Malai Tava Chicken

I’m a sucker for tava recipes and one of my favorites is Malai Tava Chicken. It’s creamy and so flavorful, infused with rich spices and herbs that give you a perfect melt-in-your-mouth experience. But, what if I told you that you can recreate this recipe right from your home?

This Malai Tava Chicken recipe is a godsend because

• Tender, juicy, deliciously flavorful chicken, no matter the cut
• Creamy gravy that’s aromatic and rich in taste
• Variable spice levels so you can make it as spicy or mild as you like

What Does This Malai Tava Chicken Recipe Need?

• Chicken: Use your favorite cut. I love to go for boneless skinless thighs or breast pieces cut into cubes. Thighs will give you a far juicier and tender experience, but chicken breasts are not far off.
• Yogurt: A little goes a long way – you need a little yogurt to help the chicken marinade in the spices.
• Cream: Of course, we can’t have Malai Tava Chicken without the malai (cream).
• Garam Masala: The kick of flavors comes from the magical garam masala – a staple for all South Asian recipes.
• Garlic & Ginger: Another essential to South Asian cuisine, you’ll need some garlic and ginger paste.
• Spices: An assortment of cumin, black pepper, salt, red pepper flakes and onion powder.
• Garnish: You can use coriander, a drizzle of cream, julienne ginger or green chili slices to garnish your dish.

ALSO TRY THESE GARLIC MAYO CHICKEN ROLLS!

I Don’t Have A Tava! Can I Still Make This Recipe?

Yes, absolutely. A tava or griddle is a flat pan with no sides and is typically used to make flatbread over a flame. If you don’t have one at home, you can also use a saucepan. The trick is to make sure it gets very hot before you start cooking.

Making sure your pan is very hot helps you get a nice sear (and a smoky flavor) on your chicken pieces. This adds immensely to the overall flavor profile as well as aesthetic of the dish. Ideally you want to use a wide sauce pan as it allows for even distribution of heat. An overcrowded pan will cause your chicken to release its juices which won’t give you a crispy golden sear.

Now let’s get right to the recipe!

Malai Tava Chicken

Recipe by foodielassie

5.0 from 1 vote

Course: Mains, RecipesCuisine: South AsianDifficulty: Easy

Servings

2

servings

Prep time

15

minutes

Cooking time

15

minutes

Cook Mode

Keep your device screen on

Ingredients

• 500 g chicken breasts or thighs

• 3 tbsp yogurt

• 1 tsp garlic paste

• 1 tsp ginger paste

• 1 tsp onion powder

• 1 tsp cumin powder

• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper

• 1 tsp red pepper flakes

• 1 1/2 tsp garam masala powder

• 1/2 cup cooking cream

• 4 tbsp vegetable oil

• 1/2 tsp salt

• green chili or coriander to garnish

Directions

• Cut up your chicken breasts or thighs into even-sized pieces (about 1.5-2 inch cubes).
• Place your chopped chicken in a bowl and add yogurt, garlic and ginger paste, onion powder, cumin, black pepper, red pepper flakes, garam masala and salt.
• Mix your chicken with the marinade ingredients, ensuring every piece is well coated.
• Set aside for about 10 minutes to allow the chicken to rest and soak up the flavors.
• Place a wide saucepan on high heat and wait until it is searing hot. You can check this by adding a drop of water. If your water droplet starts dancing in the pan, your pan is sufficiently heated.
• Add your oil to the hot pan and wait a few seconds for the oil to heat up too. Careful not to let it start smoking.
• Carefully add your chicken to the heated pan making sure to steer clear of oil splatter.
• Sear your chicken pieces for 3-5 minutes on each side until a crispy golden crust forms.
• Once seared, add your cooking cream and mix well to combine. Cook your chicken for another 10-12 minutes of until fully cooked.
• Garnish your Malai Tava Chicken with green chilies or coriander. You can also use julienned ginger or a drizzle of more cream.