One of the iconic dishes ever made, chicken tikka masala, was loved by many for generations. The rich and thick gravy with succulent chicken pieces, eaten with the flaky roti or naan, could make a perfect lunch or dinner meal for anyone.
Kudos goes to the inventor of this iconic dish, Ali Ahmed Aslam, a Pakistani chef that migrated to Glasgow to pursue his passion in the food industry.
However, another sad news knocked on our door. Heartbreakingly, Mr Ali passed away at the age of 77.
In a Facebook post shared by his remarkable restaurant, Shish Mahal, they were truly devastated by the news of Mr Ali’s demise.
“The restaurant was his life”
In an interview, Ali’s nephew, Ahmed, said Shish Mahal was the chef’s everything.
He was already unwell since last year. Therefore, Ahmed went to visit him in the hospital on Christmas.
Although he was not in good condition, as soon as he spotted Ahmed, Mr Ali said, “You should be at work.”
Mr. Ali invented the dish because chicken tikka was too dry for a customer
Going back to the origin of this loved dish, Mr Ali made this dish in the 1970s come to life for one reason: a customer commented the chicken tikka was too dry.
For your information, chicken tikka is another iconic dish. It is basically chicken breast or thigh marinated in herbs and grilled to perfection.
Mr Ali said in an interview with AFP in 2009, “We thought we’d better cook the chicken with some sauce.”
We could see why he decided to twist and bend the chicken tikka recipe by adding tomato sauce, yoghurt, cream and spices. It gets more delicious than it already is! Thus, the chicken tikka masala was born!
“Chicken tikka masala is a true British national dish”
Since Mr Ali invented the delicious recipe, Robin Cook, a former foreign minister, described chicken tikka masala as the national heritage of British culture.
He explained in a 2001 speech on British Identity, “Chicken tikka masala is now a true British national dish. Not only because it is the most popular, but because it is a perfect illustration of the way Britain absorbs and adapts external influences.”
Mr Ali’s burial was done on 20 December after the zuhr prayer
The talented chef left his wife, Kalsoom Akhtar, and five children. Our deepest condolences to them.
Thank you, Mr. Ali, for contributing to the gastronomic eating experience. People worldwide have been savoring your chicken tikka masala for a long time. May Allah bless you hereafter. He would be greatly missed.
Sources: NDTV News, Facebook Shish Mahal, Twitter Shish Mahal