Chicken Tikka Masala vs Chicken Wings

It’s a question you’ve never asked yourself, and one you probably never should. But hypothetically speaking, if you were to find yourself in the right circumstances, would you go with with the chicken tikka masala or the chicken wings? This breakdown could help you avoid what might otherwise be an excruciating decision.

 

The Origin Story

The chicken wing as we know it is said to have originated in Buffalo, New York, courtesy a 1964 Anchor Bar recipe that would be adopted by bars from coast to coast. Of course, that’s where suspicions begin, as the chicken wing had clawed itself into the mainstream a few decades earlier when African American workers at meat processing plants found creative ways to use what would otherwise have been discarded. And it turns out that an African American Buffalonian named John Young was serving his own version of wings as early as 1961.

In terms of chicken tikka masala, one origin story takes us to Glasgow, Scotland, where in the 1970s a chef of Pakistani origin created a sauce to coat what were perceived as dry chunks of chicken. But many others in the United Kingdom also lay claim to what has been described as Britain’s national dish, long delighting pub patrons throughout the nation. And then there’s the camp that puts the dish in the category of just another thing the UK stole from the Indian subcontinent and claimed as its own.

Verdict: This is supposed to be fun people, and everyone is ruining it with politics. Tie.

 

The Color

Amazingly, both these dishes look kind of orange, and not necessarily in a healthy sort of way (see below).

Verdict: This one’s easy. Tie.

 

Animal Friendliness

Sure, there are nuances, but the chicken is basically screwed no matter which way you go.

Verdict: Another easy one. Tie.

 

Health

The chicken wing is typically deep fried and coated in a sauce that contains melted butter, making it difficult to top in terms of artery-clogging potential.

That said, chicken tikka masala holds its own, consisting of marinated and roasted chicken cubes bathed in a sauce that can contain heavy cream. It is also closely related to butter chicken which, as the name implies, isn’t cardiologist-endorsed.

Verdict: Since this site has MD in the name, neither can be safely recommended. Tie.

 

Versatility

The chicken wing is hard to match here, having nudged itself into a broad array of cuisines and being considered acceptable in all sorts of settings. For example, wings are at home in trendy high-end restaurants and shady all-you-can-eat joints alike. Pairing options are limitless, both in terms of edibles and adult beverages. Yes, they’re messy, but a few hand wipes can take care of that.

Chicken tikka masala is a bit more restricted in this regard. Finding its way into British pubs is no small feat, but comingling is still not a forte. Similarly, when dealing with less adventurous taste buds, you might run into trouble. In other words, serving this stuff at your next Super Bowl party comes with risks. And don’t be fooled—when consumed with naan, this dish can get messy too.

Verdict: It’s got to be the chicken wing.

 

So after all that, what’s the bottom line?

Well, first, if you regularly eat either of these, you might drink too much and/or need a statin.

And second, to avoid a culinary conundrum that hasn’t been solved here, you should just go with the chicken tikka masala wings.