Hyderabadi Chicken Tikka recipe
Hyderabadi chicken tikka is a lot different from the regular chicken tikka and this is what makes it special to me. It varies in its cooking style and method. In Hyderabad, cooking food is all about deep flavours, and slow marination of the spices.
You see that the regular chicken tikka is dry, but this Hyderabadi chicken tikka is juicy and smoky.
Whenever I prepare this chicken tikka recipe at home, the aroma reminds me of my lovely family gatherings.
Why is Hyderabadi chicken tikka unique?
Hyderabadi chicken tikka is unique because of its rich marination style and using spices for the flavour development. It makes use of :
Fried onions (birista) which is added during marination for that royal flavour.
Uses yogurt and nuts based marinade for making the chicken soft, creamy, and juicy in texture.
Cooked in a dum-style method which means the chicken is deeply marinated for a long time just like the dum-cooking.
Ingredients used in Hyderabadi chicken tikka
Whole Spices
- Green cardamom – 3 pods
- Cloves – 4
- Cinnamon – 1 small stick
- Black peppercorns – 1 tsp
- Cumin seeds– 1 tsp
For marination
- Thick yogurt or curd – ¾ cup
- Ginger-garlic paste – 1½ tbsp
- Fried onions (birista) – ¼ cup
- Cashew or peanut paste – 2 tbsp
- Lemon juice – 1½ tbsp
- Oil – 1 tbsp
Other ingredients
- Red chilli powder – 1½ tsp
- Turmeric powder– ¼ tsp
- Coriander powder– 1 tsp
- Garam masala– 1 tsp
- Fresh coriander leaves
- Mint leaves
- Green chillies – 2
- Salt – as per taste
- Saffron strands (optional) – 8–10 (soaked in 2 tbsp warm milk)
Which cut is the best for juicy chicken tikka?
Boneless vs Bone-In Chicken
From my personal experience, boneless chicken is the best choice for chicken tikka.
It can be easily cooked evenly, absorbs the marinade well, and it is easy to grill.
Using bone-in chicken can take longer to cook.
Chicken Thigh vs Chicken Breast
Using chicken thigh is the best choice for juicy chicken tikka as it has natural fat and stays moist and soft even after grilling.
You can also use chicken breast as a healthy option but it can dry out easily if it is overcooked. It just needs a good marination.
Step-by-step process
Marination of the chicken :
- In a large bowl, add yogurt, ginger-garlic paste. fried onions, nut paste, lemon juice, and oil. Mix them all together.
- Add all the mentioned spices as well.
- Let it form a thick and smooth marinade.
- To the prepared marinade now add the chicken pieces.
- Then add mint, coriander, and green chillies or green chillies paste. Give it a good mix.
- Make sure to mix properly well so that each piece is coated well with the marinade.
- Now cover and let it marinade for at least 4 hours or even overnight for the best flavour.
Placing the chicken on the skewers :
- After the marination, remove the chicken from the refrigerator and let it rest for 15 minutes.
- Now start putting the chicken pieces into the skewers.
- Then brush the top of the pieces with oil so that it helps the chicken keep it juicy while cooking.
Step 4: Cooking the Chicken Tikka
I have mentioned various methods which can be used to cook chicken tikka. You can opt for any which you like.
- Tandoor / Oven Method –
In this method, you have to start by preheating the oven at 220°C (430°F). Then place the chicken skewers on the tray and grill for 20-25 minutes. You can also broil the chicken for 2-3 minutes extra for smoky and grilled flavour.
- Charcoal / Grill Method –
This is the most authentic way of cooking chicken tikka. You have to grill the chicken over the hot charcoal by turning it all the sides frequently. Cook it for 15 minutes thoroughly. To add extra smoke, you can place a hot charcoal in a bowl, add ghee and cover it for 2-3 minutes.
- Air Fryer Method –
Start by preheating the air fryer to 200°C (390°F) and arrange the chicken in a single layer on it. Air fry the chicken for about 12-15 minutes by flipping it halfway. You can also brush the chicken with oil for extra juiciness.
Pro-tip :
No matter whatever method you are using to cook the chicken tikka, always make sure not to overcook the chicken. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving it.
Hyderabadi style serving suggestions
- Rumali roti : Soft rumali roti can be perfectly paired with the juicy chicken tikka.
- Mint Chutney : Fresh mint chutney can be served for that cool and tangy contrast to the hot chicken tikka.
- Onion salad : You can serve it with sliced onions with a pinch of salt on it for a crispy flavour.
Common Mistakes to Avoid While Making Hyderabadi Chicken Tikka
- Avoid using watery yogurt or curd as it makes the marinade thin and the chicken will turn out dry.
- Do not skip adding the fried onions (birista) because it gives the flavour of the authentic Hyderabadi chicken tikka.
- Do not add lemon juice in a large quantity as it can make the chicken hard.
- Avoid cooking on high flame throughout the cooking process. Always use medium heat.
- Avoid overcrowding the pan because too many chicken pieces at one go makes it release water and steam instead of grilling.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes after cooking as this helps to lock in the juices.
Most commonly asked questions
- Is tikka a kebab ?
Yes, chicken tikka is a type of kebab. The word kebab is used as a broad term for meats that are marinated and cooked by grilling or roasting. But the word tikka specifically refers to the boneless pieces of meat that are marinated and then cooked.
- Is chicken tikka healthy to eat ?
Yes, chicken tikka is healthy. Since it has a high source of protein, low on carbs, does not use oil for frying, it is a source of healthy food.
- What are the types of chicken tikka ?
Various types of chicken tikka include classic chicken tikka, tandoori chicken tikka, spicy chicken tikka, malai chicken tikka, reshmi chicken tikka, garlic chicken tikka, and the list goes on.
- What does chicken tikka taste like ?
The masala of the chicken tikka has a rich, creamy texture made of tomatoes and aromatic spices. It is slightly smoked because it is cooked using the grill method and it has a mildly spicy but flavourful taste.
- What is the secret to good chicken tikka ?
The secret to good chicken tikka lies in the yogurt based marination with spices and grilling the chicken until it is charred.
