Degchi
Malai Boti
Serves 4 · Total 40 min · Prep 20 min · Cook 20 min
Malai Boti is boneless chicken marinated in cream, a little yogurt, cheese and mild spices, then grilled until just lightly charred. Paler and creamier than chicken tikka, with no red chilli powder or food colour, it's a gentler, richer kebab popular at Pakistani barbecues, usually served with mint chutney, onions and lemon.
Quick answer: 40 min in total · serves 4 · main ingredients: Boneless chicken, Cream, Yogurt, Garlic · amounts in metric and US
Ingredients
- 800 g 1.75 lb Boneless chicken, cut into bite-size cubes
- 150 g 0.6 cup Cream
- 100 g 0.4 cup Yogurt
- 1 tbsp 1 tbsp Garlic, made into a paste
- 1 tbsp 1 tbsp Ginger, made into a paste
- 2 pc 2 pc Green chilli, finely chopped
- 1 tsp 1 tsp Black pepper
- 1 pc 1 pc Lemon, juiced
- to taste to taste Salt
- 2 tbsp 2 tbsp Cooking oil, for basting
- 2 tbsp 2 tbsp Cheese, grated processed cheese (Optional)
- 2 tbsp 2 tbsp Coriander, chopped, for garnish (Optional)
Steps
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- Cut the boneless chicken into bite-size cubes and pat dry.
- Mix the cream, yogurt, garlic-ginger paste, green chilli, black pepper, grated cheese, lemon juice and salt into a smooth marinade.
- Coat the chicken in the marinade, cover, and marinate in the fridge.⏱ Marinating · 180 min
- Thread the chicken cubes onto skewers.
- Preheat a grill or your oven's broiler to high heat.
- Grill the skewers, turning and basting with oil or butter, until lightly cooked through — keep the heat moderate so the colour stays pale and creamy rather than deeply charred.⏱ Grilling · 15 min
- Rest the skewers for a couple of minutes off direct heat.⏱ Resting · 2 min
- Garnish with chopped coriander and serve with mint chutney.
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Frequently asked questions
How long does Malai Boti take?
40 minutes in total: about 20 minutes of prep and 20 minutes of cooking.
Is Malai Boti hard to make?
Degchi rates it medium. The method has 8 steps, and 3 of them have a timer you can start on this page.
How many people does Malai Boti serve?
This recipe serves 4. Use the toggle above the ingredient list to see the amounts in metric or US measures. For more or fewer portions, scale every amount in the same proportion, or use the servings control in the Degchi app.
Is Malai Boti halal, vegetarian or eggless?
It is marked halal in our recipe data. It is not vegetarian. It has no egg. It has no beef. Check the labels on any packaged ingredients for your own needs.
What will I probably need to buy for Malai Boti?
Everyday staples that Degchi counts as pantry basics: salt, cooking oil. Spice-box items: black pepper. Fresh items you will probably need to buy: boneless chicken, cream, yogurt, garlic, ginger, green chilli, lemon.
Any tips for making Malai Boti?
Don't let cream marinate longer than 24 hours — it can start to curdle and split. Keep the flame moderate rather than very high — malai boti should stay pale and tender, not blackened like tikka.
Notes and questions
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Cooking terms in this recipe: Dahi marinade
