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Opinion National Interest PoV 50-Word Edit

ThePrint On Camera Videos In Pictures

Society & Culture Around Town Book Excerpts Vigyapanti The Dating Story

More Judiciary Education YourTurn Work With Us Campus Voice

How Scotland protects what India neglects. Chicken Tikka Masala for a start

Between a 'mild' chicken tikka and the cinematic lanes of Edinburgh, a blueprint for saving Jaipur's UNESCO World Heritage status can be found.

When I first heard that chicken tikka masala was a Scottish dish, I laughed at the idea. But when I found myself in Scotland, I had to try it.

Established in 1964, Shish Mahal in Glasgow, Scotland, claims to be the birthplace of chicken tikka masala, credited to Chef Ali Ahmed Aslam. The story goes back to the 1960s: When a customer found his chicken tikka too dry, Aslam added a creamy tomato sauce to it and created the legendary dish.

The chicken tikka (without the sauce/masala) was excellent. Things felt as though they were on the right track when I was offered, without having to ask for some extra green chillies.

I overheard an exchange between the restaurant staff and an older gentleman who was advised to have the “very mild” version of the dish, as opposed to my three chillies.

My “extra spicy” dish ended up being quite mild by Indian standards. It was a reminder that no matter how “authentic” the food was, it was designed specifically for the British palate. But chicken tikka masala doesn’t align with other Scottish dishes like haggis, fish and chips, or savoury pies; it didn’t quite taste desi either. It was a thing of its own, a spot of exotic colour in the local cuisine.

Apart from chicken tikka, India and Scotland also have UNESCO World Heritage sites in common.

Hailing from Jaipur, which was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage City in 2019, I felt a certain excitement visiting another place with that tag.

Walk down Edinburgh Lane

The Old and New Towns of Edinburgh carry that distinct air about them that can be felt almost immediately when walking through the city.

The walk from the train station to Edinburgh Castle felt almost........

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