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Home » Tips & Tricks » How To Make Chicken Kebab Marinade Without Yogurt

Published on June 3, 2022 | Last updated on June 3, 2022 | By Harshad 2 Comments

How To Make Chicken Kebab Marinade Without Yogurt

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Is it possible to marinate chicken kebabs without yogurt?

Can you make them as delicious and flavorful without this ingredient?

If you are a beginner, you might have these questions in mind.

So, let’s get started and know everything about this topic.

chicken kebab marinade without yogurt cover image
  • Can You Marinate Chicken Without Yogurt?
  • 8 Ingredients To Make Chicken Kebab Marinade Without Yogurt
  • How To Make Chicken Kebab Marinade Without Yogurt
  • FAQs
  • Over To You

Can You Marinate Chicken Without Yogurt?

The answer is Yes, you can marinate chicken without yogurt.

There are various other ingredients that can be used for marinating chicken.

And these ingredients give the chicken a unique flavor.

So, if you don’t have yogurt at home, don’t worry.

You can use other ingredients for marinating chicken.

Now, let’s look at the different ways to marinate your chicken kebabs without yogurt.

8 Ingredients To Make Chicken Kebab Marinade Without Yogurt

Here’s a list of ingredients that you can use –

1. Vinegar

Vinegar is not a very common ingredient in Indian style of kebab preparations, but it can be used as an alternative to yogurt.

The acidic nature of vinegar helps tenderize the chicken.

So, if you are looking for a chicken kebab marinade without yogurt, you can use vinegar.

Just take some white vinegar or apple cider vinegar and add it to your chicken along with other spices.

You can also use red wine vinegar.

But you shouldn’t use too much of it as it can make the chicken too sour.

2. Buttermilk

Buttermilk is another ingredient that can be used for marinating chicken.

It is a very popular ingredient in Indian cooking.

Buttermilk is made by curdling milk with an acidic ingredient like lemon juice or vinegar.

This helps tenderize the chicken and also gives it a good flavor.

So, if you can’t find yogurt, you can use buttermilk as an alternative.

3. Lemon Juice

The classic ingredient – lemon juice can be used for marinating chicken kebabs.

Lemon juice is very acidic in nature and does a great job of tenderizing chicken.

It also gives the chicken a fresh and zesty flavor.

Other than that, it removes the odor of chicken and also keeps it moist.

So, you should definitely think of using it for this process.

Moreover, lemon juice can also be used with yogurt and other ingredients.

So, it’s a must-have ingredient for your chicken kebab marinade.

4. Coconut Milk

If you are looking for a dairy-free alternative to yogurt, you can use coconut milk.

Although it is a very popular ingredient in Indian cooking, we don’t use it as much in chicken marinades.

But it can surely be used as an alternative to yogurt.

It will give the chicken a very distinct flavor.

So, if you want to experiment with your chicken kebab recipe, you can give it a try.

Note: Coconut milk does have a sweet taste, so you might want to adjust the other spices accordingly.

5. Raw Papaya Paste

Raw Papaya paste is another underrated ingredient that can be used for marinating chicken kebabs.

This paste is commonly used for marinating mutton and other red meats.

But it can also be used for chicken.

Raw Papaya contains an enzyme called papain which helps tenderize the chicken.

So, it’s a great ingredient to use if you don’t have yogurt at home.

Don’t forget to add some spices to balance out the taste, as raw Papaya can make the chicken kebabs a little bland.

6. Pineapple Juice

Again, Pineapple juice is not a very common ingredient in Indian cooking.

But it can surely be used for marinating your chicken kebabs.

Pineapple juice contains an enzyme called bromelain, which helps tenderize meat.

The only concern here is that it can make the chicken kebabs too sweet.

So, you need to be careful with the amount that you use.

But if you want to add sweetness to your chicken kebabs, you can go ahead and use it.

7. Soda Water

This is a very interesting ingredient that can be used for marinating chicken.

Soda water or carbonated water contains carbonic acid, which helps tenderize the chicken.

It also gives the chicken a slightly different flavor.

So, if you want to experiment with it, you can give it a try.

For this purpose, you can also use cola or lemonade.

But use it in very less amounts as it can make the chicken kebabs sweet.

8. Other Fruit Juices

As I mentioned earlier, fruit juices can also be used for marinating chicken kebabs.

They are a great alternative to yogurt or buttermilk.

So, apart from Pineapple and Lemon juice, you can also use orange juice, grapefruit juice, etc.

Just make sure that the juice is fresh and not processed.

Also, processed juices are best avoided if you are marinating chicken for a long time.

How To Make Chicken Kebab Marinade Without Yogurt

Now that you know the various ingredients that can be used for marinating chicken kebabs let’s take a look at the way to use them effectively.

Just like yogurt, these ingredients can be used either alone or in combination with each other.

So, it’s up to you to choose the right combination depending on the flavors you want to achieve.

Here are a few tips that you can follow while making chicken kebab marinade without yogurt –

1. If you are using buttermilk, add some spices to it.

Buttermilk can make the chicken kebabs a little bland.

So, it’s important to balance out the flavors with some spices.

To the buttermilk, you can add garam masala, cumin powder, coriander powder, etc.

2. If you are using pineapple juice, add some acidity to it.

Pineapple juice has natural sweeteners, which can make the chicken kebabs too sweet.

So, you can make use of vinegar or lemon juice to reduce the sweetness.

3. For Raw Papaya paste, you will need to use flavoring ingredients as well as spices to make the kebabs more flavorful and tasty.

Garlic paste, ginger paste, onion paste, etc., can be used to flavor the chicken kebabs.

In case you don’t know how to marinate chicken for kebabs, check out the following steps.

Preparation Steps

1. First of all, take a look at the recipe you are using.

This will give you an idea about the ingredients you need to use.

2. Then, gather all the required ingredients and keep them ready.

3. Now, take a large bowl and add all the ingredients to it.

4. Mix everything well so that the chicken kebab marinade is evenly distributed.

5. Once the marinade is ready, add the chicken pieces to it and coat them evenly.

6. Cover the bowl with a lid or cling film and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes.

7. After 30 minutes, take the chicken out of the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature.

8. Preheat the oven or grill before cooking the chicken kebabs.

9. Now, cook the chicken kebabs according to the recipe instructions.

10. Serve hot with some dipping sauce or chutney.

These are the simple steps you need to follow while making chicken kebab marinade without yogurt.

Do use fresh and quality ingredients to get the best results.

In the following section, let’s have a look at the FAQs related to this topic.

FAQs

1. Do Kebabs Have To Be Marinated?


No, kebabs do not have to be marinated.

However, marinating your chicken kebabs before grilling them will help infuse them with flavor and keep them moist.

So, it’s an important step in this process, and you should definitely take the time to do it.

2. How Do You Keep Kebabs Moist?


There are quite a few ways to keep your kebabs moist.

First, you can marinate them in a mixture of oil and acid (like lemon juice or vinegar).

This will help keep them moist as they cook.

Another way to keep them moist is to cook them on a lower heat.

If you cook them on too high of a heat, they will dry out quickly.

So, keep an eye on them and cook them on lower heat if necessary.

You should also use butter or ghee (clarified butter) to baste them as they cook.

This will help keep them moist and flavorful.

3. What Is The Difference Between Kebab and Kabab?


It’s just a matter of spelling.

Kebab is the more common spelling in the West, while kabab is more common in the East.

4. Can You Soak Wooden Skewers Too Long?


You can soak wooden skewers for up to 24 hours.

After that, they will start to break down and won’t be as strong.

So, if you’re planning on soaking them for longer than that, you might want to use metal skewers instead.

5. What Makes A Good Kebab?


There are a few things that make a good kebab.

First, it should be well-marinated so that it’s full of flavor.

Second, it should be cooked on a lower heat so that it doesn’t dry out.

And finally, it should be basted with butter to keep it moist.

These are just a few tips to help you make the best kebabs.

Over To You

As you can see, there are quite a few options for marinating your chicken kebabs without yogurt.

So, if you don’t have yogurt at home, don’t fret over it.

You can still make delicious and flavorful chicken kebabs.

Just experiment with different combinations and find the one that you like best.

And if all else fails, you can always use store-bought kebab marinades.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below.

I would love to hear from you.

Don’t forget to share this guide with your friends and family if you find it helpful.

Happy grilling!

Filed Under: Guides, Tips & Tricks

About Harshad

Namaste!

My name is Harshad, and I am the chef, editor, and tech-support guy at SproutMonk.com.

I LOVE food, and I share my tried & tested recipes, useful tips, and guides on the blog.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dorothy Heldt says

    June 8, 2022 at 11:02 pm

    Great info. Thank you. Nice to break away from the traditional.

    Reply
    • Harshad says

      June 10, 2022 at 9:14 pm

      Hey Dorothy,

      You’re welcome! I’m glad you found the information useful.

      It’s always good to mix things up and try new things. 🙂

      Reply

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