Hyderabadi Chicken Kebab Recipe

If you’ve ever thought of making something smoky, flavourful, and still comforting, then this easily made home-made chicken kebab recipe is for you ! This meal will instantly make you feel festive. It is perfect for both everyday cooking and special occasions. 

Chicken kebab stands as a popular starter dish and it is known for its juicy texture. It is made by marinating the chicken with yogurt, spices, and then cooking it on a grill, pan, or tawa. 

This is my go-to recipe whenever I feel like making restaurant-style kebabs. 

Ingredients breakdown : 

Main ingredient : 

1. Chicken: 500 grams 

Choose bone-less chicken which is cut into medium sized pieces.

For the marinade base : 

1. Thick curd – ½ cup
2. Ginger-garlic paste – 1 tbsp
3. Lemon juice – 1 tbsp

Spices : 

1. Red chilli powder – 1½ ts
2. Turmeric powder – ¼ tsp
3. Coriander powder – 1 tsp
4. Garam masala – 1 tsp
5. Black pepper powder – ½ tsp
6. Salt – to taste

Other ingredients : 

1. Green chillies – 2 
2. Fresh coriander leaves – 2 tbsp 
3. Mint leaves – 1 tbsp
4. Oil or butter – 2–3 tbsp 

How to make Chicken Kebab

Step 1: Marinate the Chicken

1. Take a bowl and add chicken pieces. 
2. To the bowl, add curd, ginger-garlic paste, lemon juice, green chillies, spice powders, salt and mix well until the marinade is well distributed over the chicken pieces. 
3. Cover it and marinate for at least 1 hour or for the best flavour, you can marinate for 4 to 6 hours.

Step 2: Grilling the chicken kebabs

4. Heat a tawa or a grill pan on medium heat and add oil or butter. Spread it evenly across the surface.
5. Now place the marinated chicken pieces on the pan with space between them.
6. Now cook on medium flame for 10-15 minutes while flipping the chicken pieces occasionally so that the chicken is well cooked from all the sides.

Step 4: Adding Smoky Flavour

7. For that perfect restaurant-style smoky flavour, place a small piece of hot charcoal in a bowl and keep it inside the pan.
8. Add a few drops of ghee or oil on the charcoal and cover the pan immediately for 2 minutes.

Step 5: Serving

9. Switch off the flame and let the kebabs rest for 5 minutes.
10. Finish off by garnishing with freshly chopped coriander leaves and you can serve it hot with mint chutney and lemon wedges.

Different variations to try

1. Spicy chicken kebab 

You can make this by adding extra red chilli powder or pepper powder to the marinade for the bold flavour.

2. Malai Chicken Kebab

This is made by using fresh cream along with the curd in the marinade. It gives a rich, creamy texture.

3. Lemon Pepper Chicken Kebab

Add black pepper powder and extra lemon juice to prepare lemon pepper chicken kebab.

4. Garlic Chicken Kebab

Add extra garlic which is crushed to the marinade for that garlic flavour.

5. Coconut Chicken Kebab

Mix a little coconut milk or coconut paste into the marinade to prepare coconut based chicken kebab.

Serving suggestions 

Here are some delicious serving suggestions you can try out for chicken kebabs.

1. Chicken kebab served with mint chutney or green coriander chutney gives a classic combination.
2. Pair the chicken kebabs with onion rings, lemon wedges, and cucumber slices for a refreshing feeling.
3. You can also have chicken kebabs with rumali roti, naan, or paratha.
4. It can also be served as a starter at parties and family gatherings.
5. Simply pair with simple dal and rice for a comforting lunch or dinner.

Frequently asked questions 

1. What is chicken kebab made of ?

Chicken kebab is made from marinating the chicken pieces with a variety of spices, yogurt and different aromatics and cooked until it becomes juicy and charred. 

2. What are the types of chicken kebab ?

Chicken kebab has different delicious types like dry or grilled kebab, minced chicken kebab, creamy kebab, fried and starter styled kebab, where each one is cooked by its own method.

3. What is the difference between chicken tikka and chicken kebab ?

Chicken tikka includes marinating the boneless chunks of chicken on skewers while chicken kebab uses meat which is formed into shapes or small pieces. 

4. Is chicken kebab healthy ?

Yes, chicken kebabs are an excellent source of protein which is very good for the human body. It is healthy as it uses a very little amount of oil.

5. Is chicken kebab breast or thigh ?

Chicken kebab can be cooked with either breast or thigh but both of them give a slightly different taste. But chicken thigh is most commonly used as it has more fat which helps the chicken to stay juicy even after grilling or frying.