Indian tandoori appetizers are very popular for their unbeatable flavors and taste. We make grilled tandoori dishes with meat, paneer and even with vegetables. Mushroom tikka is one of them and is made much the same way as paneer tikka. In India, tandoori tikkas are mostly made with a main ingredient combined with bell peppers and onions. Both of these enhance the flavors when grilled. I made it the same way as served in restaurants. If you do not want to use them you may simply replace bell peppers & onions with the same amount of mushrooms. Traditional tikkas are always grilled in tandoor /clay oven. Since we don’t own it, these mushroom tikkas can be grilled in electric oven, stovetop griddle, barbeque/ charcoal grill or even in air fryer.

Preparation

  1. To make the marinade gather all the spices. Please adjust the spice level to your taste. Here are the ingredients I used: 2 teaspoons kashmiri red chilli powder (1 teaspoon for moderate heat)¾ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)1½ teaspoons coriander powder1 teaspoon chaat masala1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste (I used ½ teaspoon each powder)½ teaspoon garam masala ½ teaspoon roasted cumin powder1½ to 2 tablespoons kasuri methi (crush it well in your palms)¼ teaspoon turmeric½ teaspoon black pepper1 small lemon (use only if needed)
  2. For this recipe we need half cup hung curd / strained yogurt or greek yogurt. I didn’t have it so I added 1½ cups homemade yogurt to a muslin cloth/ cheese cloth. Squeezed off the whey, made a knot and hung it for 30 mins. I got about half cup hung curd. Add it to a mixing bowl.
  3. Add all the above mentioned spice powders to the yogurt and mix together. Taste test and add more salt if needed. The consistency of the marinade should be thick otherwise it won’t bind to the tikkas. If it turns runny, then you may add some roasted besan or sattu. If the marinade is not sour, then squeeze in some lemon juice. I used only half of a small lemon.
  4. Then add 1 small onion diced (75 grams) (layers separated)bell peppers diced (150 grams)250 grams mushrooms
  5. Mix all of them well.
  6. Add 1½ tablespoon oil. I forgot to add it to the marinade so added it here. Mustard oil gives a nice flavor. If you don’t have use any other oil of your choice. Mix well.

Making tandoori mushroom tikka

  1. If using oven – Preheat your oven to 200 C or 400 F for at least 15 to 20 mins.To grill on stovetop use a non-stick griddle/ tawa.If your Air fryer needs preheating, preheat it to 200 C or 400 F or as per your manual.
  2. Rinse skewers under running water. Thread the veggies starting with onions, bell peppers & mushrooms. Prepare a baking tray/ pan that is at least 1½ inches deep so your tikkas don’t stick to the pan. Place the skewers on the tray.
  3. Set the leftover marinade aside. It will be used for brushing while grilling.
  4. For mushroom tikka in the oven – Place the tray in the oven & grill for 10 mins.For air fryer tandoori mushrooms – Air fry them for 8 mins at 200 C or 400 F.To grill on stovetop, pour 1 tablespoon oil to a non stick griddle & heat it. Place the skewers and grill them on a high heat turning around until done.
  5. Oven method – After 10 mins, brush them on top lightly with the marinade. Then turn the skewers to the other side & brush if needed. Grill them again for 6 to 7 minutes. For air fryer tandoori mushroom tikka – After 8 mins, brush them on top lightly with the marinade. Turn the skewers to the other side. Air fry again for another 5 mins. Adjust the timing as needed depending on the size of mushrooms.
  6. When done perfectly, the veggies will wilt and the marinade dries a bit. Lastly brush them with some softened butter or mustard oil.
  7. To char them slightly, broil for 2 mins in oven. For air fryer tandoori mushroom tikka, air fry for another 1 to 2 mins. If making on griddle, place a grill rack on the stovetop and place the skewers over direct fire. When they are grilled perfectly, you will begin to smell the grilled mushrooms and onions so good. Remove them at this stage and serve immediately. More mushroom recipes,Hot garlic mushroomsKadai mushroomMushroom masala

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