Chicken Tikka Masala

"First introduced to our freezers in 2009, Trader Joe’s Chicken Tikka Masala quickly became a favorite among Customers and Crew alike. What’s that? You haven’t tried it yet? Oh, boy. It’s time. This classic, Indian(ish) dish features chunks of chicken that have been roasted in an oven, or tandoor, and served in a creamy, mildly spicy, tomato-based, curry flavored sauce. A wee bit of investigation reveals that there is no standard for this iconic dish. In fact, our research found that the only thing a majority of recipes for this dish have in common is chicken. This fact rocked our culinary sensibilities, but not as much as the stories that suggest (rather convincingly) that this classic curry was created not in India, but in Great Britain. We don’t have proof, but the sources seem pretty reliable. (This explains our “ish” after “Indian.”) Regardless of its origins, we can tell you that Trader Joe’s Chicken Tikka Masala with cumin-flavored basmati Rice is made just for us by a small, U.S.-based company that specializes in Indian-inspired foods. Rich and creamy sauce, tender chunks of white meat chicken, and nicely-flavored, cumin-infused basmati rice on the side, this frozen entrée makes a terrific lunch or dinner for one in less than five minutes in the microwave."