Malai Methi Kebab (Creamy Fenugreek Kebabs)

I ended up making this with some "soya chaap" that I had on hand in the pantry. This made for very easy prep. Sadly, I found the texture of the soy-wheat kebabs to be somewhat lacking. I think, in future, if I want to make a vegetarian version of this dish, I'll just go with seitan or, failing that, maybe an extra-firm tofu. Still, I'm glad I at least gave the "chaap" a try. And, to be fair, they're weren't awful, they just weren't great either. And I think this recipe could've been great with the right protein.

The original recipe called for skinless, boneless chicken breasts, and I've written it up that way here. That said, feel free to experiment with other proteins if you'd like.

Malai Methi Kebab

Slightly adapted from 660 Curries by Raghavan Iyer

Ingredients

• 1/4 c. plain Greek yogurt
• 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 Tbsp. coriander seeds, ground
• 1 tsp. cumin seeds, ground
• 1 Tbsp. ginger paste
• 1/2 Tbsp. garlic paste
• 1/2 tsp. Punjabi garam masala
• 1 tsp. coarse sea salt
• 450g skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into strips 2-3cm wide
• 1 Tbsp. ghee¹
• 1/2 c. tomato sauce (canned or homemade)
• 2 Tbsp. dried fenugreek leaves (kasoori methi), soaked in water and skimmed off before use
• 1/2 tsp. ground cayenne or kashmiri chilies
• 1/4 c. half-and-half (10% M.F.)

Directions

1. Soak some bamboo skewers (or just use metal ones).
2. Whisk the yogurt, cilantro, coriander, cumin, ginger paste, garlic paste, garam masala, and salt together.
3. Add the chicken and toss/stir to coat.
4. cover and chill for 1-6 hours.
5. Preheat a grill or broiler to high.
6. Meanwhile, heat the ghee (if using) over medium heat.
7. Add the tomato sauce, fenugreek, and cayenne and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally for ~5 minutes.
8. Reduce heat to low and stir in the half-and-half.
9. Place kebabs on a lightly greased rack and grill or broil for ~8 minutes, turning occasionally.
10. Once kebabs are done, slide the meat from the skewers and pour the sauce over.
11. Serve with rice and/or flatbread of your choice.

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¹ If you'd like to cut a bit of fat and a few calories, simply omit the ghee. The sauce will lose a bit of richness, but be a bit more diet-friendly. ^Back