New Bedford Guide Your Guide to New Bedford and South Coast, MA
5. Tikka Masala
I’ll have to make a confession to make. While I grew up in an Italian household, it’s Indian cuisine that is my favorite on earth. Call me Benedicto Arnaldo. I won’t delve into the variety of regional cuisine that make up Indian food, because it would take a book to do that. India is after all a sub-continent and there are too many regions to cover. Suffice it say, that Tikka Masala is the dish that converts the terrified. Terrified? Many Americans are afraid to try anything that doesn’t resemble a hot dog, hamburger or pizza. They are usually are also afraid that if they try another nation’s cuisine it will be so spicy that the experience will be a painful one. This is the dish that I have my scared, unadventurous friends try and it wins them over every time. It has zero spice in terms of heat, but it has lots of other spices that is typical of many dishes in Indian cuisine.
This orange, creamy sauce is usually served with gobs of chicken breast, but I have seen shrimp, fish or lamb as an alternatives. The sauce is a blend of tomato (lightly), yogurt, coriander, coconut (very subtle), turmeric, and paprika then baked in a Tandoori or clay pot oven. As is the custom in Indian restaurants, it is accompanied with Basmati or house rice and fresh baked to order Naan bread. Indian breads are used as a utensil and pieces are torn off and used to scoop of the food….always with the right hand!
As with many dishes around the world every family or restaurant claims to make the genuine article or best version. The best I’ve ever had was in West Yorkshire, England, but since this article is about how to get these dishes locally, Old England won’t do. The nearest spot to get this delectable dish is at North Dartmouth’s Ayur-Shri restaurant. While it has become a popular destination as a buffet, and the Tikka Masala is always on the buffet as chicken, you can get some of the other alternate meat choices from the regular menu. If you have been thinking about venturing into Indian Cuisine, but perhaps a bit intimidated, Tikka Masala is a safe bet. After you have it a few times, the aromas of the other dishes will tempt you to continue to venture further.
In part two we’ll round out the second half of the best dishes and even a few honorary ones. Can’t just pick 10 to share!
YES! Spot on. Apsara in Fall River is the best! Pho, BeeBong, everything there is perfect!
Hi Erin! I LOVE the Bee Boong! I’m always torn…..Pho or Bee Bong……Bee Boong or Pho?
Galaxie restaurant on Rt. 22/Reservoir Avenue in Cranston makes UNBELIEVABLE Nime Chow and Bee Boong. If you haven’t been, it’s worth the trip.
Thanks for reading! 🙂
Joe thanks for the article. We Tried the Pho this weekend from Sivalai in Fairhaven and were very impressed. Never would have known it was there so thanks for the hook up!
Thanks for reading Chris! Was it your first Pho or were you already an addict when you walked in? 😉
You have to try Apsara’s in Fall River too. You can get the “bizarre” bits in their Pho!
Love From the Seoul and Ayur Shr. I tried Bibimbap because of an article I read on here..most amazing thing I’ve ever eaten.
Couldn’t agree with you more! My favorite places to eat
I am in San Diego visiting my new grandson,coming home, to Acushnet, on thursday. Last night we had Pho for dinner. My daughter has been talking to me about it for a long time, I had no idea what it was and was eager to try it. One of the best dishes I have ever eaten! I was saying to her, I have no idea if I can get this back home and Walaa! Here is your post the very next morning! You know where I’ll be going when I get back home!
I would add New Bedford style pizza to this list. I have introduced friends to the family -owned homemade sauce and thin crust varieties and they are all blown away. The common observation is that they have not had pizza like this back where they came from.