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Bon Appétit

Chicken Seekh Kebabs

Chicken Seekh Kebabs Recipe
Photo by Emma Fishman, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime

These quick-cooking kebabs are very easy, perfect for grilling during the warmer months. I actually grew up in a vegetarian family in Mumbai but would sneak out and eat them at roadside stalls with friends (in India, they’re a popular street food, traditionally cooked in a tandoor). I’ve never been able to get enough of the smell of charcoal smoke and these juicy skewers of piping-hot, char-grilled meat. Serve them with mint chutney and flatbread.

If you can’t find ground chicken at your local grocery store, you can absolutely substitute ground turkey. You can also easily make ground chicken yourself even without a meat grinder. Simply cut skinless, boneless chicken thighs into small chunks, freeze for five minutes or until firm, and pulse in batches in a food processor until the meat is finely minced. —Chintan Pandya, Adda, Queens, NY

This recipe is part of Short Is Sweet, our collection of summer dishes that deliver a whole lot of deliciousness in 30 minutes or less.

What you’ll need

Recipe information

  • Yield

    6 - 8 Servings

Ingredients

Vegetable oil (for grill and hands)
2 lb. ground chicken, preferably dark meat
¾ cup (loosely packed) finely grated Amul cheese or sharp cheddar
¾ cup finely chopped cilantro
¾ cup finely chopped mint
10–12 garlic cloves, finely grated
1 4" piece ginger, peeled, finely grated
½ jalapeño or serrano chile, seeds removed if desired, finely chopped
2 tsp. ground cardamom
2 tsp. garam masala
2 tsp. kala jeera (black caraway seeds; optional)
2 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt
1½ tsp. deggi mirch (Kashmiri chile powder) or 1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. ground mace (optional)
4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted

Special Equipment

16 bamboo skewers, soaked 30 minutes, or 8"–10" metal skewers

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Prepare a grill for medium-high heat; oil grate. Using your hands, mix chicken, cheese, cilantro, mint, garlic, ginger, jalapeño, cardamom, garam masala, kala jeera (if using), salt, deggi mirch, and mace (if using) in a large bowl to combine

    Step 2

    Using oiled hands, divide chicken mixture into 16 portions and shape into rough logs about 4" long. Skewer logs and shape meat onto skewers, leaving 1" of skewer exposed at each end for turning. Grill kebabs, turning as needed, until browned all over and cooked through, 10–12 minutes. Transfer to a platter and brush with butter.

TagsSkewerIndianSouth AsianAsianGround ChickenChickenPoultryCheddarCheeseDairyCilantroHerbs & SpicesMintCardamomMainGluten FreeNut FreeKetoHealthyishGrillingDinnerBon Appétit

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