Chicken Tikka

Chicken tikka is a classic Indian dish that has the influences, authenticity and special touch of using the distinctive Indian spices from the royal kitchens of Mughals. This popular dish is combined with the unique blend of spices, yoghurt, and ginger, garlic and lemon juice roasted or barbecued. Chicken Tikka has inevitably become an iconic dish and the best form of snack in the Indian food. The aromatic spices used in this preparation are easily accessible and these dishes are specially preferred in the states of Delhi, Lucknow in the North, Hyderabad in the South and Punjab region.

Traditionally Chicken Tikka is cooked on skewers in a tandoor and is usually boneless. A tikka can be prepared with almost any meat, the most commonly used apart from chicken are the lamb and mutton. Tikka can be served either as main meal or as an appetizer. Mughlai cuisine being part of the South Asian cuisine is strongly influenced by the imperial kitchens of the Mughal Empire which also represents the cooking styles used in Delhi and Punjab.

Mughlai cuisine is one of the richest and tastes extremely spicy to mild spiciness and associates with a distinctive aroma and the taste of ground and whole spices. They are lavish elaborate and has a unique fragrance.  Chicken Tikka is marinated in mild spices and has a delicate taste and aroma which can make the taste buds hungrier. Has a nice smoky spicy flavor and fragrance. Tikka in the Persian, Urdu and Punjabi languages means bits or pieces. As per the historian records it is said that the term Chicken tikka was first included in the English dictionary in the year 1955. Ideally the Mughals have also changed the country’s cooking by merging Middle Eastern cuisine with Indian spices and ingredients to give the most exotic Mughlai cuisine. One among those dishes is the most popular Chicken Tikka, a dish which can make one go crazy with hunger. Each Muslim ruler offered something or the other to make Indian food the potpourri of spices, taste, tang and flavor.  It is said that when Emperor Babur invaded India he brought his stylish food habits such as grilled meats along with different varieties of fruits and nuts from Central Asia and thereafter his son Humayun continued the traditional and introduced new tradition of rice based pulaos and meat stews.

Chicken Tikka is traditionally baked on skewers with small pieces of chicken marinated in the refreshing sharpness of ingredients like yoghurt, lemon juice and other spices which gives a good balance of taste and aroma. Chicken tikka is a dish of South Asia and originated in the Punjab region of India and Pakistan, possibly among the Hindkowans of the city of Peshawar.

To prepare the Chicken Tikka, wash and cut the boneless chicken chunks. It is best to completely dry off all the moisture from the chicken pieces with a towel. For any kabab, moisture is the enemy and would spoil the kabab hence moisture should be removed. Marinate by adding some chilli powder, cardamom powder, crushed kasuri methi powder, little garam masala, coriander powder, salt, ginger garlic paste, lemon juice and thick yoghurt (remove all the water or moisture from the yoghurt). Add a little food color as per your choice (is optional) and mix all the ingredients well to the chicken pieces. Do not put more of spices as they would burn and give a burnt taste to the Kabab. Hence the use of spices should be right and minimal. Add onions, green and red bell peppers and tomatoes which are nicely cut into cube shape. Marinate the chicken pieces in the above mixture and keep for 2 hours.

Arrange the chicken pieces and the veggies on a skewer and cook in a oven, basting frequently and turning till done. This can also be cooked in a charcoal oven or barbecued. If you are using bamboo skewers, soak the skewers for 30 minutes in water and then thread the chicken onto the skewers. Once done, remove the chicken pieces from the skewers onto a plate and serve hot sprinkled with chaat masala and lemon juice over the tikkas to give a nice tangy flavor. Garnish with onion rings, cucumber slices and lemon wedges. This is a must dish that you should try or you would be really missing the exotic flavors and fragrance of the royal cooking. Do watch the step by step method on cooking of Chicken Tikka at : http://www.vahrehvah.com/Chicken+Tikka:2933
Remember to brush the chicken pieces with with ghee (clarified butter) or oil at intervals, which gives a nice succulent taste, glaze and texture to the Chicken Tikka or else they would become too dry. Chicken Tikka truly delectable prepared with less oil, oven baked and is cooked naturally using its own fat (of chicken) and also induces the juices of the veggies to give an exotic zest to the dish.

Unfortunately many order it from the restaurants rather than cooking at home assuming the process of cooking to be elaborate, but I am sure once you watch the making of Chicken Tikka you would surely give it a try. Do unleash the real flavors of the Indian spices and the aroma of food to keep your family enthralled and stay fit and healthy.

Chicken Tikka being part of the Indian cuisine has acclaimed its mark over the world and is considered as one of the most exotic yet tasteful dish over the globe. The flavors are so rich and the spices are mild and subtle.

Chicken Tikka
	4.0 Stars based on 433 Reviews Author : Admin Published On : Feb 14, 2008 Preparation Time: 7 min Recipe Type : NonVeg-Main Cooking Time : 25 min Standing Time : 5-8 mins Yield : 4 (4 servings) Ingredient : Chicken Description : most popular indian chicken snack