Ali Ahmed Aslam
Ali Ahmed Aslam | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1944 or 1945 |
| Died | (aged 77) |
| Occupation(s) | Chef Restaurant owner |
| Known for | Inventing chicken tikka masala |
Ali Ahmed Aslam (1944/1945 – 19 December 2022) was a Pakistani-born Scottish chef, claimed as the inventor of the chicken tikka masala dish.
Early life
Aslam was born in what is now Punjab province, Pakistan, and in either 1958 or 1959, moved with his family to Glasgow as a young boy.[1][2] His father, Noor Mohammed, opened what is considered the first true Indian restaurant in Glasgow, the Green Gates on Bank Street, in 1959.[3]
Chef and restaurant owner
Aslam opened the Shish Mahal restaurant in Glasgow's west end in 1964[1] and reportedly ate lunch in his restaurant every day.[4] The establishment was considered his life's work.[4][by whom?]
Invention
Though the origin of the dish is not certain, he is credited with inventing chicken tikka masala by improvising a sauce made from a tin of condensed tomato soup, and spices.[5][6] He claimed he devised the recipe for "Britain’s favourite curry" after a customer complained that his meal was too dry.[1]
The dish is widely considered an adaptation of the South Asian cuisine to suit Western European palates.[4] Aslam claimed it was his gift to the city of Glasgow and he later campaigned unsuccessfully for the dish to be granted Protected Designation of Origin status by the European Union.[4][1]
Personal life
Aslam was married and had five children.[1]
Death and funeral
Aslam died in Glasgow on 19 December 2022 at age 77.[1][7] His funeral was held at Glasgow Central Mosque the next day, with members of the public invited to attend.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Nadeem Badshah (21 December 2022). "Ali Ahmed Aslam, inventor of chicken tikka masala, dies at 77". The Guardian.
- ^ https://www.asianimage.co.uk/news/23207066.tributes-paid-glasgow-curry-legend-ali-ahmed-aslam/
- ^ One Super Ali Glasgow loves, The Herald Scotland
- ^ a b c d Anjali Thakur (22 December 2022). "Ali Ahmed Aslam, 'Chicken Tikka Masala' Inventor, Dies At 77". NDTV.
- ^ "Glasgow 'invented' Tikka Masala". BBC News. BBC. 21 July 2009. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
Mr Sarwar claimed the dish owed its origins to the culinary skills of Ali Ahmed Aslam, proprietor of the Shish Mahal restaurant in Park Road in the west end of the city. He is said to have prepared a sauce using spices soaked in a tin of condensed tomato soup after a customer said his meal was too dry.
- ^ Godeau, Lucie (2 August 2009). "Chicken tikka masala claims its origins in Scotland". Sydney Morning Herald. Agence France Presse. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
"Chicken tikka masala was invented in this restaurant, we used to make chicken tikka, and one day a customer said, 'I'd take some sauce with that, this is a bit dry'," said Ahmed Aslam Ali, 64, founder of Shish Mahal. "We thought we'd better cook the chicken with some sauce. So from here we cooked chicken tikka with the sauce that contains yogurt, cream, spices.
- ^ "Glaswegian who 'invented' chicken tikka masala dies". BBC News. 2022-12-21. Retrieved 2022-12-22.