Chicken Tikka kebab or Chicken Tandoori: An absolute comparison

Indian cuisine has procured some commendable Mughlai treats over the years that have become popular worldwide. Some of them are Chicken tikka kebab and Tandoori Chicken. The aromas of dishes like chicken tikka kebab and tandoori chicken among many other spreads in the air bring the foodies whiffing around. Let’s see a few differences despite which both the delicacies never fail to impress. 

Key differences  

Seasoning for marination

The Chicken tikka kebab requires seasonings like salt, black pepper powder, lemon, yogurt, garlic paste, and red chili powder. 

For the Tandoori chicken, you need bold Indian flavors including red chili powder, salt, ginger and garlic paste, garam masala, ground black pepper, coriander powder, and thick yogurt and herbs like Kasuri methi.

Chicken portions 

Chicken Tikka kebab requires mostly the breast portions of a chicken while you need the meaty pieces like legs, wings, and breast pieces for a Tandoori delicacy.

Cooking Technique 

The cooking technique of both Tikka kebab and Tandoori chicken is different. Chicken Tikka Kebab is made by piercing the marinated chicken chunks through the skewers and then grilling on fire to bring that smoky flavor and char on your kebabs.

While the chicken tandoori, as the name suggests, cooks in a Tandoor (clay oven) on a high heat and gives your chicken the signature Tandoori flavor and smokiness. 

Cooking Time

Both the Tikka kebab and Tandoori take different time duration to be cooked as Tikka kebab are small pieces of chicken that are easily cooked in small duration. Keeping the preparation and marination time aside, you’ll need 20-25 minutes to perfectly cook.

Whereas, Tandoori chicken which is made of large portions of chicken takes more time. The perfectly cooked tandoori Chicken can take about 45-50 minutes to produce that char on top.

Taste 

With lots of Indian spices added, this yogurt-based Tikka kebab tastes like heaven. You get the spicy, robust and creamy flavor with perfect char that can’t be compared with anything in the world.

Tandoori Chicken has a juicy, smokey, and earthy flavor that comes from incredible Indian spices that you feel in succulent bites of chicken.

No matter how hard we try, it is difficult to tell the differences in the taste of these two Mughlai delicacies that Indians have treasured. If you really want to know more about these two, rush to Indian Garden - an Indian restaurant in Pleasanton and feel the pleasure in your mouth.