CHICKEN TIKKA

    Chicken Tikka is one of the most popular dish next to Tandoori Chicken in Indian Cuisine.  This dish is quite famous around the world. An Indian Dish, claiming to have been originated in an Indian Restaurant in Glasgow, Scotland and Britain claimed that it is the country's most popular foreign dish to be cooked.
     Tikka means small  chunks, pieces or bytes. Chunky Chicken Bytes are marinated overnight or for few hours in Yogurt based Spice mixture.  Yogurt tenderizes the Chicken pieces and makes them succulent when grilled.  The spices in the marinade gets infused into the chicken pieces  enhancing the overall flavour and taste of the dish. Food colour is commonly used in this recipe for the red colour.  But I usually substitute it with Kashmiri Chilli Powder. 
     Traditionally Chicken Tikka is grilled in a Tandoor. I usually use Electric Oven to grill Chicken Tikka.  As it is one of the easiest method and less time consuming.  Chicken Tikka can be served with Green Chutney, Sliced Onions & Peppers with a drizzle of Lime juice over it.

Cuisine : Indian
Course : Appetiser / Starter
Spicy Level  : Medium
Difficulty : Medium
Serves : 3- 4
Author : SM

Preparation Time - 5-10 Minutes
Marination Time - Overnight / 3-4 Hours
Cooking Time - 20 - 30 Minutes

HOW TO COOK OVEN GRILLED CHICKEN TIKKA

INGREDIENTS :

Boneless Chicken - 1/2 Kg.

Marinade 1 :

Lemon Juice - 2 Tbspns
Pepper Powder - 1/2 Tspn
Salt - To Taste

• Clean and cut the chicken into small cubes. 
• Marinate the chicken Pieces with Marinade 1 and leave it aside for 20-30 Minutes.
• In a large bowl mix all the ingredients for Marinade 2.
• Mix the Chicken Cubes into it and mix well until all the chicken pieces are well coated with the marinade.
• Now add few drops of oil to the above and mix gently.
• Soak the wooden skewers for at least 30 minutes in water.
• Leave it in the refrigerator for 3-4 hrs or overnight.
• Just before grilling, line the marinated Chicken Cubes into the skewers.
• Pre-heat the oven to 450° F/230°C.
• Place the pan at the top level in the oven, if it is browning soon remove and keep it on the middle rack.
• Allow the chicken to be grilled for about 10-15 min.
• Baste the chicken with some Oil/ Butter.
• Then flip it up and roast it again for 10-15 min.
• Check whether the chicken is cooked.  
• Remove it from the oven.
• Can serve with Onion rings, Sliced Bell Peppers, Coriander leaves with a drizzle of  Lemon Juice.
• Goes well with Green chutney.

• Grind Mint leaves, coriander leaves with 1 or 2 green chillies and a teaspoon of lemon juice.  
• Add some black salt and adjust salt as needed. Add a pinch of sugar to retain the green colour.

• For best results only use Hung curd or very thick curd.
• Make sure to drain off all excess water from the curd before adding it to the marinade.
• Boneless Chicken Bytes suits well for the recipe.  
• Can cook Lamb pieces, Paneer etc., in the same method.
• Can use a barbecue grill or tandoor oven which will give the authentic smoky flavour.
• Can use normal Chili powder too, Kashmiri Chilli Powder is less hotter and gives red colour to  the dish, even without adding food colour.
• I have not used the food colouring in this recipe.
• Sprinkle some Chaat Masala over the grille chicken pieces, if preferred. 
• Adjust the time of cooking according to your oven settings.  
•  If Chicken Tikka is prepared as an appetizer, then add few teaspoons of Gram Flour to the marinade.
• If the chicken bytes are grilled for Chicken Tikka Masala avoid adding Gram Flour, as this would entirely change the taste of the Gravy. 
• Add these wonderful Oven Grilled Chicken Tikka into a creamy & rich Gravy and convert it into tasty Chicken Tikka Masala.