form, around 30 seconds. Think lively boil meets frying in oil. Watch the edges of the pan. The curry can stick here. Sticking is OK. Just scrape it back into the curry. Burning is bad.
- Add 6 oz of curry base and stir briefly. Let it cook/fry until the bubbles form again. This takes 1-2 minutes.
- Add the rest of the curry base and let cook until the bubbles form – another minute or two.
- Taste. Every bottle masala mix is different. If you find it well balanced go with it. If it is a little tart add the 1/2 tsp of jaggery or brown sugar.
- Turn the heat down to low and add the pre-cooked chicken. Stir to combine.
- Let the curry simmer for about 5 minutes. If it gets too thick add a bit more curry base.
- Add the halved cherry tomatoes and cook until the tomatoes are just warmed through.
- Serve with basmati rice or your favourite Indian flatbread. I was working on a keema biryani recipe when I took the pictures. That was too much. Don't do that.
Having had such delicious results with so many of your recipes I decided to go down the rabbit hole with this one and make my own bottle masala. However living in Spain this has been an expensive labour of love. I am now one ingredient away from a 30 ingredient version of this and excited is not the word.
For anyone thinking of trying it the hardest things by far to get have been the Nagkesar seeds (Cobra Saffron) and Goan Szechuan Pepper Teppal/Tirphal. Turns out there are at least 4 distinct Szechuan Pepper types (who knew…) and I have managed to mistakenly get them all in the search for the one the masala called for.
Anyhow it’s taken a couple of months but almost there. My wife thinks I am obsessed. Perhaps I am. But it’s gonna be good right?
Thanks for the inspiration!
Wow. That is very, very impressive. Epic even!
Loverly but a bit hot, used Derby Dave’s Bottle Masala. Might use less of it next time
Different bottle masala mixes have different amounts of chili.
Hi Romain
Could the hotel curry base be used in the bottle masala curry recipe.
Regards.
Sure. You would need to leave the tomato paste out and follow hotel style method and maybe tweak the spice mix a bit (upward) but bottle masala would definitely be a good candidate for hotel style.
Would you make this again in hotel style ? Would love to see more hotel style recipes.
This one is a bit niche to do all over again but I will get back to hotel style. I have too many ideas and not enough time I’m afraid…
This recipe was a revelation.
I’ve been eating restaurant Indian curries, and cooking them at home, since the early 70s, and I had never heard of Bottle Masala.
What a complex, interesting flavour. Thanks for the heads up on this Romain, it’s a game-changer, definitely.
Any UK readers, Bottle Masala is available from a few online retailers: notably Omemade and The Herb and Spice Emporium.
I followed the recipe exactly except for one step: I air-fryed the chicken until it had some colour and some juices, then let it cook through to completion in the curry for 10 minutes or so.
Serve it with home made chapatis! Perfection.
It’s definitely a fun spice mix. Delighted you discovered and enjoyed it!
Can I just check? Do you mean 3 and a half tsps of the bottle masala or 3 x 1/2 tsp, so 1 and a half tsps?
Of course you can check:-)
3 and a half is 3 full teaspoons plus 1/2 teaspoon.
Made 1 lamb and 1 prawn bottle masala on Saturday without bothering with the finishing spice, both were excellent. Thanks again for all your work on this site.
Awesome. Always happy when people make things they enjoy!
Romain, after speaking with a couple of indian grocers and getting the distinct impression they thought I was not playing with a full deck, one googling Bottle Masala and being surprised ther it existed and his not knowing about it, the other informing me that all his masalas came in plastic bags, I have obtained some from The Herb and Spice Emporium. Can’t wait to try this at the weekend. It comes with a small tin of finishing spice, would you use this at the end of cooking? Cheers.
I don’t have any of the finishing spice so difficult for me to say. I’d maybe try it as written once then again dropping the bottle masala specified quantity by 1/2 tsp and then making that up at the end with the finishing spice (so the total spice in the dish remains the same).
Hi Romain to make a bottle masala for 8 would you simply quadruple the spice mix etc, base gravy etc? Probably a silly question but wanted to get it right! thanks
I wouldn’t go past double times two. You can’t get a pan hot enough to really drive the gravy step if you try to quadruple out of the chute.
Hi Romain
Thanks for your excellent recipes.
Is it possible to make your own spice paste at home.
Any information and or advice would be greatly appreciated
Your own bottle masala you mean? You could. There are a few recipes out there. It’s an undertaking in sourcing spicing though so I haven’t made the leap to try it myself.
Hi romain
Have you ever used the finishing spice, just wondering what effect it has on the chicken masala.
Regards jeff
I don’t actually have any finishing spice. That is a brand specific thing. I’m sure it will be great with a touch of finishing spice though. Just not too much.
Just tried the kitchen king recipe, as you say it does make a tasty curry and is cheap to buy but once you’ve had the bottle masala you have reached another level. Awesome.
Bottle masala really is a very special spice blend.
Hello Romain
I decided to follow you down the rabbit hole and am So glad I did. After receiving the necessary ingredients from Derby Dave I shot straight to the kitchen. I have cooked quite a few of the hotel style recipes which are all amazing and thought I would try some restaurant styles for a change so I went for the chicken bottle masala which turned out absolutely amazing and does smell and taste exactly like what you would be served in a restaurant and was so easy to cook. It fascinates me how the curry base changes the style and taste from hotel to restaurant it must have taken you ages to come up with the recipes but thank goodness you did.
Regards Paul Hoare
Manchester UK
Welcome to Wonderland! So glad to hear you enjoyed it. I’ve been at glebekitchen for almost 6 years now so I’ve had some time to tinker:-)
Hi Romain.
I don’t know how you do it! Another winner. Bought the bottle masala from Herb and Spice Emporium in Derby. Told them you’d recommended them. Spices arrived in a few days and curry made the next day.
I can only say it was sublime. That said, all your recipes are amazing.
Thank you for putting in the time and effort to prepare them and post them. Really, really appreciate it.
Ralph UK.
My absolute pleasure. Delighted you are enjoying the recipes on glebekitchen!
Apologies, I’ve just read the previous comments and you’ve already answered the question! Thank you for the recipe!
You are very welcome. Hope you enjoy it!
Hi Romain,
Had my bottle masala delivered today from Derby Dave’s and can’t wait to try this recipe on the weekend. I just have a question. It came in 2 tins. The main spice mix, and a smaller tin of finishing spice. Should I use 2 1/2 tsp of the main spice mix and say 1/2 tsp of finishing spice? What would you recommend?
I was just wondering the same as I have just received 2 tins as well 🙂
Absolutely delicious
Delighted to hear you enjoyed it!
Now, again thanks to you, I have a new “must have”! I went to the Goa site as well. Thanks for this amazing cuisine!
It’s a fun spice blend! Hope you love it:-)
I use your hotel base all the time and Derby Dave’s Bottle Massala really is great, but have yet to try together.
What would you change in this recipe if hotel base was used rather than restaurant base?
Rather than try to adapt this recipe you could make the hotel style green chili chicken curry and replace the restaurant spice mix and kashmiri chili with the bottle masala.
A question for you, is this a good site for the bottle masala and other spices? https://goanspices.ca/product/east-indian-bottle-masala-imported-from-mumbai/
Thank you for your wonderful recipes!
Marie
I have never shopped there as I am pretty spoiled where I live in terms of Indian grocers. The bottle masala ingredient list looks good though so I think you’d be safe.
Hi Romain. I’ve never heard of this! That said it looks lush so I’ve ordered some spices plus a bottle masala curry spice from where you suggested. I also told them that I’d seen it on your website so I decided to buy mine from them. It may do you some good in the curry networking department. When it arrives, I’m gonna make the curry. Cheers
Ralph (UK)
Haha. Thanks! Can’t wait to hear what you think.
Thanks so much for this recipe which I have not tried yet as I have just ordered the Bottle Masala. But I just know it will be brilliant.
Last weekend I made the Dhansak which was amazing
You are very welcome. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Bottle masala ordered, this sounds right up our street. May even try doing my own masala (good use other than chettinad for black stone flower 🤣)!
Love here out of the ordinary recipes Romain, thanks!
I’m all about the oddball recipes:-). There is so much more to Indian cooking than the same 15 recipes on every restaurant menu.
Hope you like this one!
Hi Romain,
I’ve been looking for bottle masala for some time, so thank you for pointing me to The Herb and Spice Emporium.
Firstly, Dave’s bottle masala comes as 2 masalas, the bottle masala and a finishing blend. Is it just the bottle masala you use or do you use both?
If both do you use 4 parts bottle masala to 1 part finishing blend and do you add the finishing blend after cooking (like you use garam masala?).
Also have you tried using uncooked chicken?
Thank you
David
I just use the bottle masala and no finishing blend. If you want to try it with the finishing blend then maybe use a little bit (sparingly).
I don’t tend to use uncooked chicken for restaurant style as it throws a lot of liquid and that messes with the consistency of the final dish. Or you need to reduce the sauce down again and wind up with overdone chicken. The downside to pre-cooked chicken (and it is a big one) is that you lose the flavour imparted by the chicken juices. That’s one of the reasons I started doing more hotel style recipes.
I also ordered from the Herb And Spice Emporium and came here to ask Romain the exact same question. Thanks for doing the work for me 🙂
Thanks for this Romain, I have made a couple of batches of bottle with Derby Dave’s mix the traditional way so will try the BIR way too as lovving it also! Wanted to ask – Do you think it would suit lamb or prawn? – my brother loves a lamb curry 🙂
For sure it would work with lamb. Everything works with lamb:-) Prawns I would need to try first to see.
Recipe doesn’t say how much bottle masala.?
???
3 1/2 tsps as specified in the spice mix portion of the ingredient list.