Chicken tikka Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Chicken tikka
Chicken tikka
Course	Hors d'oeuvre
Region or state	Indian subcontinent
Associated national cuisine	India, Bangladesh, Pakistan
Serving temperature	Hot
Main ingredients	Chicken, dahi (yogurt), red chili powder, ginger and garlic paste, lemon juice
Variations	Paneer tikka

Chicken tikka is a super popular chicken dish. It comes from the Indian subcontinent, a region in South Asia. This tasty food has been around since the Mughal era. That was a time when a powerful empire ruled parts of South Asia.

People love chicken tikka in countries like India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. It's usually made from small pieces of chicken that don't have bones. These chicken pieces are first soaked in a special mix. This mix includes Indian spices and dahi (which is yogurt). This soaking process is called marinating.

After marinating, the chicken pieces are put on skewers. Then, they are baked over hot coals or in a special oven called an angeethi. It's a lot like tandoori chicken, but without the bones! The word tikka comes from a Persian word. It simply means "bits" or "pieces."

How Chicken Tikka is Made
How to Enjoy Chicken Tikka
Where Chicken Tikka is Popular
- In South Asia
- In Afghanistan
Gallery
See also

How Chicken Tikka is Made

Chicken tikka is prepared with care to get its unique flavor.

Marinating the Chicken

First, small pieces of boneless chicken are used. They are mixed with a special marinade. This marinade often includes yogurt, red chili powder, ginger and garlic paste, and lemon juice. The chicken soaks in this mix for a while. This helps the flavors sink deep into the meat.

Cooking on Skewers

Once marinated, the chicken pieces are placed on long metal sticks called skewers. These skewers are then cooked over hot coals. Sometimes, they are cooked in a special clay oven called a tandoor. As the chicken cooks, it gets a smoky flavor and a slightly charred outside.

Adding Flavor

While cooking, the chicken pieces are often brushed with ghee. Ghee is a type of clarified butter. Brushing with ghee makes the chicken even more flavorful and juicy. The cooks also fan the chicken continuously. This helps it cook evenly and adds to the taste.

How to Enjoy Chicken Tikka

Chicken tikka is a very versatile dish. You can eat it in many ways.

Serving Suggestions

Chicken tikka is often served hot. It usually comes with fresh green coriander and a tangy tamarind chutney. Chutney is a flavorful sauce. You might also find it served with onion rings and a squeeze of lemon juice. These additions make the dish even more delicious.

Chicken Tikka Sizzler

A popular way to serve chicken tikka is as a "sizzler." This means the chicken tikka is brought to your table on a super hot plate. It often comes with onions, and it makes a fun sizzling sound!

Chicken Tikka Masala

Sometimes, chicken tikka is used to make another famous dish. This dish is called chicken tikka masala. It's a creamy, flavorful curry that uses the cooked chicken tikka pieces.

Where Chicken Tikka is Popular

Chicken tikka is loved in many parts of the world.

In South Asia

It's a staple in Punjabi cuisine, which is popular in parts of India and Pakistan. In the Kashmir region, chicken tikka is also grilled over hot coals. The Kashmiri version might not always use boneless pieces.

In Afghanistan

Chicken tikka is also popular in Afghanistan. However, the Afghan version is usually less spicy. It's similar to many dishes from Persian, Turkish, and Arab cooking. In Afghanistan, they might also use beef and lamb in addition to chicken.