The tikka masala, along with the likes of the TV and the fridge, surely has to be one of our city's greatest inventions.
This particular curry is certainly one of the most popular in Glasgow, if not across the rest of the UK, standing toe to toe with the likes of the korma and the jalfrezi. In fact, so-loved is the tikka masala, it was once unofficially declared Britain's national dish.
And you may have heard the legend, tikka masala started its life right here in our city, by complete accident.
The claim comes from Shish Mahal, one of Glasgow’s longest-standing Indian restaurants - once one of many curry houses on Gibson Street and now found round the corner on Park Road.
The story dates back to the 70s, when a customer complained his meat was too dry. The then-owner, Ali Ahmed Aslam, took it back to the kitchen and threw together a concoction of spices and tinned tomato soup, which he had been eating while recovering from a stomach ulcer. The rest, as they say, is (damn tasty) history.
Whether it’s true or not is always up for debate…
Still, Lonely Planet named the Shish Mahal as the best place of earth to try the dish in its book, The World’s Best Spicy Food.
The restaurant and a few prominent Glasgow faces tried to get the dish Protected Designation of Origin status back in 2009 - which would have meant restaurants the world over changing their menus to call it Glasgow Tikka Masala.
Sadly, the bid was unsuccessful - and others lay claim to inventing the Indo-British classic, from elsewhere in Glasgow, from London and Birmingham and from Dehli, where one chef claims it’s an authentic Mughlai recipe passed down from royal chefs.
Still, it’s a good story to tell - and it highlights just how serious Glasgow is about its curry!
