Tawa Chicken Tikka is a flavorful Indian dish made by marinating chicken in spices and cooking it on a hot tawa or griddle until it's smoky and tender. Its bold and vibrant flavours are perfect for anyone who loves exciting, aromatic meals.
This dish is delicious by itself as a starter...
Ingredients
First Marination
- 1kgboneless Chicken Thighs, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 2tbspGinger Garlic Paste
- 2tbspLemon Juice
- 1tbspRed Chilli Powder, to taste
- 1tbspSalt, to taste
Second Marination
- 3/4cupCurd
- 2tbspMustard Oil
- 2tbspCoriander Powder
- 1/2tbspGaram Masala
- 1tbspCumin Powder
- 1/2tbspCarom Seeds
- 1/2tbspDry Mango Powder (Amchur)
- 2tbspPoppy Seeds, soaked
- 4tbspTomato Puree
- 2tbspDry Fenugreek Leaves (Kasuri Methi)
- 1/2tbspSugar
- 3tbspRoasted Gram Flour (Besan)
- A few drops of edible Orange Color (optional)
Vegetables
- 1pieceCapsicum, cut into cubes
- 1pieceOnion, cut into cubes
- 1pieceLemon, cut in rounds
How to make Tawa Chicken Tikka
First Marination
In a large bowl, combine ginger garlic paste, lemon juice, red chilli powder, and salt.
Add chicken pieces and thoroughly coat them with the marinade. Let it rest for 15-20 minutes.
Second Marination
Whisk the curd until smooth in a bowl.
Mix mustard oil, coriander powder, garam masala, cumin powder, carom seeds, dry mango powder, soaked poppy seeds, tomato puree, crushed fenugreek leaves, sugar, gram flour, and orange colour, if using. Blend into a smooth paste.
Coat the marinated chicken evenly with this mixture. Refrigerate and marinate for at least 1 hour, preferably 2-3 hours.
Cook the Chicken
Heat a tawa or heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Lightly brush with mustard oil.
Arrange the marinated chicken pieces on the tawa, and cook in batches if needed. Reserve any leftover marinade for later use.
Cook each side for 5-7 minutes until charred and fully cooked.
Add the capsicum, onion cubes and lemon rounds to the tawa when the chicken is mostly done. Drizzle the remaining marinade.
Stir occasionally, cooking until vegetables are tender yet crisp.
Sprinkle chopped fresh coriander.
Serve Tawa Chicken Tikka hot with naan, roti, or rice as a hearty main course or pair it with a side of mint yogurt chutney or raita.
Tips & Tricks
For deeper flavors, marinate the chicken overnight in the refrigerator.
Avoid overcrowding the tawa with chicken pieces; this ensures each piece cooks evenly and gets a good char.
Add vegetables towards the end to retain their crunch and colour.
Adjust spices according to taste.
Leena Kohli
(@leenakohli)
Elevate your confidence through the magic of home cooking with my easy-to-follow recipes 👩🍳✨