
Tandoori Kathal Tikka
Tandoori kathal tikka is jackfruit chunks coated in a tangy yoghurt marinade, then grilled until browned and tender. It tastes garlicky, warmly spiced and tangy, with a fresh coriander note.
Marinade masala
10 gStirred into the yoghurt marinade (step 2)Everything else
Method
- Drain and rinse 450 g canned jackfruit; cut into bite-sized chunks.
- Mix 60 g greek yoghurt, 4 g chickpea flour, 12 g garlic, the marinade masala and salt to taste in a bowl until smooth.
- Stir 2 g coriander leaf through the marinade.
- Add the jackfruit and turn until every piece is coated.
- Heat the grill to medium-high.
- Line a baking tray with foil and set a wire rack over it.
- Soak wooden skewers in water.
- Thread the coated jackfruit onto the soaked skewers.
- Set the skewers on the rack and spoon over any marinade left in the bowl.
- Grill for 6 minutes, turn the skewers, brush with melted ghee and grill for another 6 minutes.
- Squeeze the juice from 50 g lime over the skewers.
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Canned jackfruit

Raw jackfruitUse the same drained weight; peel, core and simmer until tender, 20–30 minutes longer. Texture is close but less briney.
JackfruitUse the same drained weight if cooked young jackfruit; if ripe it will be sweet and unsuitable for savoury dishes.
MushroomUse the same weight, thickly sliced and sautéed; gives a meaty texture but a mushroom flavour, not neutral.

Ghee

Unsalted butterUse 120% of the weight; melt gently over low heat to avoid burning the milk solids, which will yield a softer, creamier richness rather than a nutty aroma.
Vegetable oilUse 85% of the weight; holds high cooking temperatures without smoking, but the final dish will lack traditional dairy depth.
Mustard oilUse equal weight; heat to smoking point and cool slightly before cooking, bearing in mind it introduces an assertive, pungent edge.

Lime

LemonUse the same weight; sharper and less floral, so reduce any extra souring slightly.
Lemon juiceUse about 30 g juice per lime (2 tbsp), strain pips; add at the end for fresh sourness.
Dried mango powderUse 1 g amchoor for about 15 g lime juice; add early with spices; gives dry mango sourness, not citrus aroma.

Greek yoghurt

Hung natural yoghurtUse the same weight and whisk smooth; same thick consistency.
Full-fat natural yoghurtUse 1.25 times the weight and strain through muslin for 30 minutes; looser if not strained.
Hung yogurtUse the same weight; virtually identical.

Chickpea flour

Yellow split pea flourUse 100% of the weight. Many commercial gram flours are milled from split peas; performs identically in pakora batters and kadhi.
CornstarchFor crisping batters or binding cutlets: use 50% to 60% of the weight. Produces a very crisp shell but lacks the earthy, roasted nutty flavour of besan.

Garlic

Garlic pasteUse equal weight. Fry gently in oil or ghee with the ginger; incorporates smoothly into curries without visible minced bits.
Garlic powderUse 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.
ShallotUse 1.5 times the weight, very finely minced. Sauté until golden; provides savoury allium sweetness, though it lacks garlic's pungent sulphur bite.

Kashmiri chilli powder

Dried kashmiri chilliGrind deseeded dried pods to an equal weight of powder; gives identical vivid red colour and gentle warmth.
Red chilli powderUse 25% of the weight mixed with sweet paprika for colour; straight red chilli powder is substantially hotter and will make the dish fiery.
Chilli powderUse one-third of the weight; the sauce will be less intensely red and notably sharper in heat.

Garam masala

Ground cuminUse 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.
Lentil stew spice mixUse 75% of the weight. Simmer briefly in the gravy; imparts roasted warmth and complexity, though it adds a slight tang and earthy lentil undertone.

Amchoor powder

Ground dried mango powderUse the same weight; same sour mango flavour. Add early so it can soften into the dish.
Dried mango powderGrind to a powder and use the same weight. Slightly coarser unless finely ground.
Lemon juiceUse 5–6 times the weight, e.g. 1 tsp powder to about 5 tsp juice; add off the heat. Wetter and fresher-tasting.
Similar dishes

- Same: Kathhal ki Subzi shares jackfruit, yoghurt, garam masala, amchoor tang, chilli powder and salt with this dish.
- Different: It braises the jackfruit in a large plain-yoghurt gravy with cumin seed, asafoetida, turmeric and ground coriander, and it lacks this dish's garlic, lime, chickpea flour and fresh coriander.

- Same: Dum Kathhal shares jackfruit, garam masala, chilli powder, coriander leaf and salt with this dish.
- Different: Dum Kathhal adds potato, mustard oil, ghee or vegetable oil, asafoetida, cumin seed, fenugreek seed and ginger, and it lacks this dish's yoghurt, lime, chickpea flour, dried mango powder and garlic.

- Same: Haraa Bharaa Fish Tikka shares with this dish a yoghurt marinade, lime, dried mango powder, garam masala, garlic and coriander, and both are grilled as tikka.
- Different: Haraa Bharaa Fish Tikka uses salmon instead of jackfruit, vegetable oil instead of ghee, and adds ginger, basil, green bird's-eye chilli and black pepper; it lacks chickpea flour and Kashmiri chilli powder.

- Same: Kurma Pulussu shares jackfruit, yoghurt, garlic, chilli powder, coriander leaf and salt with this dish.
- Different: Kurma Pulussu is a simmered curry of raw jackfruit, onion, poppy seed, coconut, vegetable oil and whole cardamom, clove, cinnamon and bay leaf, while this dish is a grilled canned-jackfruit tikka marinated in Greek yoghurt, ghee, lime and dried mango powder.


























