Malai Chicken Tikka Recipe
Malai Chicken Tikka is a creamy, flavorful Indian grilled chicken dish made with marinated chicken cubes in a luscious blend of heavy cream, yogurt, garlic, ginger, green chili, and spices, topped with melted mozzarella cheese. Perfectly grilled to juicy perfection and garnished with fresh cilantro and lime, this recipe offers a deliciously rich and mildly spiced feast that pairs wonderfully with green chutney and lime wedges.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Indian
- Diet: Halal
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Marinade
- 1.5 lbs chicken breast or thigh, small cubed
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 serrano pepper, or 2 small green chili peppers
- 4 garlic cloves
- 1 inch fresh ginger
- 1/4 tsp garam masala
- 3 tbsp lime juice and zest of 1 lime, plus more lime wedges for serving
- 2 tbsp thick Greek-style yogurt
- 1 tsp corn starch
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1–2 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped, plus more for garnish
For Cooking & Garnish
- 1–2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted (optional, for basting)
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Prepare the marinade: In a food processor, combine serrano chili peppers, peeled ginger, garlic cloves, fresh cilantro, yogurt, lime juice and zest. Pulse until a smooth puree forms. Transfer this mixture to a bowl and stir in heavy cream, salt, corn starch, and garam masala until well combined.
- Marinate the chicken: Add the small cubed chicken pieces to the marinade and coat them thoroughly. Allow the chicken to marinate for 15-20 minutes or up to overnight in the refrigerator to develop deep flavors.
- Mix in cheese and skewer: Remove the marinated chicken from the fridge and fold in the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly. Thread the chicken pieces onto skewers, making sure they are well spaced for even grilling.
- Preheat and oil the grill: Preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Spray or brush the grilling surface with oil to prevent sticking.
- Grill the chicken tikka: Place the chicken skewers on the grill and cook for 10 minutes on one side. Then turn and baste with melted butter if using. Grill another 10 minutes on the other side or until the chicken is fully cooked through, and the cheese on top is bubbly and lightly browned.
- Serve: Remove the cooked malai chicken tikka from the grill and transfer to a serving plate. Garnish with additional chopped cilantro. Serve hot with lime wedges and green chutney on the side for dipping. Enjoy your creamy, flavorful grilled chicken!
Notes
- Marinate the chicken overnight for more intense flavor.
- Use boneless chicken thighs for juicier results.
- Adjust the green chili quantity to suit your spice preference.
- Melted butter basting is optional but adds richness and a nice glossy finish.
- If grilling is not available, you can broil or pan-cook the chicken skewers.
- Be careful not to overcook the chicken to keep it tender and moist.
Keywords: Malai Chicken Tikka, Indian Chicken Recipe, Grilled Chicken, Creamy Chicken Tikka, Chicken Skewers, Indian BBQ, Mozzarella Chicken, Spicy Chicken Tikka
Find it online: https://dinewithlily.com/malai-chicken-tikka-recipe/
