
Kashmiri Murg Kebab
Tender pieces of chicken steeped in a rich, velvety cashew and cream marinade, then grilled on skewers until juicy and lightly browned.
Marinade masala
67 gWhisked into the marinade in step 2Everything else
Method
- Cut 750 g skinless, boneless chicken into uniform bite-sized pieces (about 4 pieces per portion).
- In a wide, shallow dish, combine 5.2 g cashew paste, 203 g single cream, 30 g white malt vinegar, 74.2 g vegetable oil, the marinade masala, the remaining marinade ingredients, and salt to taste. Add the chicken pieces, coating them evenly in the mixture, then cover and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
- Heat a grill, tandoor, or broiler to a moderate medium heat. Thread the marinated chicken onto metal skewers placed over a drip tray, and cook for 6 to 7 minutes until about half done.
- Remove the skewers and suspend them over the tray for 2 to 3 minutes to drain off excess moisture, then brush thoroughly with melted butter to taste.
- Return the skewers to the heat and grill for another 3 to 4 minutes until cooked through and lightly charred, then transfer the chicken to a dish to serve.
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Chicken leg

Chicken drumstickUse the same weight; smaller, so reduce cooking time by 5–10 minutes and check at the bone.
Chicken thighUse the same weight; boneless thigh cooks faster by 5–10 minutes. Juicier and less bony.
Chicken piecesUse the same weight; bone-in pieces give similar richness. Adjust time by size.

Butter

Unsalted butterUse 100% of the weight. If the original recipe relies on salted table butter, add a pinch of salt to balance.
GheeUse 80% to 85% of the weight. Ghee is pure butterfat with moisture removed; it yields a deeper, nuttier flavour and handles high heat better.
Vegetable oilUse 80% of the weight for frying or tempering. The dish loses sweet dairy richness but remains glossy and light.

Cashew paste

Cashew nutUse 100% of the weight. Soak raw cashews in boiling water for 20 minutes, then blend with just enough water to form a silky, thick paste.
AlmondUse 100% of the weight. Blanch, peel skins completely, and blend with warm water until velvety; gravies will be marginally less sweet.
Single creamUse 80% of the weight. Stir in near the end of cooking over low heat; provides luxurious gloss and fat without the nut solids.

Green chilli paste

Green chilliUse the same weight, deseed if wanted, and grind with 1 tbsp water; fresher and brighter.
Chilli pasteUse the same weight; may be red and hotter, so adjust.
Red chilli pasteUse 75–80% of the weight; changes colour and heat.

Hung yoghurt

Hung natural yoghurtUse the same weight. The names are used interchangeably; check seasoning.
Greek yoghurtUse the same weight. It is thick enough for marinades and raitas, with a slightly sharper taste.
Full-fat natural yoghurtUse about 175% of the weight and strain through muslin for 3–4 hours to get the same thick weight.

Single cream

Whole milkUse equal weight, whisked with a small knob of unsalted butter. Simmer gently over low heat to reduce curdling; sauce will be slightly lighter.
Clotted creamUse 50% weight combined with 50% whole milk, whisked until smooth. Adds intense richness, so stir in at the very end off the heat.
Cashew pasteUse 60% cashew paste mixed with 40% warm water. Creates a silky, luxurious thickening that won't split even under high heat.

Egg

Chickpea flourFor binding, use about 10 g chickpea flour mixed with 20 ml water per egg and rest for 10 minutes. Denser and nuttier; not suitable for baking or coating in the same way.
Full-fat natural yoghurtUse about 30 g per egg for moisture and binding in koftas or fillings. Adds tang and softness; will not set or glaze like egg.
TofuUse the same weight, mashed, for egg-like bulk in curries. Soft and bland; add extra spices and do not expect it to bind.

Plain flour

Whole wheat flourUse the same weight, add 10–15% more water and rest the dough for 20 minutes; the result is heavier and nuttier.
Rice flourUse the same weight for crisp coatings; for doughs use no more than half rice flour with wheat flour, or it will be crumbly.
CornflourFor thickening use half the weight, mixed with cold water; it is not suitable for bread or chapati dough.

White malt vinegar

White vinegarUse 90% of the weight. It is sharper and lacks the mild malty grain undertone, so temper with a tiny pinch of sugar if needed.
Lemon juiceUse 100% of the weight. Best for marinades or quick chutneys; imparts fresh citrus flavour instead of fermented acidity.

Ground white pepper

Ground black pepperUse 80–100% of the weight. Darker and sharper; reduce slightly if you do not want extra heat.
Black peppercornGrind the same weight fresh; same darker, sharper result.

Green cardamom pod

Green cardamom seedUse 35 to 40% of the total pod weight; lightly bruise the seeds before frying in oil to release their essential oils.
Ground green cardamomUse 20 to 25% of the pod weight (about 1 generous pinch per pod); stir in toward the end of cooking so the delicate floral notes do not dissipate.
White cardamom podUse 1:1 by pod count or weight; crack gently before using, though it is slightly less intensely floral.

Vegetable oil

Peanut oilUse 1:1 by weight. Handles high-heat frying identically and introduces a very subtle, pleasant nuttiness.
GheeUse 1:1 by weight. Yields a much richer, authentic aroma and a glossy, heavier mouthfeel.
Mustard oilUse 1:1 by weight. Heat until smoking, then cool slightly before cooking to temper its intensely pungent, sharp mustard kick.

Ginger paste

Fresh gingerUse equal weight; peel and grate very finely on a microplane or pound to a fine paste in a mortar.
GingerUse equal weight; mince finely and crush with the flat of a knife before frying.
Ground gingerUse 20% of the weight; add directly with the dry spice powders, though it yields an earthier, less pungent profile.

Garlic paste

GarlicUse equal weight; crush or finely grate to a smooth pulp to replicate the same fresh, pungent moisture in your base gravy.
Garlic powderUse 20 to 25% of the weight; mix with a teaspoon of water before adding to oil so it does not burn, noting it lacks the fresh bite.

Dried rose petals

RosewaterUse 1 to 2 drops per gram of dried rose petals. Add right at the end of cooking off the heat; highly aromatic, so measure carefully to avoid a soapy finish.
Screwpine water or rosewaterUse a few drops off the heat. Imparts a sweet, floral aroma to biryanis and desserts without botanical flecks.
Similar dishes

- Same: Both are skewered and grilled chicken kebabs prepared with ginger paste, garlic paste, green cardamom, butter, and vegetable oil.
- Different: Murg ke Parche adds green chillies, mace, black cumin seeds, and coriander, but lacks the cashew paste, single cream, and white malt vinegar used in this dish.

- Same: Khatta Murg shares with this dish the use of chicken, hung yoghurt, single cream, green chilli paste, ginger paste, garlic paste, ground white pepper, green cardamom and salt.
- Different: Khatta Murg stuffs chicken breast with spring onion, ginger, green chilli, mint and black cumin and braises it in a yoghurt-cream sauce with almond paste and lemon juice, while this dish marinates chicken leg with cashew paste, egg, plain flour, white malt vinegar, dried rose petals and vegetable oil and grills it on skewers.

- Same: Murg Banjara shares chicken legs, a yoghurt marinade with ginger and garlic, skewer grilling, and butter with this dish.
- Different: Murg Banjara uses plain yogurt, peanut paste, mustard oil, lemon juice, amchoor, chilli powder and coriander paste, while this dish uses hung yoghurt, cashew paste, cream, egg, flour, vegetable oil, white malt vinegar, green chilli paste, white pepper, cardamom and rose petals.

- Same: Both are skewered chicken dishes with hung yoghurt, cashew paste, cream, garlic, green chilli, white pepper, vinegar and salt.
- Different: It uses boneless thigh, far more cashew paste, fried onion paste, egg yolk, cinnamon, coriander, black cumin, lemon juice, chickpea flour and ghee and is charcoal-smoked, while this dish uses chicken leg, whole egg, plain flour, green cardamom pod, dried rose petals and vegetable oil and is grilled on skewers.




































