Chicken Cheese Seekh Kabab
A home-style recipe for Chicken Cheese Seekh Kabab. Makes 10 seekh kababs, ready in about 40 minutes, with steps for the usual way and for the air fryer.
Ingredients
- 500 g chicken mince (or boneless chicken, minced fine in a chopper)
- 1 onion, grated and squeezed dry
- 1 tsp ginger-garlic paste
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp red chilli powder
- 1 tsp cumin seeds, roasted and crushed
- 1 tsp coriander seeds, crushed
- ½ tsp garam masala
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp oil, plus more for brushing
- 100 g cheese (mozzarella or cheddar), in 10 thin sticks about 8 cm long
Missing something?
- No chicken? Use mutton or beef (cook longer), or soya chunks.
- No cheese? Use skip it, or use cheese spread.
- No onion? Use spring onions, or a little onion powder (less depth).
On the grill
- Mix the chicken, onion, ginger-garlic paste, salt, chilli, cumin, coriander seeds, garam masala, black pepper and oil. Knead for 3–4 minutes until sticky. If you can, chill it for 30 minutes; this makes shaping easier and isn't included in the time.
- Divide the mixture into 10 portions. With wet hands, flatten one portion on your palm, lay a cheese stick in the middle and fold the mince around it, pressing the edges to seal.
- Push a thick skewer through the length of the kabab and press it into an even sausage about 2–3 cm thick. Repeat with the rest.
- Grill over medium-hot coals for 12–15 minutes, turning and brushing with oil, until golden all over and cooked through.
- No grill? Shape the kababs without skewers and cook them in 3 tbsp oil in a frying pan on medium heat for 12–15 minutes, turning gently.
Tip: Seal the cheese in well with no gaps, or it melts out onto the coals. Serve straight away while the cheese is still soft.
In the air fryer (about 35 min)
- Mix minced chicken with spices and wrap around cheese cubes on skewers.
- Air fry at 190°C for 12 to 14 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.