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Kebab-e-murgh
Yogurt-marinated chicken skewers
کباب مرغ (kabab-e murgh): Kabul chicken skewers marinated in yogurt, garlic and lemon (plus 2 hours marinating)
Along Kabul's kebab streets, cooks fan long rows of skewers over charcoal troughs, and chicken kebab-e-murgh has become as popular as lamb, especially with families. The meat is soaked in yogurt with a lot of garlic, lemon and chilli, which keeps it juicy and gives it a tangy, slightly charred crust; it is served on a sheet of naan that catches the drips, with sliced raw onion, tomato and green chutney. At home a hot grill pan or barbecue does the job well. Breast meat cut too small dries out before it chars, so use boneless thighs in generous chunks. Chef's tip: thread the pieces close together but not squashed, which keeps the centres moist while the edges blacken.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ lb boneless skinless chicken thighscut into 4 cm pieces
- 5 ½ oz thick plain yogurt
- 4 cloves garliccrushed
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp red chilli flakes
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 ¼ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp sunflower oil
- 1 red onion (optional)thinly sliced, to serve
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Mix 5 ½ oz thick plain yogurt, 4 cloves garlic, 3 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp red chilli flakes, 1 tsp ground coriander, 1 tsp ground black pepper, 1 ¼ tsp salt and 2 tbsp sunflower oil in a bowl.
Step 2: Add 1 ¾ lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, turn to coat, cover and marinate in the fridge for 2–6 hours.
120 minStep 3: Soak wooden skewers in water for 20 minutes if using, and heat a barbecue, grill or griddle pan until very hot.
Step 4: Thread the chicken onto the skewers, shaking off the excess marinade.
Step 5: Grill for 12–14 minutes, turning every 3 minutes, until charred in spots and the thickest piece reaches 165°F with clear juices.
14 minStep 6: Slide onto naan if you like (it is not gluten free), top with 1 red onion and serve straight away.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 360 kcal
- Protein
- 42 g
- Carbs
- 5 g
- Fat
- 19 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does kebab-e-murgh take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 15 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- What can I use instead of thick plain yogurt?
- Sour cream or buttermilk, same amount.
- What can I use instead of garlic?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
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