How to Make Tawa Chicken – A Spicy and Succulent Dish from Pakistan

Hello, Good News! Welcome to another article where we share with you some delicious recipes from around the world. Today, we are going to learn how to make tawa chicken, a spicy and succulent dish from Pakistan that is perfect for any occasion.

Tawa chicken is a popular street food that is made on large tawas, which are flat or concave-shaped pans made of cast iron. The chicken pieces are marinated and seasoned with common spices and cooked on high heat on the tawa, giving them a charred and flavorful taste. Tawa chicken can be served as a starter, a main course, or a snack, depending on your preference. It goes well with naan bread, roti, rice, or salad.

What is Tawa Chicken?

Tawa chicken is a dish that originated in Lahore, Pakistan, and is also known as Lahori tawa chicken. It is said that the dish was invented by Arif Chatkhara House, a famous eatery in Lahore that specializes in tawa dishes. The owner of the restaurant, Arif Hussain, came up with the idea of cooking chicken on a large tawa that was originally used for making rotis. He marinated the chicken in a thick paste of gram flour, lemon juice, ginger, garlic, turmeric, coriander, fennel seeds, cumin seeds, and salt. He then cooked the chicken on the tawa with some oil, butter, onion, tomato, green chili, ginger, and more spices. The result was a mouthwatering dish that became an instant hit among the customers.

Tawa chicken is different from other chicken dishes because of its unique cooking method and flavor. The tawa gives the chicken a crispy and smoky texture, while the spices add a rich and aromatic taste. The dish is also very easy to make and can be prepared in just minutes. You can use any cut of chicken you like, such as breast, thigh, leg, or boneless pieces. You can also adjust the spice level according to your taste buds.

Ingredients for Tawa Chicken

To make tawa chicken, you will need the following ingredients:

• 500 grams of chicken pieces
• 4 tablespoons of gram flour
• 1 ½ tablespoons of lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon of ginger paste
• 1 tablespoon of garlic paste
• ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder
• 1 teaspoon of coriander powder
• ½ teaspoon of fennel seeds
• ½ teaspoon of cumin seeds
• Salt to taste
• 2 tablespoons of mustard oil or any cooking oil you prefer
• 1 small onion, halved and sliced lengthwise
• 1 medium tomato, halved and sliced lengthwise
• 2 inch ginger, julienned
• 3-4 Thai green chilies, slit lengthwise
• 2 tablespoons of ketchup (optional)
• 2 tablespoons of butter
• Lemon wedges for serving
• Fresh coriander leaves for garnishing

Steps for Making Tawa Chicken

To make tawa chicken, follow these simple steps:

1. Using a sharp knife, cut the chicken pieces into strips. Add them to a bowl and add the garlic paste, salt and lemon juice. Let them sit for 10 minutes.
2. In a small skillet over low heat, dry roast all the spices listed for 4-5 minutes until fragrant. Transfer them to a small bowl and let them cool slightly. Then grind them into a fine powder using a spice grinder or mortar and pestle.
3. Add the gram flour and half of the spice powder to the chicken bowl and mix well to coat the chicken pieces. Let them marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight in the refrigerator.
4. Heat a large cast iron tawa or skillet over high heat and add the oil. Once hot, add the onion and tomato slices and sauté for 5 minutes until soft and slightly charred.
5. Add the ginger and green chilies and sauté for another 2 minutes.
6. Add the ketchup if using and mix well.
7. Add the chicken pieces along with any excess marinade and spread them evenly on the tawa. Sprinkle the remaining spice powder and salt over them.
8. Cook for 15-20 minutes on high heat, turning occasionally until the chicken is cooked through and slightly charred on all sides.
9. Add the butter and toss to coat the chicken pieces.
10. Squeeze some lemon juice over the chicken and garnish with coriander leaves.
11. Serve hot with naan bread, roti, rice, or salad.

Benefits of Tawa Chicken

Tawa chicken is not only a delicious dish, but also a nutritious one. Here are some of the benefits of tawa chicken:

• Chicken is a lean source of protein that helps build and repair muscles, bones, skin, and other tissues. It also contains essential amino acids that are required for various bodily functions.
• Chicken is rich in iron, which helps prevent anemia and boosts the production of red blood cells. It also contains zinc, which supports the immune system and wound healing.
• Chicken is a good source of niacin, which helps maintain healthy skin, nerves, and digestion. It also contains vitamin B6, which helps regulate the metabolism and nervous system.
• Gram flour is a gluten-free flour that is made from ground chickpeas. It is high in fiber, which helps lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels. It also contains protein, iron, folate, magnesium, and phosphorus.
• Ginger and garlic are both powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents that help fight infections and diseases. They also aid in digestion and relieve nausea and pain.
• Lemon juice is a natural source of vitamin C, which helps boost the immune system and prevent scurvy. It also helps detoxify the body and enhance the absorption of iron.
• Spices such as turmeric, coriander, fennel, and cumin have various health benefits as well. Turmeric has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. Coriander helps lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Fennel helps improve digestion and reduce bloating. Cumin helps stimulate the appetite and prevent gas.

Tawa Chicken Nutrition Facts

One serving of tawa chicken (about 150 grams) has approximately 260 calories, 40 grams of fat, 38 grams of protein, and 1 gram of carbohydrates. Here is a detailed breakdown of the nutrition facts for tawa chicken:

Nutrient	Amount	% Daily Value
Calories	260	13%
Fat	40 g	70%
Saturated Fat	— g	–%
Polyunsaturated Fat	— g	–%
Monounsaturated Fat	— g	–%
Trans Fat	— g	–%
Cholesterol	300 mg	100%
Sodium	2205 mg	95%
Potassium	— mg	–%
Carbohydrates	1 g	<1%
Fiber	0 g	0%
Sugars	— g	–%
Protein	38 gFAQ What is tawa chicken? Tawa chicken is a spicy and succulent dish from Pakistan that is made on a large tawa, which is a flat or concave-shaped pan made of cast iron. The chicken pieces are marinated and seasoned with common spices and cooked on high heat on the tawa, giving them a charred and flavorful taste. How to make tawa chicken? To make tawa chicken, you need to marinate the chicken pieces in a thick paste of gram flour, lemon juice, ginger, garlic, turmeric, coriander, fennel seeds, cumin seeds, and salt. Then, you need to cook the chicken on a hot tawa with some oil, butter, onion, tomato, green chili, ginger, and more spices. You can also add some ketchup for a tangy touch. What to serve with tawa chicken? Tawa chicken can be served as a starter, a main course, or a snack, depending on your preference. It goes well with naan bread, roti, rice, or salad. You can also squeeze some lemon juice over the chicken and garnish with coriander leaves for extra freshness. How to store and reheat tawa chicken? You can store the leftover tawa chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat it, you can either microwave it for a few minutes or heat it on a tawa over medium-low heat until warm. Can I use bone-in chicken for tawa chicken? Yes, you can use bone-in chicken for tawa chicken if you prefer. However, you may need to adjust the cooking time and temperature accordingly. Bone-in chicken may take longer to cook and may require lower heat to prevent burning. Can I use other meats for tawa chicken? Yes, you can use other meats for tawa chicken if you like. You can try lamb, beef, or mutton for a different flavor and texture. You can also use fish or shrimp for a seafood version. Just make sure to cut the meat into bite-sized pieces and marinate them well. Can I make tawa chicken in advance? Yes, you can make tawa chicken in advance if you want to save some time. You can marinate the chicken pieces and store them in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. When you are ready to cook them, just take them out and fry them on the tawa as instructed. Can I make tawa chicken without a tawa? If you don’t have a tawa, you can still make tawa chicken using a large skillet or frying pan. However, make sure that the pan is heavy-bottomed and has enough surface area to cook the chicken pieces evenly without overcrowding them. How to make tawa chicken less spicy? If you find tawa chicken too spicy for your taste buds, you can reduce the amount of chili powder and green chilies in the recipe. You can also add some cream or yogurt to the dish to balance out the heat. Alternatively, you can serve some raita or mint chutney on the side to cool down your mouth. How to make tawa chicken more spicy? If you like your tawa chicken more spicy, you can increase the amount of chili powder and green chilies in the recipe. You can also add some red chili flakes or chopped fresh red chilies for extra heat. Be careful not to overdo it though, as you don’t want to overpower the other flavors of the dish. Conclusion Tawa chicken is a delicious dish that you can easily make at home with simple ingredients and a hot tawa. It is a great way to enjoy the flavors of Pakistani street food without leaving your kitchen. You can serve it with your favorite bread or rice or salad for a satisfying meal. You can also customize it according to your taste preferences by adjusting the spice level and adding other ingredients. We hope you enjoyed this article on how to make tawa chicken. If you did, please share it with your friends and family who might also love this dish. Also, don’t forget to check out our other articles on various recipes from around the world. Thank you for reading and happy cooking!