Murgh is chicken, Malai is creamy, and Tikka refers to boneless chunks/ pieces. Together Murgh Malai Tikka or Chicken Malai Tikka make for something altogether irresistible.
Chicken Malai Tikka is succulently soft, juicy creamy chicken tikka that simply melt in your mouth. These tender pieces of boneless chicken are marinated in a unique blend of yoghurt, cream, cheese, and spices and cooked on a gas tandoor oven.
These nibbles are perfect for a luncheon or an evening over drinks.
Chicken Malai Tikka is also known as Chicken Reshmi Kabab, Chicken Malai Kabab, Chicken Reshmi Tikka, Murgh Malai Tikka, Murgh Reshmi Kabab. However, the basic composition of the recipe is more or less the same.
These tikka are mild and creamy with a superb rich taste that lingers on long after they’ve disappeared.
The essence of a great Chicken malai tikka lies in its marination. To marinate this Chicken Malai Tikka we especially use 2 souring agents.
One is lemon juice and the second is curd. These 2 ingredients turn the chicken pieces soft and tender as they are very good tenderiser.
The buoyant flavour in the tikka is that of cardamom while green chillies add to the spice quotient. The creaminess is also aided by the contribution of cheese in the marinade.
Chicken Malai Tikka or Chicken Reshmi Tikkas get their name from their silky smooth, soft and velvety texture. It’s a rich and indulgent starter. These tikkas stay khasta or slightly crispy or charred on outside but are super moist and soft on the inside.
Despite the rich ingredients, they are very light because of their delicate texture. You will perhaps eat half a dozen without noticing that you have eaten anything at all.
CHICKEN THIGHS OR BREASTS?
While you should use chicken thighs, you can use either. Chicken thighs are preferred because they contain more fat & are naturally more juicy meat as compared to breasts.
As a result, cooking a chicken thigh over high heat doesn’t make them dry and keeps them tender too.
However, just ensure that if you are using chicken breasts you marinate them for more time than thighs to get that tenderness.
RECIPE RECOMMENDATIONS
| Cooking Tools Recommended | Recommended Ingredients |
The Best Chicken Malai Tikka or Murgh Malai Tikka - Succulently Beautiful
Ingredients
- 5 piece Chicken Thighs Boneless. Without skin
- 0.25 cup Thick Yoghurt Hang the usual dahi or use a Greek Yoghurt
- 1 piece Lemon Juice Medium Sized
- 1 Teaspoons Garlic Paste
- 1.5 Teaspoons Ginger Paste
- 1/2 Cup Cheese Any processed cheese (grated or even Parmesan or Cheddar or Cream Cheese)
- 1 Teaspoon White Pepper Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Cardamom Powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon Cumin Powder
- 2 piece Green Chillies Finely chopped
- 3 Tablespoons Coriander Leaves Fresh & finely chopped
- 170 ml Heavy Cream
- 3 Tablespoons Butter For basting
- 0.5 Teaspoon Salt To taste
- 1/2 Teaspoon Chaat Masala For garnishing
Instructions
- Get your ingredients ready.
- Hang the curd if it is not a thick one already.
- Wash and dry the chicken legs.
- Cut the legs into half and then into two pieces each.
- Coat the chicken in the lime juice, garlic paste and salt. Mix well and leave to marinate in the fridge for as long as you wish (at least 1 hours)
- Add the yoghurt, turmeric, garam masala, red chilli powder and black cumin powder to a bowl. Mix well until combined.
- Add the marinated chicken from 5.
- Mix again and leave in the fridge for approximately 1 hour ( but it is better overnight) before grilling
- Heat the gas oven tandoor on your gas stove and fill up the bottom tank with some water.
- Place the marinated chicken lehsuni tikkas on the tandoori plate.
- Cover it with the lid.
- Turn once after 10 minutes and baste them with some butter.
- Cook for another 5 minutes. Once cooked turn off the gas and rest for 5 minutes.
- Once done, sprinkle cut coriander leaves and lemon juice.
- Serve with sliced onions, mint & coriander chutney and lemon wedges.
Notes
- Marinate the chicken overnight (if time permits). This helps in tenderising the chicken further and helps it absorb all the flavours from spices + herbs.
- Use fresh chicken breasts as opposed to a frozen one as its more tender and fresh.
- To make the chicken malai tikka extra juicy, slather a generous amount of butter/ghee on top before serving. This tenderises the cooked murgh malai tikka further and makes them extra juicy.
Step by Step Recipe - Chicken (Murgh) Malai Tikka
LOOKS AND READS UP LOVELY BUT I AM A VEGETARIAN
For a vegetarian version, simply substitute chicken with paneer/tofu. Vegetarian Malai kabab can be made with with paneer, and it comes out really smashingly good. The texture of the paneer is just as melt in the mouth!
SERVING SUGGESTIONS FOR CHICKEN MALAI TIKKA
Pile them up on to a platter and serve with dhaniya pudina, or mint and coriander chutney, and a finely chopped tomato, cucumber and onion salad steeped in salt and lemon juice.
Onions and hari chutney – awesome
While these are good to go without but you can also pair them with roomali roti or buttered naans.
TO SUM IT UP
Chicken malai tikka or murgh malai tikka
The best piece of creamy and succulent chicken – chicken malai tikka or murgh malai tikka, that you have ever put in your mouth! This Malai Tikka recipe will never fail to impress you. Make it to believe it. Gorgeously delicate and melt-in-your-mouth morsels of well made charred tandoori deliciousness.
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3 comments
buenas noches, idealistic blog on suety loss. aforesaid helped.
Thanks For Sharing this Amazing Recipe. My Family Loved It. I will be sharing this Recipe with my Friends. Hope They will like it.
I am sure they will Helan. Happy eating :)