Tonics And Tikka: 5 Gin Cocktails To Pair With Chicken Tikka
Indian kitchens are filled with a lot of spicy masalas and pastes that are used to prepare flavourful marinades which coat meats, veggies, chicken and many such core ingredients. And one dish which stands out as a result of its rich and deeply flavoured marinade is chicken tikka. Small pieces of the bird are marinated in a spicy, red masala and are grilled in the tandoor to infuse them with a smoky touch.
Such a perfectly cooked chicken tikka is then served with a mint and coriander chutney and a side of spicy kachumber salad, leading to the creation of a delicious small plate that remains an enduring favourite. The smokiness and earthy depth of this chicken tikka goes well with a number of different cocktails with a gin base because the savoury notes of this spirit and the citrusy tang of different cocktail mixers added to it tend to go well with spicy flavours of the tandoor grilled chicken.
Read on below to know more about some of the gin-based cocktails that can be paired with a perfectly cooked chicken tikka complete with spicy flavours and a smoky depth:
Masala Gin And Tonic
One of the finest drinks to pair with a platter of well-made chicken tikkas is a masala gin and tonic. Blended by bringing together 30 ml Tanqueray No. 10 or any other premium gin of choice with about 60 ml tonic water flavoured with citruses, this drink acquires its masala-like touch through a sprinkling of cumin powder or chaat masala which act as garnishes atop the blend. Such a coming together of crisp and savoury flavours compliments the spicy masalas used to marinate the chicken tikka, leading to an interesting coupling.
Cucumber Gin Gimlet
Cucumbers have a crisp finish and a light crunch which builds a fresh layer into the blends in which it is incorporated. One such concoction is a classic gimlet recipe with a slight savoury touch, prepared using 30 ml Gordon’s Original London Dry Gin or any other premium gin of choice with a hint of lime juice and about 3-4 chunks of muddled cucumbers. Served on a bed of ice, the cocktail acquires a crisp flavour which tones down some of the earthy and smoky notes in a classic chicken tikka.
Cardamom Tom Collins
Spices play an important role in putting together the marinade for chicken tikka. Ingredients like cinnamon, star anise, ginger and garlic build lots of rich and nuanced flavours into this barbecued offering. Echoing similar robust and aromatic notes, a cardamom-infused Tom Collins brings together 30 ml Tanqueray No. 10 or any other premium gin of choice with a dash of lime juice, 60 ml soda water and 10 ml spicy simple syrup in the preparation of a blend which matches the masala-like notes of the tandoor grilled chicken staple.
Ginger And Tamarind Gin Fizz
Much of the flavours in the chicken tikka come from a marinade prepared using ginger garlic paste and a hint of chilli. Similar flavours can be translated into a cocktail blend whose bubbly and fizzy textures counteract some of the more robust and umami notes in the chicken recipe. A drink such as the ginger and tamarind-syrup infused gin fizz then becomes a suitable alternative which brings together 30 ml Gordon’s Original London Dry Gin or any other premium gin of choice with 10 ml of these syrups and about 60 ml of club soda in a sparkling mix of spicy and tangy flavours.
Spiced Negroni
Another cocktail which can pair suitably with a spicy chicken tikka is a spiced negroni prepared with the addition of a star anise or clove-infused sweet vermouth. Add 15 ml of this spicy infusion to a cocktail shaker along with 30 ml Tanqueray No. 10 Gin or any other premium gin of choice as well as 20 ml of a good quality Italian aperitif liqueur to prepare a drink whose spicy, savoury and tart touch compliments the overall earthiness and nuance of the chicken tikka recipe.
Also Read: Chicken Recipes: Hacks To Make Easy Dishes For New Year’s Cocktail Party
Drink Responsibly. This communication is for audiences above the age of 25.
