Chicken Malai Tikka Recipe

Ready for the best chicken malai tikka or Malai boti? These are kids-friendly, soft, Reshmi tikka that has a creamy moderately spicy taste. These turn out better than in restaurants and you will never order them again because they are so easy to make.

Tips and how this recipe works?

Since this is not a traditional recipe, it has many versions and is pretty versatile. There are three factors for the best chicken malai tikka. 

• Soft succulent chicken: The chicken needs to be marinated with a tenderizer like raw papaya or meat tenderizer. If you can plan fairly ahead and marinate for 12-16 hours in the fridge, then you can consider skipping meat tenderizer.
• Creamy factor AKA Malai: For the creamy factor, the cream is added, for the extra deliciousness factor cream cheese or milk powder, or other cheeses are added. Greek Yogurt or thick yogurt also gives you a creamy and tangy taste. 
• Aromatic spices and flavors: Roasted cumin powder, garlic, onion, and green chili are the must for malai boti marinade. What makes this recipe taste just like a restaurant is chicken bullion or cube.

Ingredients and substitutes.

Ingredients and spices are easily visible below the image. I will discuss ingredients for which I wish to suggest a substitute.

• Chicken: Use boneless thigh pieces for best taste. Marinate longer like overnight if using chicken breast pieces for juicy tender chicken. You can easily adapt this recipe for any chicken cut, boneless chicken cubes, and chicken leg or chicken chest are popular. 
• Greek yogurt: If you do not have greek yogurt just put plain yogurt in a fine strainer and let some water drain for 10 minutes. Use this thick yogurt in the recipe.
• Onions: You can substitute chopped onions with ½ tablespoon of onion powder.
• Raw Papaya paste: is simply raw green papaya processed into a paste. It is used in Indian cooking to tenderize meat. You can use meat tenderizer powder as well.
• Spices: Roasted and grounded cumin and coriander taste amazing in this recipe. But to keep the recipe simple I used regular cumin and coriander powder.
• Chicken cube: Most foods that are served at restaurants have flavor enhancers like MSG. With the chicken cube, you get the same taste. You may use MSG-free chicken cube or chicken powder or skip it altogether with a little compromise on the taste. 

How to make it? 

This is a very simple and quick recipe that is delicious and great for weekday meals. Let's move on to the simple recipe.

1. Wash and pat dry chicken cubes. (If using chicken breast, wash and pat dry chicken breast first and then cut into 1-inch cubes.)
2. Add the first set of ingredients and mix well. ( The tenderizer needs at least 45 minutes to work so the idea is to apply the tenderizer and available spice as soon as possible to save time.)
3. Then I assembled the remaining ingredients that needed chopping. I mixed it with yogurt, cream cheese, and cream.
4. And added this marinade also to the chicken. (Actually, you can mix all ingredients of the marinade together and apply in one go, I separate steps only to save time.)

5. Mix well and marinate chicken for a total of 45 minutes at least or 2 hours preferably. You can marinate it up to12 hours ahead and store it in the fridge.
6. Thread the chicken on the wooden skewers. ( Instruction for barbecue and baking are above in the FAQ section.)
7. Grill chicken malai tikka skewers in a nonstick pan. Heat oil and place the tikka skewer in the oil. Cover the skewers with a lid and let them cook for 3-4 minutes on medium heat. Then remove the lid and cook on high heat for 1-2 minutes until water dries and tikka are lightly golden.
8. Serve immediately, or you can smoke for 2 minutes with red hot charcoal and drizzle of oil and serve. (Try to prepare the serving plate with veggies and heat the charcoal ahead of frying so you can smoke and serve immediately.)

Expert Tips to Serve

• It is best paired with fresh salad, sliced and wash onions, chutney, Raita, and mayo garlic or sour cream. The carb sideline can be naan, roti, or fried plain flour Paratha. It is often served in large gatherings and the recipe can be easily doubled or tripled. 
• Malai boti Paratha roll: Take your thin Paratha and fill it with malai boti, onion slices, garlic Mayo sauce, and spicy green chutney. Roll it and your malai boti roll is ready. Serve with a dip. 
• Use in Alfredo pizza: On the pizza add the thick cheesy Alfredo sauce, this smoked malai tikka, corns, jalapeño, olives, mushroom, and onions. Finish with garlic mayo and cheese. Bake!
• Use in a sandwich: This malai boti can be added in your grilled cheese sandwich too. 

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