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Chicken Tikka Masala & Pilau Rice by Charlie Bigham's
Charlie Bigham's

Chicken Tikka Masala & Pilau Rice

Barcode 5033665209773
Scanned  55  times by Nomi users
Ultra-Processed Food (UPF)

Yes — Chicken Tikka Masala & Pilau Rice is ultra-processed.

The dish contains ultra-processed components such as mango chutney and lime pickle, which include additives like acidity regulator (acetic acid) and are industrially formulated condiments. These UPF ingredients make the overall product ultra-processed.

Ingredients

2 ultra-processed markers
  • OK
    water
    Essential base ingredient for countless foods and beverages; serves as solvent and texture modifier.
  • OK
    chicken
    Raw or cooked chicken meat; common protein source in dishes.
  • OK
    cream (milk)
    Dairy cream made from milk, a basic culinary ingredient.
  • OK
    rice
    Rice grain; staple carbohydrate.
  • OK
    onions
    A bulbous vegetable used as a staple aromatic and flavoring in many cuisines.
  • OK
    greek-style yoghurt (milk)
    Fermented dairy product made with milk; thicker yogurt style.
  • OK
    butter (milk)
    A dairy fat product made from churning cream; commonly used in cooking and baking.
  • OK
    tomato purée
    A tomato-based concentrate obtained by cooking down tomatoes, commonly used as a base or seasoning in dishes.
  • OK
    ginger purée
    A smooth paste made from ginger, used to impart ginger flavor in sauces and dishes.
  • UPF
    mango chutney
    A ready-to-use sweet-sour condiment made from mango, sugar, salt and a blend of spices and herbs; typical of South Asian cuisine.
  • OK
    lemon juice
    The clear, acidic juice extracted from lemons, used for brightness and acidity in foods and drinks.
  • OK
    garlic purée
    Pureed garlic, often used as a flavoring base.
  • OK
    rapeseed oil
    A basic culinary oil pressed from rapeseeds (Brassica napus). Used for frying, baking, and dressings. Neutral flavor.
  • OK
    salt
    Common mineral compound (sodium chloride) used as a seasoning and preservative across cuisines.
  • OK
    ground coriander
    A spice ground from the dried seeds of Coriandrum sativum. Bright, citrusy, warm flavor widely used in spice blends and curries.
  • UPF
    lime pickle
    A tangy condiment made from preserved lime with salt, sugar, chili, mustard seeds and spices.
  • OK
    cornflour
    Ground corn starch used as a thickening agent in cooking and baking.
  • OK
    ground cumin
    A spice made from dried, ground seeds of Cuminum cyminum. Warm, earthy, slightly citrusy flavor commonly used in Indian, Middle Eastern, and Mexican cuisines.
  • OK
    red chillies
    Dried or fresh chili peppers used to add heat and color to dishes.
  • OK
    parsley (fresh leaves)
    A fresh herb with bright, grassy flavor used as a garnish or seasoning.
  • OK
    nigella seeds (black onion seeds)
    A small black seed with a pungent, onion-like flavor used whole or ground in breads and spice mixes.
  • OK
    mustard seeds (yellow)
    Small round seeds with a sharp, pungent flavor used whole or ground in condiments and spice blends.
  • OK
    fenugreek (ground)
    Ground seeds of the fenugreek plant (Trigonella foenum-graecum), used as a spice with a warm, slightly bitter, nutty flavor and a hint of maple-like sweetness.
  • OK
    cayenne pepper
    Dried and ground hot chili pepper (Capsicum annuum) known for its fiery heat, used to add pungency and warmth to dishes.
  • OK
    paprika oil
    A culinary oil derived from paprika peppers, either pressed from the seeds/fruit or infused with paprika to impart a subtle pepper flavor and red-orange color.
  • OK
    ground chilli pepper
    Ground dried red chili peppers, varying in heat (capsicum species), used to spice dishes; commonly labeled as chili powder or ground chile in some cuisines.
  • OK
    ground black pepper
    A fine powder made by grinding peppercorns (Piper nigrum); a common, pungent spice used to season savory dishes.
  • OK
    turmeric
    A bright orange-yellow root commonly used as a spice and for its active compound curcumin, with warm, earthy, slightly peppery flavor.
  • OK
    ground cinnamon
    A spice derived from the inner bark of Cinnamomum trees, ground into fine powder for flavoring and aroma in foods.
  • OK
    ground dill
    Ground dill is a milder form of dill weed, dried and crushed from the dill plant, used for its aromatic, slightly grassy, citrusy notes.
  • OK
    ground ginger
    Powdered ginger root used as a spice and flavoring.
  • OK
    cardamom seeds
    Cardamom seeds are the dried seeds of the cardamom plant, known for citrusy-menthol aroma and used as a spice.
  • OK
    coriander seeds
    Dried seeds of the cilantro plant (Coriandrum sativum) used whole or crushed to add warm, citrusy, spicy notes.
  • OK
    ground cardamom
    Ground cardamom is the finely crushed form of whole cardamom pods, offering warm, sweet, and spicy notes.
  • OK
    ground cloves
    Ground cloves are the finely milled powder of the dried flower buds of the clove tree. They are a common spice used in both sweet and savory dishes, offering warm, aromatic, and slightly bitter notes.

Healthier alternatives

Reviewed by Nomi

Similar products that aren't ultra-processed — swap and keep the flavour.

Swap it for something less processed

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Other ready meals Nomi has checked — these ones aren't ultra-processed.

Common questions about Chicken Tikka Masala & Pilau Rice

Is Chicken Tikka Masala & Pilau Rice ultra-processed?

Yes — Chicken Tikka Masala & Pilau Rice by Charlie Bigham's is ultra-processed, so it counts as a UPF (ultra-processed food). The dish contains ultra-processed components such as mango chutney and lime pickle, which include additives like acidity regulator (acetic acid) and are industrially formulated condiments. These UPF ingredients make the overall product ultra-processed.

Which ingredients in Chicken Tikka Masala & Pilau Rice are ultra-processed?

Nomi flags 2 ingredients in Chicken Tikka Masala & Pilau Rice as ultra-processed markers: mango chutney, lime pickle. See the full ingredient breakdown above for what each one is.

What are healthier alternatives to Chicken Tikka Masala & Pilau Rice?

Nomi has reviewed similar products that are not ultra-processed, including Tikka masala simmer sauce by Biona Organic, Tailor Original Tikka Masala by The Spice Tailor, Tikka Masala Curry Paste by Geo Organics. See the healthier alternatives above for details.

What does "ultra-processed" (UPF) mean?

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are industrial formulations made with ingredients and additives you wouldn't find in a home kitchen — such as emulsifiers, artificial flavourings, colourings and modified starches. The classification is based on the NOVA system used by researchers and dietitians worldwide.

How can I check whether other foods are ultra-processed?

Scan any barcode — or photograph the ingredients label — with the free Nomi app for iOS and Android. You'll get an instant ultra-processed verdict with every ingredient explained in plain English.

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Product information comes from public databases and Nomi's own analysis, and may contain errors. Always check the packaging. Ultra-processed classification is based on the NOVA food processing system.

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