Chicken tikka may arguably be the most famous grilled Indian appetizer. They are perfect bite-size pieces of chicken, marinated in a heavenly combination of spices and yogurt. Be it a BBQ party, just a regular get together of friends, or a quick daily meal, these are some of my favorite things to make. With an air fryer at my disposal, I can marinate these babies ahead of time and just pop them in to cook whenever I desire. Serve them with a side of mint chutney and some lemon wedges, and you have a healthy and wholesome meal!
Typically, these skewers are cooked in a clay oven called the tandoor. If you want the charcoal flavor that you get from the traditional cooking process, just heat a piece of coal, and place it in the steel cup. Place this cup in the middle of the plate on which the tikka is. Pour some ghee over it and cover the platter for 5 minutes. The coal flavors will infuse into the tikka. Enjoy!
What you will need:
| Ingredients | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Aamchur Powder | 1/2 tablespoon |
| Boneless Chicken Thighs | 2 pounds |
| Capsicum/ Bell Peppers | 200 grams |
| Chaat Masala | 1 tablespoon |
| Cumin Powder | 1/2 tablespoon |
| Ginger Garlic Paste | 3 tablespoons |
| Kashmiri Chili Powder | 3 tablespoons |
| Onions | 200 grams |
| Salt | 3/4 tablespoon |
| Turmeric Powder | 1/2 tablespoon |
| Yogurt | 2/3 cup |
How to make it:
- Wash and clean the chicken thighs. Cut into 2-inch cubes and set aside.
- In a bowl, mix together the yogurt, Kashmiri chili powder, turmeric, ginger-garlic paste, salt, cumin powder, and aamchur powder. Mix well.
- Marinate the cubes of chicken with the paste. Set aside to marinate overnight or at least for 15 minutes.
- Dice the onions and bell peppers into 2-inch cubes as well. You can use any vegetables of your choice here.
- Soak some skewers in water to prevent them from burning during the cooking process.
- Now pierce the chicken and cubed vegetables on the skewers.
- Oven: When ready to cook, bake them in the oven at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes or until done, depending on your oven setting. If you use the oven, you may have to brush them with some oil to prevent them from drying. Tip: Turn them after 20 minutes so they cook evenly and get a char on both sides.
- Air Fryer: You can also make them in the air fryer at 350 degrees F. Fry for 10 minutes, turn and cook for another 10 minutes on the other side. I used the ninja foodi with the air crisp mode.
- Grill: If you have access to a grill, it is ok to grill them as well. Oil the grill and cook them until done on both sides. It should take around 15-20 minutes to cook depending on the type of grill used.
- As soon as the chicken tikka is cooked, sprinkle with chaat masala.
- Enjoy with a side of mint chutney and lemon wedges.