Description
These Chicken Tikka Burgers are a flavorful fusion of Indian spices and classic burger elements, featuring tender marinated chicken breasts grilled to perfection and served with a vibrant tomato and tamarind chutney, crisp salad, and cooling yogurt-based marinade. Perfect for a summer BBQ or a tasty twist on the traditional burger, they bring exciting spices and fresh textures into every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Marinade
- 6 small chicken breasts
- 2 tbsp tomato purée
- 200g Greek yogurt
- thumb-sized piece of ginger, very finely grated
- 4 garlic cloves, very finely grated or crushed
- 2 tbsp garam masala
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground cayenne pepper
- juice of 1 lemon
Chutney
- 2 tomatoes, chopped
- 1 small red onion, chopped
- 1 green chilli, chopped
- 1 tsp tamarind pulp
- 2 tbsp tomato ketchup
Assembly
- 6 burger buns (ciabatta used)
- ½ cucumber, sliced
- 1 Little Gem lettuce, shredded
- small bunch of mint leaves, picked
- 1 small red onion, halved and finely sliced
- lemon wedges, to serve
Instructions
- Prepare the marinade: In a bowl, mix together the tomato purée, Greek yogurt, grated ginger, crushed garlic, garam masala, ground cinnamon, ground cayenne pepper, and lemon juice. Open out each chicken breast and flatten slightly to an even thickness. Coat the chicken breasts thoroughly in the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 to 3 hours to allow the flavors to develop.
- Make the chutney: While the chicken marinates, combine the chopped tomatoes, chopped red onion, chopped green chilli, tamarind pulp, and tomato ketchup in a bowl. Mix well and set aside. This chutney can be made ahead and kept in the fridge overnight, allowing flavors to meld.
- Heat the BBQ grill: Prepare your BBQ grill by heating until the coals turn ashen, indicating they are at the right temperature for grilling.
- Grill the chicken: Place the marinated chicken breasts onto the grill grates. Grill for 4 to 5 minutes on each side or until the chicken is cooked through with a nice char and an internal temperature reaches 75°C (165°F).
- Toss the salad: In a mixing bowl, combine sliced cucumber, shredded Little Gem lettuce, picked mint leaves, and thinly sliced red onion. Toss gently to mix.
- Assemble the burgers: Slice the burger buns and layer each with grilled chicken breast, a generous spoonful of the prepared chutney, and the tossed salad. Serve the chicken tikka burgers immediately with lemon wedges for squeezing over.
Notes
- For best results, marinate the chicken overnight to maximize flavor infusion.
- If a BBQ grill is not available, use a stovetop grill pan or an oven grill function set to high heat.
- The chutney can be prepared a day ahead for convenience and enhanced flavor.
- Adjust the cayenne pepper based on your preferred spice level.
- Ensure the chicken is cooked thoroughly to avoid any foodborne illness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Grilling
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: Indian Fusion
Keywords: Chicken tikka, burgers, grilled chicken, Indian spices, BBQ, chutney, summer recipe
