Malai Tawa Chicken – Creamy & Flavorful!
This Malai Tawa Chicken is a rich, creamy, and aromatic dish that’s perfect for a hearty meal. The chicken is marinated in a velvety blend of yogurt, cream, and spices, then cooked on a tawa (griddle) until golden, juicy, and full of smoky flavor.
Ingredients
For the Chicken Marinade:
- 2 chicken quarter leg pieces
- 400 g strained yogurt
- 2 tbsp cream
- 1 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
- 1 green chili chopped
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp white pepper
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 2 cardamom pods or ½ tsp cardamom powder
- 1 tbsp fenugreek leaves kasuri methi
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
For Cooking & Garnish:
- 3-4 tbsp cooking oil
- 2-3 green chilies thickly sliced
- 1 lemon cut into small triangles
Instructions
- Score the chicken pieces (make deep cuts to help the marinade penetrate).
- In a bowl, whisk together 350g yogurt, cream, mayonnaise, ginger-garlic paste, green chili, lemon juice, and all the spices (salt, cumin, white pepper, garam masala, cardamom, fenugreek leaves).
- Taste and adjust salt—the marinade should be slightly salty so the chicken absorbs enough flavor.
- Pour half of the marinade over the chicken and coat thoroughly.
- Cover and let it marinate for at least 1 hour (overnight for best results).
- To the remaining marinade, add 3-4 tbsp more yogurt and whisk. This will be used later in cooking—reduce salt and spice if needed since this mixture will cook down later.
- Heat 3 tbsp oil in a pan or tawa over medium heat.
- Add the marinated chicken pieces, cooking for 5-6 minutes per side until golden brown.
- Pour in half of the reserved marinade, cover, and cook on low heat for 10-12 minutes until the chicken is tender.
- Remove the lid and add the remaining marinade, sliced green chilies, and lemon pieces.
- Turn up the heat and baste the chicken with the masala in the pan, cooking until the mixture thickens and coats the chicken beautifully.
- Once done, serve immediately with chapati, naan, or raita for an unforgettable meal!
Notes
Marinate Overnight: The longer you marinate, the richer the flavors!
Use a Tawa for Authentic Flavor: If you have a tawa (griddle), it will give the chicken a smoky, charred taste.
Adjust Creaminess: If you want a richer, creamier texture, add an extra tbsp of cream before serving.
For a Smoky Touch: Try dhungar (coal smoking)—place a lit charcoal piece in a foil cup, add a few drops of oil, cover, and let it infuse for 5 minutes.
Use a Tawa for Authentic Flavor: If you have a tawa (griddle), it will give the chicken a smoky, charred taste.
Adjust Creaminess: If you want a richer, creamier texture, add an extra tbsp of cream before serving.
For a Smoky Touch: Try dhungar (coal smoking)—place a lit charcoal piece in a foil cup, add a few drops of oil, cover, and let it infuse for 5 minutes.