When you hear “tandoori”, do you only think of chicken on a skewer at a restaurant? Good news: tandoori is so much more than that. Tandoori does not have to mean only chicken or something purchased from a restaurant.
With MA’s Kitchen Tandoori Masala, you can make quick, flavourful tandoori recipes at home with chicken, prawns, vegetables, and even salads and wraps. These easy tandoori recipe ideas are perfect for busy weeknights, weekend BBQs, and party food in Sri Lanka.
Below are our favourite, simple ways to use tandoori masala in your everyday cooking. All five use the same basic marinade. Learn it once and you can cook any of them: mix MA’s Kitchen Tandoori Masala with curd, marinate, cook, and enjoy.
1. Classic Tandoori Chicken
This is the perfect easy tandoori chicken recipe that everyone should learn. It is great for those who are new to cooking with tandoori masala.
Simply marinate the chicken pieces in MA’s Kitchen Tandoori Masala and curd, then cook the chicken at a hot enough temperature to char the edges while the inside stays moist.
Use thighs or drumsticks if you can since they stay juicier than breast meat. Cut a few shallow slashes into each piece before marinating so the flavour goes deeper than the surface.
We love this classic tandoori chicken; it creates chicken that is juicy, smoky and full of flavour whether you choose to grill, bake or air‑fry it. It is the easy, home‑cooked version of your favourite restaurant-style tandoori chicken. This tandoori chicken is perfect for dinners, BBQs, and meal prep. Once you master this, you can use the same marinade for fish, prawns, paneer, or vegetables.
Tip: Use this chicken as the base for the tandoori chicken salad and tandoori wraps below or serve with rice and roti for a complete tandoori dinner idea.
Get the full classic tandoori chicken recipe here: <<Recipe LINK>>
2. Tandoori Chicken Salad
This tandoori chicken salad combines smoky grilled chicken with crisp lettuce, cucumber, tomato, and creamy avocado, with a fresh, crunchy, bold tandoori flavour. Tossed in a cool mint‑curd dressing, it is a healthy tandoori recipe that does not compromise on flavour.
This is one of the best ways to make this salad the day after a tandoori chicken dinner using the remaining leftover tandoori chicken: simply slice or shred your classic tandoori chicken, toss with fresh veggies and dressing, and you have a quick tandoori lunch or light dinner.
For a Sri Lankan touch, toast a roti in a dry pan, cut it into strips, and scatter over the salad just before serving. They add crunch the way croutons would.
The chicken can go in warm or cold. Add the dressing at the last minute so the salad stays crisp. If you are packing the salad for work, keep the dressing in a separate container.
Get the full recipe for tandoori chicken salad here: <<Recipe LINK>>
3. Tandoori Cauliflower (Vegetarian Tandoori Recipe)
Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, this tandoori cauliflower is a flavourful vegetarian tandoori recipe and a tasty twist on the classic. Marinated in MA’s Kitchen Tandoori Masala and curd, then grilled or roasted until lightly charred, it works as a delicious side, snack, or main dish.
Cauliflower holds tandoori flavour well because the marinade settles into the gaps between florets. Two tips that make a difference. First, dry the florets well after washing so the marinade sticks. Second, spread them out on the tray with space between them because crowded cauliflower steams instead of roasting.
Serve it as a side with rice and dhal, or as a vegetarian main with roti and a curd dip.
If you are looking for vegetarian tandoori ideas or tandoori recipes for vegetables, this is a great place to start. The same marinade works beautifully with potato, pumpkin, mushrooms, or paneer.
Tip: Make a bigger batch and use the extra in the tandoori cauliflower wraps below or toss into rice bowls and pasta for more easy tandoori dinner ideas.
Get the full tandoori cauliflower recipe here: <<Recipe LINK>>
4. Tandoori Cauliflower Wraps (Easy Tandoori Lunchbox Idea)
Soft naan or roti wrapped around smoky tandoori cauliflower, fresh veggies, and a herby curd sauce. These tandoori cauliflower wraps are quick, colourful, and packed with flavour – ideal for lunchboxes, weeknight dinners, or easy entertaining.
This is a fantastic tandoori lunchbox idea for school or work, and a great way to make vegetarian tandoori recipes fun and kid‑friendly. Roast a double batch of tandoori cauliflower and the next day’s lunch is mostly done.
Easy Lunchboxes: Pack these tandoori cauliflower wraps for school or work and turn your tandoori masala into a handheld meal. Wrap each one in baking paper or foil and pack the sauce separately to add at lunchtime. This keeps the bread/wrap from going soggy.
Tip: These wraps are great for kids’ lunchboxes too – just reduce or skip the chillies in the sauce to make a mild tandoori recipe that everyone can enjoy.
Get the full tandoori cauliflower wraps recipe here: <<Recipe LINK>>
5. Tandoori Prawn Bites with Cucumber (Party Tandoori Appetiser)
Elegant yet easy, these tandoori prawn bites pair spiced, grilled prawns with cool cucumber slices and a hint of lime. With an optional creamy avocado layer, they make a stunning tandoori appetiser or party snack that comes together in minutes.
The cool cucumber balances the spice. Each piece is a single bite, which makes them easy to eat while standing and talking.
You can do most of the work before guests arrive- slice the cucumber, make the topping, and marinate prawns. Cook the prawns last since they take only a few minutes. For a different presentation, thread them onto small skewers and serve them as tandoori prawn skewers.
Want something fancy but fast? This is your recipe for easy tandoori party food that impresses guests without much effort.
Get the tandoori prawn bites recipe here: <<Recipe LINK>>
How to Get the Most Out of MA’s Kitchen Tandoori Masala
These five recipes show just a few of the favourite ways to use tandoori masala at home:
Tandoori prawn bites for parties and special moments
The pattern is always the same:
MA’s Kitchen Tandoori Masala + curd + your favourite protein or veg = easy, flavourful tandoori recipes.
Start with one easy tandoori recipe this week, then try another. Soon, “tandoori night” can become a regular, exciting part of your home cooking without any restaurant help.
MA's Kitchen Tandoori Masala comes in a 50g pack.
In-store: Gourmet Market by MA's Kitchen has branches in:
Thalawathugoda (Madiwela Road)
It is also sold at Keells, Cargills, Arpico, SPAR, Glomark and Laugfs supermarkets.
Online: Order from SPAR2U, Glomark, Keells Online, Cargills Online or Daraz. For delivery in Colombo, you can also order through Uber Eats or PickMe.
Tag us when you make your favourite tandoori dish, we would love to see your home‑cooked tandoori recipes and share them with our community.