Reshmi kabab or chicken malai kabab recipe – Kebab or kabab is a piece of meat or other food that is mostly grilled on the charcoal fire. Reshmi kabab has its roots from the Mughalai cuisine. It is not commonly prepared in the house holds due to the absence of charcoal fire. It is mostly found on the Indian restaurant menus and tops the orders among the list of chicken dishes. These are also known as chicken malai tikka.
The marinade used to make these malai kabab is unique and lends a great taste to the soft and tender chunks of grilled chicken.
In Indian & Mughlai cuisines, there are a lot of dishes to which malai aka fresh cream is added to enhance the richness and texture of the dish. Malai chicken curry and Paneer malai kofta are 2 such dishes which I shared on the blog.
This appetizer gets the name chicken malai kabab again since malai is used. It tastes rich and creamy due to the addition of cream, ground cashews and almonds.
Serve it as an appetizer or a side in a meal. This mint chutney and green chutney are usually accompanied with these kababs
For more kabab recipes, you may like to check
Chicken kabab recipe
Shami kabab
Dahi kabab
Hara bhara kabab
Veg seekh kabab
Preparation for malai kabab
1. Ingredients for preparing the marinade. Ginger, garlic, pepper corn or powder, salt, lemon juice, almonds, cashews, thick curd or hung curd/ greek yogurt and fresh cream.
2. We will have to blend the ginger garlic, almonds and cashews along with fresh cream and yogurt. No water is added here.
3. The ground paste has to be thick.
Marination
4. We will need boneless chicken cubed.
5. Add all the ingredients.
6. Squeeze the lemon juice.
7. Add 1 tsp oil.
8. Mix up everything well and refrigerate for at least 4 hours to overnight. The longer we allow them to rest, the softer they turn out. If using wooden skewers, soak them for at least one hour.
How to make chicken reshmi kabab
9. Preheat the oven to 240 C for at least 15 mins. Put them on to the skewers. Grill them for 15 mins. Flip the skewers and grill for another 10 mins. Keep an eye after 25 mins of grilling to prevent burning.
Serve with mint chutney.
Related Recipes
Reshmi kabab (chicken malai kabab)
For best results follow the step-by-step photos above the recipe card
Ingredients (US cup = 240ml )
- 250 grams boneless chicken (or breast) (½ lb)
- 2 tbsp fresh cream
- 2 tbsp greek yogurt or thick curd or hung yogurt
- 1 to 1 ½ tbsp lemon juice
- ½ tsp ground pepper
- 2 tbsps cilantro chopped or coriander leaves
- 1 ½ tsp ginger garlic paste or 1 inch ginger 3 to 4 cloves garlic
- ½ tsp salt
- 5 almonds (or 1 tbsp cheese)
- 8 cashewnuts (or 1 tbsp cheese)
Instructions
Preparation for chicken malai kabab
- Add chicken to a bowl and pat dry any excess moisture otherwise the chicken malai tikkas will let out lots of moisture.
- If using cheese, then mix together all the ingredients. If using nuts instead of cheese, then add almonds, cashews with cream and yogurt to a blender jar. Make a smooth paste.
- Add this to the chicken.
- Mix together and marinate in the refrigerator for about 4 hours to overnight. Overnight gives best results.
How to make reshmi kabab
- Preheat the oven to the highest. At 240 C or 470 F for at least 15 mins.
- Put the chicken on the skewers and grill for 15 mins.
- Flip them and grill again for 15 mins. Check after 25 mins of grilling to prevent burning.
- The last 2 minutes grill them on a broil mode for charring. Remove the grilled chicken malai tikkas from the oven and brush butter over them.
- Serve chicken malai kababs with mint chutney.
Alternative quantities provided in the recipe card are for 1x only, original recipe.
For best results follow my detailed step-by-step photo instructions and tips above the recipe card.
NUTRITION INFO (estimation only)
© Swasthi’s Recipes
Ruhi says
Can we make these kabab using induction can u tel me the cooking time of these kabab on indiction….plzzz
swasthi says
Hi Ruhi
I assume you are asking about making these kebabs on induction stove using a pan. If this is your question, you can try on a high flame on the tawa, but it will release lot of moisture and stick up to the pan. You should be able to manage that. You can try with small quantity
Shaheen says
It is so tasty n easy thank you
swasthi says
welcome Shaheen
Deekshita says
Can I make malai kabab on pan…..its shallow fry…..
swasthi says
Yes Deekshita
You can try pan fry with very little oil, no shallow frying. but I think it will ooze out lot of moisture and stick to the pan. So try to use greek yogurt or hung curd with absolutely no excess whey in it.
siva says
It is were tested dish
vijay rana says
nice food in indian
swasthi says
Thanks
Sonia says
Hi
I live in Canada and don’t; have any malai available. What can be used instead of malai? Can I use whipped cream??
swasthi says
sorry sonia
not sure if you can replace it with whipped cream
pooja says
Shahi kabab me homemade malai use kr skte hai or mere pas oven nhi hai kese grill kre
swasthi says
Yes pooja, you can blend the homemade malai to turn smooth and then use. You can do it on a tawa but make sure it gets cooked well. The marinade must not be dripping to make it on tawa.
Ipsita says
Tried reshmi kebab today… they came out superb… thanks for the recipe.
swasthi says
Welcome lpsita
SNU Hussaini says
Is it spyci or less spyci…..how will be prepaired. Let me know please
swasthi says
Please read the recipe, add more green chilies if you like spicy
asra parveen says
wow sooo yammy i tried all three items it was so delicious everyone liked it they wanted me to cook again and again thank u soooo much bec of this reciep i know how to cook
swasthi says
Welcome Asra, glad to know you liked it
haani says
Yummy tried it
swasthi says
thanks
kausers kitchen says
looks delicious…drooling here..kebabs are my fav ,nice recipe.thnx.
Damyanti says
Sounds like quite a bit of work, but the results look awesome!
Priya Satheesh says
Drooling here…..Love this!
Amina Khaleel says
wow… kabab looks fantastic… mouth watering..
Priya says
Very attractive and delicious kabab.
Phong Hong says
Yum! I love to eat this at the restaurant, now thanks to you I can do it at home 🙂
PT says
they are too perfect.. love it..
Teena Mary says
Very tasty looking kabab!! I'm hungry now 😉
Shruti Dhingra Wahi says
Yummylicious 🙂
Vidhya says
Mouth watering kabab…truly love it!