Eid BBQ classic · Coal grilled
Tikka Boti Recipe (Spicy Beef or Mutton Boti)
Papaya for tenderness. Spicy red marinade. Small cubes.
Recipe by Farwa ZeeshanTested in the NineFoods home kitchenTikka boti is the red, spicy BBQ cubes of beef or mutton grilled on every Eid al-Adha rooftop. It turns tough and chewy when the cubes are large and untenderised. The fix is small cubes, raw papaya paste, an overnight marinade and fierce coal heat.
The 3 laws of tikka boti
Why this recipe works
Large chunks
Cook through while tender.
None
Tender meat.
Low heat
Charred outside, juicy inside.
Shopping and prep list
Ingredients
Marinade
The NineFoods boti gauge
Is it tender?
Bite a cube.
Method · 2 stages
Step by step
Marinate
- Rub papaya on meat, then marinade; rest overnight.
Grill
- Skewer and grill on coals, turning and basting. Use the gauge above.
Chef's troubleshooter
What went wrong? Pick the symptom
Why
No papaya or big cubes.
Fix next time
Use papaya and small cubes.
Why
Overgrilled.
Fix next time
Grill briefly.
Why
Weak chilli.
Fix next time
Add Kashmiri chilli.
Why
Short marinade.
Fix next time
Overnight.
Swap smart
Ingredient roles and substitutes
| Ingredient | Job in the dish | Swap with |
|---|---|---|
| Beef or mutton | Main | Chicken thighs |
| Papaya | Tenderiser | Meat tenderiser |
| Kashmiri chilli | Colour | Paprika |
| Coal | Smoke | Oven grill plus dhungar |
After the meal
Serve, store, reheat
Serve with
Naan, chutney and onions.
Store
Freeze marinated 2 months.
Reheat
Hot pan.
How we tested this recipe
Tested in a home kitchen, not a studio
Recipe developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan, who cooks and tests every NineFoods recipe on a regular home stove.
- Cooked from start to finish with the exact quantities above for 4 servings, using both the metric and US cup measures.
- Every one of the 2 stages was timed at the stove; heat levels and the 'look for' cues are what we saw in the pan.
- The doneness check (is it tender) and the troubleshooter come from batches that went wrong, and how we fixed them.
- Reheating and storage advice was checked on leftovers, not guessed.
Keep cooking
Related recipes and guides
Quick answers
Tikka Boti FAQ
What is tikka boti?
Spicy BBQ cubes of beef or mutton.
How do I make it tender?
Small cubes, papaya and an overnight marinade.
Can I use chicken?
Yes, reduce the marinating time.
Oven method?
Under a hot grill for about 15 minutes.