People who love non-veg food often crave the creamy, juicy chicken malai tikka served at restaurants, yet few realise the same taste can be pulled off easily in a home kitchen. Its mild spices, velvety creamy texture and gentle smoky aroma make it a hit with everyone, from kids to grown-ups. The best part is that it needs neither a long list of ingredients nor a lot of effort. Get the marination right, and a delicious, juicy chicken malai tikka is ready on your plate.
What You Will Need
For this dish you need 500 grams of boneless chicken (cut into cubes), ½ cup fresh cream, 3 tablespoons thick curd, 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste, 1 teaspoon black pepper powder, 1 teaspoon garam masala, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 2 tablespoons grated cheese, 1 tablespoon butter and salt to taste.
Marination Is The Real Secret
Start by mixing the curd, fresh cream, ginger-garlic paste, black pepper powder, garam masala, lemon juice and salt together well in a large bowl. Now coat the chicken pieces thoroughly with this mixture so that every piece is wrapped in the spices. Refrigerate it for at least 2 hours. If you have the time, let it marinate overnight, as this deepens the flavour beautifully.
Different Ways To Cook It
Thread the marinated chicken pieces onto skewers. If you are using an oven, bake at 200°C for about 20 to 25 minutes. Keep brushing the chicken with butter or oil in between so it stays soft and does not dry out. No oven is no problem, as you can just as easily cook it in a non-stick pan or an air fryer. Cook the chicken until it turns golden brown on both sides.
Add That Smoky Flavour With Charcoal
For a true restaurant-style smoky taste, take a small bowl and place a piece of burning charcoal in it. Pour a little ghee over it and immediately set the bowl in the middle of the dish, then cover everything. Leave it like this for 5 minutes. This is the trick that fills the chicken with a wonderful smoky aroma.
How To Serve
Arrange the hot chicken malai tikka on a plate with spring onion, onion rings and lemon wedges. It tastes excellent with rumali roti or naan. This home-made tikka is a great balance of taste and health, since with little preparation and the right marinade you get a restaurant-style flavour right in your own kitchen. So the next time you feel like eating something special, do give this easy recipe a try.
