Tandoori Mushroom Tikka

Restaurant-style Tandoori Mushroom Tikka is an easy, tasty appetizer to make at home in the air fryer, oven or grill. These Indian gilled mushrooms are full of flavor, thanks to the juicy marinated mushrooms and crunchy vegetables.

Enjoy a perfectly grilled mushroom kebab with this easy recipe to make in the air fryer, oven, or grill!

Mushrooms are a low-calorie, good source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals and a great addition to your meals.

Mushrooms are versatile ingredients and have been used in different cuisines across the globe. They can be used for cooking soups, sauces, entrees, curries, burger patties, etc.

We love them in soups such as this mushroom wild rice soup, or side dishes such as this mushroom rice and mushroom pasta. An Indian mushroom favorite is mushroom masala curry which is always a hit for dinner.

I have been sharing a lot of grilling recipes, and this Tandoori Mushroom is a perfect addition!

If you plan to grill, then I highly recommend trying some more favorite Indian bbq recipes from the blog – chicken tikka kebab, haryali paneer tikka, tandoori aloo tikka, tandoori gobi and indian chicken wings.

What is Tandoori Mushroom Tikka?

Tandoori Mushroom Tikka is an authentic Indian appetizer with mushrooms and other vegetables marinated in yogurt and spices and grilled over charcoal or in a tandoor (Indian clay oven). They are also known as mushroom kebabs as they are grilled using skewers.

The humble bland mushroom gets a makeover with this spicy marinade. Many kinds of ready-made spice blends can be used to make tandoori dishes, but I always find them too intense for my liking.

So I always make my spice blend at home with the basic ingredients, and the end product is always flavorful and delicious. This dish is a gastronomic delight – spicy, juicy, and has a bold charred flavor.

It is a welcome change from the usual paneer tikka, and samosas. It is savored with onion salad, lime wedges, and mint cilantro chutney.

Why You Will Love This Recipe?

If you love Indian appetizers and mushrooms, this recipe is for you-

• It uses simple ingredients and is easy to make
• It is gluten-free and perfect for vegetarians
• It’s a healthy appetizer/ snack and does not require a lot of oil
• It is full of flavors that any meat eater will relish too!
• Mushrooms are great for grilling.
• Kids and adults enjoy it equally.
• It can be easily made in the air-fryer, grill, stove top, or oven

Ingredients

Mushrooms: Always use fresh mushrooms. I prefer white button or cremini mushrooms for this recipe.

Vegetables: I used red and green bell peppers and red onion cubes. They add color and crunch to the mushroom tikka.

Yogurt: Plain greek yogurt produces a more flavorful marinade that coats the mushrooms and vegetables. If you don’t have Greek yogurt, thick whole-milk yogurt will suffice. Whisk the yogurt until smooth before adding the rest of the spices. You can make hung curd by hanging the yogurt in a cool place, over a bowl, for at least an hour until all of the whey has been drained.

Spices: The focal point of this dish, without a doubt, is the marinade. It improves the taste and flavor of the bland mushrooms. You only need a few spices, already available in your pantry – Kashmiri red chili powder, turmeric powder, Garam masala, coriander powder, and salt.

Gram Flour (Besan): This can be purchased at the Indian grocery store. You roast the gram flour until it is nutty and fragrant to eliminate the raw taste. This will significantly aid the spices sticking to your mushrooms and vegetables and the yogurt.

Ginger and garlic: You can also use ginger paste and garlic paste. Freshly minced or grated ginger and garlic would be wonderful too.

Lime juice: Fresh lime juice in the marinade helps tenderize and adds a tangy flavor.

Garnish:  Chaat masala, lime wedges, and onion rounds take this mushroom tikka to the next level.

How To Make Tandoori Mushroom?

Follow my recipe and make the most amazing, juicy mushroom tikka!

• Combine all ingredients for the marinade in a bowl (yogurt, ginger, garlic and spices) and mix well. Add the mushrooms, red onions, and bell peppers. Mix to coat on each side with the marinade. Let it rest in the refrigerator for anywhere between 30 minutes to 24 hours.

• When ready to cook, thread the marinated mushroom, peppers, and onions in the skewers alternating between each.

AirFryer Method:

• Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 5 minutes.
• Lightly grease the air fryer basket. Arrange the mushroom skewers in the air fryer. Lightly brush or spray with oil.
• Cook for 6-8 minutes, turning the skewers at 4 minutes for even cooking.

Oven Method:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Now using parchment paper or foil, line a baking pan. Place a rack on top. Place the skewers on the rack, lightly brush or spray with oil, and bake for about 12-15 minutes or until the mushroom is roasted.
• To obtain the char markings, turn the broiler in the oven and broil the mushroom tikka for 2-3 minutes.

Stovetop Grill Method:

• Spray a heated grill pan with some oil. Then line the skewers. Cook from all sides until they are golden.
• Spray a little oil on the mushroom skewers, then roast them on an open flame for a minute while turning to get the charred edges.

Outdoor Grill Method:

• Spray oil generously on the heated outdoor grill or line it with aluminum foil and spray with oil. This helps to prevent the mushroom from sticking to the grill. 

• Place the skewers on the grill, and cook for 6-8 minutes until the mushroom is roasted and has char marks on the edges. Make sure to turn the skewers halfway through.

Garnish & Serve:

• Squeeze some lime juice on top. If you like, sprinkle some chaat masala for extra flavor. We love to serve this tandoori mushroom tikka cilantro Chutney.

Pro-Tips

• Wash the mushrooms under running water, then scrub the top with a clean cloth to remove any remaining dirt. Before using them, pat them dry.
• The yogurt must be thick and fresh (not sour).
• Wooden skewers should be submerged in water for 30 minutes. Let them air dry. Skip this step if you are using metal skewers.
• Allow the mushrooms and vegetables to marinate for at least half an hour, but longer is better for succulent mushrooms. Keep the bowl in the fridge to prevent the curd from going sour.
• You can use whole mushrooms or slice them into half based on your preference.
• After marination, if you see that the mushrooms have oozed out water, you can sprinkle a little roasted gram flour.
• Adding a little mustard oil to the marinade boosts the taste and flavor of the mushroom tikka.
• You can also add dried fenugreek leaves to the marinade. It adds a delicious aroma to the dish and is also known as Kasoori methi in Hindi.

Serving Suggestions

This mushroom tikka is a super hit dish for a summer bar-be-que. Your guest will simply love it!

Serve with mint cilantro chutney and Indian Onion Salad (Laccha Pyaaz) for the best Indian mushroom appetizer!

Furthermore, served with naan, salad, and chutney, this can easily be transformed into a full meal.

You can stuff it in a tortilla or lettuce and make a fabulous wrap!

Serve this grilled mushroom skewer with a hearty soup, and you have a filling meal.

You can also serve it as a side dish with this vegetable biryani or chicken biryani.

Variations

• No skewers: Don’t fret. Simply place the marinated mushroom and veggies directly in the air fryer basket to make mushroom tikka bites. 
• More veggies: You can use other vegetables like baby corn, zucchini, and even fruits like pineapple. Interesting twist!
• Achari Mushroom: You can make Achari mushroom by marinating it in a spicy, tangy blend. The Achari spice blend usually includes spices like – fennel seeds, Nigella seeds, cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, red chili powder, and Amchoor powder (mango powder). ‘Achaari’ is derived from the Hindi word ‘Achaar,’ which means pickle. As a result, ‘Achaari’ will literally mean something pickled.’
• Make it vegan: To adapt this recipe for vegans, you can use a plant-based yogurt for marination.
• Cheesy? You can make stuffed tandoori mushrooms by stuffing them with a cheesy and then proceeding with the marination.

Hope you enjoy this easy Tandoori Mushroom Tikka. Do share how it turns out!

More Indian Recipes

• Onion Bhaji
• Chili chicken
• Bombay Potatoes
• Tandoori paneer naan pizza