- 1
Mix 500 gms of minced chicken in a large mixing bowl with one finely chopped onion. The addition of onion adds moisture as well as sweetness to the kebabs.
- 2
Add two tbsp of chopped coriander leaves to the mixture. Coriander leaves will add freshness and herbal flavour in complementarity with spices.
- 3
Mix in 1 tbsp of ginger-garlic paste into the bowl. This paste is going to give it some serious depth of flavour and aroma.
- 4
Add to that one chopped green chilli so that it provides a little kick. Again, the amount depends upon how much spice you like.
- 5
Add one tsp of garam masala to that. These will give a kick to the general flavour profile of the kebabs.
- 6
Now add 1 tsp red chilli powder for that extra kick in colour, 1/2 tsp turmeric powder for the earthy taste and vibrant colour, and 1/2 tsp cumin powder to give it that nutty, warm flavour.
- 7
Then add salt to taste. Salt is always a must to release the flavour of the other spices and to bring out the flavour of the chicken itself.
- 8
Mix everything well with your hands or a spatula until smooth and all the ingredients are combined. The spices and herbs should be distributed equally in the minced chicken.
- 9
Divide the chicken mixture into equal portions, depending on the size of the kebabs you like. You could get 6-8 kebabs with this amount of mixture.
- 10
Take a portion of the mix in the palm and, encircling a skewer with your hand, form an elongated cylindrical kebab. Press well to ensure that the mixture clings well on the skewer and does not break during the process of cooking.
- 11
Repeat until you finish the mixture and skewers. Make sure to achieve similar thickness and length for even cooking. If using wooden skewers, they must be in water for a minimum of 30 minutes to avoid burning .
- 12
Preheat your grill or oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Preheating will serve as the condition for how well the kebabs will cook and also give it a good char on the outside.
- 13
If you're using a grill, ensure it's oiled well so things don't stick to it. In an oven, place a rack in the middle position; line the baking sheet with aluminium for easy clean-up.
- 14
Place the skewers with the shaped kebabs either on the hot grill or into the oven. On a grill, the kebabs go over the direct heat; in the oven, lay the skewers on either the rack or the baking sheet.
- 15
Grill the kebabs for 15-20 minutes or until they are slightly charred on all sides, turning occasionally; the chicken should reach an internal temperature of 75 C/165 F. Pay extra attention not to burn the kebabs. Kebabs should be golden brown with slight charring, and chicken should be cooked through and no longer pink inside.
- 16
Once cooked, take the kebabs off the grill or oven. Let them rest for a few minutes before serving. Resting aids in redistributing the juices inside the kebabs so that they will be even more flavoursome and juicy.
- 17
Serve hot kebabs with mint chutney and wedges of lemon. The freshening contrast of mint chutney combined with the lemon wedges imparts that zest to various flavours.
- 18
Enjoy your homemade minced recipe of chicken kebab; they are great for a meal or as an appetiser for gatherings.