Mock Chicken Tikka: Veg or Non-Veg? Recipe and Ingredients Of Virat Kohli's Recent Favourite Dish

Virat Kohli is extremely conscious about what he eats and the kind of impact it will have on not just his fitness and well-being but also on his fitness and well-being but also on the earth. As he has already claimed in several interviews earlier, the ace cricketer is semi-vegan which means he is a complete vegetarian and also follows certain aspects of veganism.

However, he was not always a major fan of plant-based eating- in the initial days of his career he did indulge in a non-vegetarian diet that changed due to his commitment to his game and fitness. At times, it might so happen that he misses his favourite non-vegetarian dishes, so what does he do then?

Virat recently took to Instagram to share an image of a wiped-out plate and wrote “You’ve really nailed this mock chicken tikka.” But what is a mock chicken tikka? It is like any other chicken tikka dish excluding the chicken bit which is replaced by mock chicken that is made out of certain plant-based items such as jackfruit, soy protein or tofu.

Let’s check out a good mock chicken tikka recipe-

Ingredients:-

• Firm tofu or jackfruit pressed and cubed
• 1 cup dairy-free yoghurt (coconut or almond yoghurt works if you are completely vegan)
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil/ olive oil
• 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste
• 1 tablespoon garam masala
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon chilli powder (adjust according to your spice preference)
• Cloves
• Salt to taste
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Fresh cilantro
• Tomatoes
• Coconut Milk
• Skewers for grilling

Method:-

1. Press the tofu or jackfruit to remove excess water, then cut your preferred choice of mock meat into bite-sized cubes.
2. Then, in a bowl, combine the dairy-free yoghurt, vegetable oil or olive oil, ginger-garlic paste, garam masala, ground cumin, ground coriander, turmeric, smoked paprika, chilli powder, salt, and lemon juice. Mix these ingredients well to form a smooth marinade.
3. Next, go ahead and add the tofu or jackfruit cubes to the marinade, and ensure that each piece is well-coated.
4. Cover the bowl and let the pieces of mock meat marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours, or even overnight for better flavour absorption.
5. After you are done marinating the mock meat, preheat your grill or oven to medium-high heat. Once the oven is ready thread the marinated tofu or jackfruit cubes onto skewers.
6. If you are using a grill, cook the skewers for about 10-15 minutes, turning occasionally until the mock meat gets a nice char. If using an oven, preheat to 400°F (200°C) and bake the skewers for 20-25 minutes, turning halfway through.
7. Once done, in a large pan, heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil or olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onions and cook until translucent.
8. Add minced garlic and grated ginger to the pan. Sauté for an additional 2 minutes until fragrant.
9. Add ground cumin, ground coriander, turmeric, garam masala, paprika, and chilli powder to the pan. Stir well to combine.
10. Pour in the crushed tomatoes and coconut milk. Stir in salt to taste. If desired, add tomato paste for added richness.
11. Allow the sauce to simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
12. Add the mock chicken to the sauce, allowing it to simmer for an additional 10 minutes.
13. Once it is well cooked add some cilantro for an extra kick of flavour and serve with rice or naan

So, when are you planning to whip this amazing dish up at home?