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Chicken tikka masala, made lean — keep the protein, drop the cream

Chicken tikka masala, made lean — keep the protein, drop the cream

Chicken tikka masala can run 550-750 kcal at a restaurant, and most of that comes from the cream and butter in the gravy, not the grilled chicken. Swap cream for hung curd, go easy on the butter, and the same bowl drops to about 350-450 kcal with around 40g of protein.

12 Jul 2026 · Burnie Academy
chicken-tikka-masala high-protein lighter-mains

Chicken tikka masala is a favourite for good reason. Smoky grilled chicken sits in a rich, creamy gravy. The grilled chicken is the good part. The cream and butter in the gravy are where the calories hide. A restaurant bowl can run 550-750 kcal, mostly from the gravy. Make the same dish at home with hung curd instead of cream. You keep the flavour and the protein. Every number below comes from a real source, rounded honestly.

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