Chicken Bihari Boti
A home-style recipe for Chicken Bihari Boti. Serves 4, ready in about 40 minutes, with steps for the usual way and for the air fryer.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp oil, plus more for basting
- 1 onion, sliced
- 750 g boneless chicken, in thin strips about 1 cm thick
- ½ cup (125 g) yogurt
- 1 tbsp raw papaya paste (optional)
- 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
- 1½ tsp salt
- 2 tsp red chilli powder
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- 1 tsp garam masala
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg and mace (jaifal javitri)
- 1 tsp black pepper
- Or, instead of the spices above (but still add the salt): 3 tbsp Bihari boti masala (from a packet)
Missing something?
- No chicken? Use mutton or beef (cook longer), or soya chunks.
- No yogurt? Use milk with 1 tsp lemon juice, rested 10 minutes.
- No onion? Use spring onions, or a little onion powder (less depth).
On the grill
- Heat the oil and fry the onion on medium heat for 8–10 minutes, until deep brown. Crush it when cool, and keep the oil.
- Mix the chicken with the fried onion, its oil, the yogurt, papaya, ginger-garlic paste, salt and spices. If you use packet masala, use only half the salt. If you have time, leave it for up to 4 hours (not overnight, because the papaya softens the meat too much); if not, cook it right away.
- Thread the strips onto skewers, folding them back and forth.
- Grill over hot coals for 10–12 minutes, turning and brushing with oil, until charred at the edges and cooked through.
- No grill? Cook the chicken with its marinade in a covered pan on low heat for 12–15 minutes, then uncover and fry on high heat until dry and charred.
Tip: For a smoky taste in a pan, put a hot piece of charcoal in a small foil cup on the chicken, add a drop of oil to it and cover for 2 minutes.
In the air fryer (about 50 min)
- Marinate thin chicken strips in yogurt, raw papaya and Bihari masala.
- Air fry at 200°C for 10 to 12 minutes, turning halfway, until cooked through.
Air fryer tip: Use short skewers that fit inside the basket, or cook the pieces without skewers.
Air fryer basics: Heat the air fryer for 3 to 5 minutes first. Don't fill the basket more than halfway. Brush or spray a little oil. Turn or shake halfway. Use paper liners with holes. Air fryers vary, so check a few minutes early the first time.