Spiced Green Chicken Skewers with Mint, Coriander & Chilli
Non-vegetarian
Green chicken skewers coated in a mint, coriander, chilli and yoghurt marinade, then grilled until lightly charred. They taste herby, tangy and gently spicy.
Marinade spices
2.7 gStirred into the chicken with the yoghurt (step 4)
Blend 12 g garlic and 5 g ginger root with a small splash of water until smooth.
In a large bowl, mix the garlic-ginger paste with 25 g lime juice and 0.3 g salt. Add 750 g chicken thigh pieces and turn to coat. Leave for 20 minutes.
Blend 50 g mint leaf, 50 g coriander leaf and stem, 4 g green bird's-eye chilli, 120 g green bell pepper and a spoonful of the 45 g greek yoghurt to a smooth paste.
Add the green paste to the chicken. Stir in the rest of the 45 g greek yoghurt and the marinade spices (0.8 g ground turmeric, 1.3 g garam masala, 0.6 g black pepper), then season with salt. Mix well, cover and chill for 1 hour or overnight.
Heat the grill to medium-high. Cover a baking tray with foil and set a wire rack inside it. Soak wooden skewers, then thread the chicken pieces onto them and place on the rack.
Grill for 8–9 minutes. Brush with melted butter, turn the skewers and grill for another 8–9 minutes, brushing with melted butter again, until the edges are lightly charred and the chicken is cooked through. Cook in batches if needed.
Slide the chicken off the skewers onto a platter and sprinkle the chaat masala over the top.
Use 15% to 20% of the weight (about 1 g for every 5 to 6 g fresh cloves). Whisk into sauces; gives a savoury, toasted garlic flavour without raw pungency.
Use 20% to 25% of the weight (1 g for every 4 to 5 g fresh). Stir into the gravy; adds peppery heat and warmth, though it misses the crisp, zesty kick of raw root.
Steep a tiny pinch (0.1 g per 2 g turmeric) in 2 tbsp warm water; use to match the rich golden hue. Contributes an aristocratic, honeyed floral flavour rather than earthy bitterness.
Use 50% of the weight mixed with equal parts ground coriander and a pinch of ground cinnamon, ground cloves, and ground green cardamom. Sprinkle near the end for a warming finish.