Chicken Malai Kebab With Cream And Cheese is a mouthwatering delicacy that combines the rich flavors of traditional Indian cuisine with a creamy, cheesy twist. This luxurious version of the classic Malai Chicken Kabab is sure to tantalize your taste buds and impress your guests. Chicken Malai Kebab is a yummy, mildly-flavoured, melt-in-your-mouth kebab recipe.
Tender, juicy, and irresistibly creamy, Chicken Malai Kebab With Cream And Cheese is a restaurant-style Indian appetiser that brings together succulent chicken, fresh cream, cheese, and aromatic spices. Each bite is wonderfully soft on the inside, lightly charred on the outside, and infused with a rich, mildly spiced marinade that makes these kebabs hard to resist!
Also known as Murgh Malai Kebab, this popular Indian starter is perfect for dinner parties, festive gatherings, weekend barbecues, or whenever you crave something special at home. The combination of cream, cheese, ginger-garlic paste, and warming spices creates a luxurious coating that keeps the chicken moist while adding a deliciously savoury flavour.
What is Chicken Malai Kebab?
Chicken Malai Kebab is a popular Indian appetiser made with boneless chicken marinated in fresh cream, cheese, yoghurt, ginger-garlic paste, and mild spices. The word malai means cream, referring to the rich, creamy marinade that gives the kebab its signature texture.
Unlike fiery red chicken tikka, Murgh Malai Kabab is typically pale golden, delicately seasoned, and rich in flavour. The chicken is marinated to absorb the creamy mixture before being grilled, baked, air-fried, or pan-cooked until tender and lightly charred.
The addition of cheese makes this version extra indulgent, while lemon juice, green chilli, and aromatic spices balance the richness. It’s an excellent choice for anyone who loves mild, juicy, restaurant-style chicken starters.
Health Benefits of Fresh Cream
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🥛 Provides energy: Cream contains fat, which supplies concentrated dietary energy.
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🦴 Contributes calcium: Dairy cream contains some calcium, although the amount varies by product and serving.
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🧈 Contains fat-soluble vitamins: Depending on the product, cream can provide small amounts of vitamins such as A.
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🍗 Improves texture and flavour: Cream helps create a smooth marinade and complements the lean protein in chicken.
Chicken Malai Kebab Recipe:
Murg Malai Kabab is a popular North Indian dish that features delectable pieces of chicken marinated in a creamy mixture of spices, cheese and malai (cream). The addition of cream and cheese in this variation elevates the dish to new heights of indulgence. The kebabs are typically grilled or baked to perfection, resulting in a juicy, flavorful, and aromatic dish that’s perfect for any occasion.
Murgh Malai Kabab, a juicy and fragrant chicken dish can be teamed with Naan and a salad for a delicious meal!
Whether you prepare these creamy chicken kebabs in an oven, air fryer, grill, or stovetop pan, this recipe brings restaurant-style flavour to your kitchen. Serve them hot with mint-coriander chutney, lemon wedges, and onion rings for an appetiser that looks as impressive as it tastes.
Creamy chicken kebabs recipe is a two-step process.
- For the first marination, clean and cut the chicken into small cubes. Pat dry the chicken pieces so that the marinade coats it well without falling off.
- Place the boneless chicken pieces in a dish and add some salt, nutmeg powder, ginger-garlic paste, freshly ground pepper powder and lemon juice. Mix everything together with your hand and allow it to rest for 20 minutes.
- In another bowl, take grated processed cheese and mash it well to a smooth paste. Add cornflour, a pinch of cardamom powder and mix well.
- Add the marinated chicken cubes along with the marinade to this mixture and combine well. Add a cup of fresh cream and gently mix everything together. Don’t use pressure otherwise the cream will separate. Put it in the refrigerator for half an hour.
- Meanwhile, soak the wooden skewers in warm water. Thread the marinated chicken cube through the skewers and dab them with the marinade.
- Heat about 2 tbsp oil in a non-stick frying pan. Place the skewers on the pan and cook for about 30 minutes on medium heat. Keep turning them over in-between and basting them with oil/butter till they are uniformly browned.
- Remove and serve Chicken Malai Kebabs with Naan and salad.
If you love flavourful chicken dishes, explore our collection of Chicken Recipes for more spicy meal ideas, like this yummy Murgh Sukka Fry.
Chicken Malai Kebab Serving Suggestions
Make your Chicken Malai Kebab With Cream And Cheese the star of your next meal with these tasty serving ideas.
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🌿 Mint-coriander chutney: The fresh, tangy flavours beautifully balance the creamy chicken.
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🧅 Onion rings and lemon wedges: Add crunch and brightness to every bite.
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🫓 Roomali roti or naan: Wrap the juicy kebabs in soft Indian flatbread for a satisfying meal.
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🍚 Vegetable pulao: Serve with fragrant rice for a more substantial dinner.
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🥗 Fresh cucumber salad: Add crisp cucumber, tomato, and herbs for a refreshing contrast.
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🌯 Malai kebab wraps: Stuff the chicken into flatbread with lettuce, onions, and a light yoghurt dressing.
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🍢 Party appetiser platter: Pair with paneer tikka, grilled vegetables, and chutney for an inviting starter spread.
Variations of Chicken Malai Kebab
- Air-Fryer Chicken Malai Tikka: Cook the marinated chicken in an air fryer for a convenient alternative to traditional grilling. Lightly grease the basket and avoid overcrowding for better browning.
- Chicken and Vegetable Malai Kebabs: Thread chunks of capsicum and onion between the chicken pieces. The vegetables add colour, texture, and a subtle smoky flavour.
- Spicy Murgh Malai Kabab: Increase the green chilli paste and add a pinch of crushed black pepper for a bolder version that retains the creamy base.
- Lighter Chicken Malai Kebab: Substitute part of the fresh cream with thick, unsweetened yoghurt and reduce the cheese. The marinade remains creamy while using less cream.
- Smoky Restaurant-Style Malai Kebab: Grill the skewers over charcoal for a smoky finish, taking care to prevent flare-ups and excessive charring.
Tips for Perfect Murg Kabab
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✅ Choose the right chicken: Boneless thigh meat tends to stay juicy, while breast meat cooks leaner and can dry out more easily.
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✅ Pat the chicken dry: Removing surface moisture helps the marinade cling to the chicken.
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✅ Use thick yoghurt: Watery yoghurt can thin the marinade and prevent it from coating the chicken properly.
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✅ Marinate for flavour: Allow at least 2 hours in the refrigerator; 4 hours works well for a flavourful result.
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✅ Grate the cheese finely: This helps it blend evenly into the marinade.
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✅ Balance the seasoning: White pepper, ginger, garlic, and green chilli add flavour without overpowering the cream.
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✅ Avoid excess marinade: Remove heavy drips before cooking to help the chicken brown rather than steam.
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✅ Leave space between pieces: Whether using skewers, a pan, or an air fryer, avoid overcrowding.
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✅ Brush lightly with oil: A little oil or butter encourages browning and helps prevent sticking.
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✅ Watch the final grilling stage: Cream and cheese can brown quickly, so keep a close eye on the kebabs.
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✅ Check for doneness: The thickest pieces must reach 74°C internally.
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✅ Serve immediately: These kebabs taste best while hot and tender, with freshly prepared chutney on the side.
🍢 You Might Also Love
- 🌶️ Chicken Dry Fry: A spicy, savoury chicken favourite tossed with aromatic Indian spices and curry leaves.
- 🧀 Paneer Tikka: Smoky, spice-marinated paneer cubes grilled with vegetables for a delicious vegetarian appetiser.
- 🍄 Mushroom Tikka Masala: Juicy mushrooms simmered in a rich, creamy, spiced tomato gravy make this a comforting and flavourful dish. Serve it with naan, roti, or fragrant basmati rice for a satisfying meal.
How To Make Murgh Malai Tikka:
Chicken Malai Kebab Recipe
Ingredients
First Marination:
- Boneless Chicken – 450 gms
- Salt to taste
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Nutmeg – ½ tsp ground
- White Pepper powder – ½ tsp
- Ginger-garlic paste – ½ tbsp
Second Marination:
- Processed cheese – 1 cup
- Cornflour – ½ tbsp
- Green cardamom powder – ½ tsp
- Fresh Cream -1 cup
- Oil – 2 tbsp for cooking
Instructions
- For this malai chicken recipe, clean and wash the chicken thoroughly. Cut into 1 inch cubes. Add salt to taste, juice of 1 lemon, nutmeg powder, white pepper powder and ginger-garlic paste. Mix thoroughly so that the chicken is well coated. Cover the dish and leave aside for 20 minutes. (If you refrigerate, remove and bring it to room temperature before the 2nd marination).
- Meanwhile, mash the grated cheese in a bowl. Make sure there are no lumps. Add cornflour and cardamom powder and blend to a smooth mixture.
- Next, add the marinated chicken pieces to this mixture and combine well. Add a cup of fresh cream and gently mix everything together. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile soak the bamboo skewers in warm water to prevent them from burning while cooking.
- Thread about 3-4 chicken pieces on each skewer lengthwise so most of the chicken is exposed to the heat. Coat the pieces generously with the marinade.
- Heat a non-stick frying pan and drizzle some oil. Place the skewers on the pan and grill for about 30 minutes, turning the skewers over in-between and basting the pieces with butter/oil.
- Once the chicken cubes are evenly browned, remove the chicken kebabs from the skewers onto a serving plate.
- Sprinkle some lemon juice on top and serve piping hot Chicken Malai Kebab with onion slices and mint-coriander chutney.
Notes
- You can also make a paste of green chillies and coriander leaves and add it to the 2nd marinade.
- You can also cook the kebabs in a pre-heated oven at 180C. Place an aluminium foil on the wire rack and lay the skewers on it. Place the wire rack on the topmost shelf of your oven. Cook for about 10 minutes. Remove, turn the skewers, put back into the oven and cook for a further 10 minutes.
🍢💛 Creamy, dreamy, and kebab-licious! Loved this Chicken Malai Kebab With Cream And Cheese? Don’t forget to share, comment, and follow Seasonal Flavours for more mouth-watering recipes that bring restaurant-style magic to your kitchen! 🧀✨
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