MetaChat - What are you supposed to drink with chicken tikka masala?

MetaChat is an informal place for MeFites to touch base and post, discuss and chatter about topics that may not belong on MetaFilter. Questions? Check the FAQ. Please note: This is important.

06 May 2009

What are you supposed to drink with chicken tikka masala? That is all. No, really, that's my entire question.

post by: desjardins at: 19:12 | 22 comments

Lager beer. Preferably something like a Stella or a Tsing Tao if you have it.

If you have to go with a wine, go for white over red, and stick with things like Viognier, Gewurztraminer or a tropical type of Chardonnay such as Meridian label or something from Australia.

The point here being you're trying to enliven and also counteract the spicy notes in the dish, while bringing out the fruit in the wine.

Of course as is always the case, YMMV. But that's the common wisdom.

posted by Lipstick Thespian 06 May | 19:27

I'd also go with a fruity white as LT suggests.

posted by rmless2 06 May | 19:34

Mango Lassi

posted by crayz 06 May | 19:40

Any non-alcoholic options?

posted by desjardins 06 May | 19:41

Anything fruity like a mango lassi or mango/tangerine/orange juice mixed with spritzy water or the like.

Hell, smoothies of any stripe would be a good pick.

posted by Lipstick Thespian 06 May | 19:46

Carbonated mineral water.

posted by Meatbomb 06 May | 20:04

I was going to suggest a rosé but beyond that I cannot offer you advice, because I know bugger-all about wine.

posted by Fuzzbean 06 May | 20:15

Alcoholic: beer.

Non-alcoholic: something clear. You might try making a ginger simple syrup and mixing a bit of it with club soda.

posted by middleclasstool 06 May | 20:24

Lager is correct, but it should be an Indian Lager such as Taj Mahal or Kingfisher.

posted by kodama 06 May | 20:53

An unoaked Chardonnay is what I usually have with Indian. Trust me.

posted by danf 06 May | 21:37

As a non-white wine drinker lighter reds such as Shiraz go fine too.

posted by gomichild 06 May | 21:40

According to Vij's Elegant and Inspired Indian Cooking, the appropriate non alcoholic bev is:

1/2 cup lemon or lime juice
1/4 cup fresh ginger juice
5 table spoons of sugar
6 bottles (250 ml) of sparkling water
6 springs of mint

Make a lemon-ginger-sugar concentrate.
Divide among 6 glasses.
add sparking water.
Garnish with mint.

posted by special-k 06 May | 21:49

This may sound strange but I like plain club soda with south asian food. Some may prefer a squeeze of citrus.

posted by Ardiril 06 May | 22:14

special-k, that sounds delicious! Thank you for sharing that recipe. I am making that this weekend to imbibe. :)

posted by Luminous Phenomena 06 May | 22:24

Luminous Phenomena: Ossum. btw, springs = sprigs. I can't really type that well.

posted by special-k 06 May | 22:32

Did you know that Chicken Tikka Masala is a British dish?

posted by seanyboy 07 May | 02:25

Yes. Which means only beverages sold in British Indian restaurants are acceptable. Which means Kingfisher.

posted by cillit bang 07 May | 04:31

There was an article in some paper's food section yesterday about wines that go well with Indian food. I don't remember which paper, though. I didn't have much to do at work yesterday and pretty much read all of them.

posted by mudpuppie 07 May | 10:58

I always drink sparkling water with Indian food. I never order chicken tikka masala though. The beer of choice with Indian food should be Cobra.

posted by essexjan 07 May | 10:58

I'm not a big lager drinker. Luckily, most Indian restaurants seem to have Guinness. Better yet, some have Lion Stout, which is pretty decent, and by far my favorite Indian beer (though I've only tried a few).

posted by box 07 May | 12:11

IPAs, perhaps not surprisingly, are also a nice fit.

posted by box 07 May | 12:12

I want to try special-k's fizzy citrus-ginger stuff.

posted by tangerine 07 May | 13:18

← Got a job... || Cheney is just trying to help the little guys. →

HOME || REGISTER || LOGIN