Tandoori Chicken Patties with Jalapeno-Mint Yoghurt Sauce

“These Indian-made chicken patties are an acceptable way to change burgers.”

Ramsha Baig

Let me take a moment to close quickly for those of you who have never heard of tandoori chicken. Tandoori is a very popular Indian dish that incorporates yoghurt slices and spices. After marinating, the meat is usually rolled up and roasted in a clay oven until lightly heated and then cooked, then served with rice and naan. That clay oven is called a tandoor, hence the name “tandoori”!

And while I love the most common presentation of tandoori chicken, I often find myself putting together all the parts of my plate at the end, making a temporary sandwich out of the bits and pieces. Why not include them all from the get-go?

What makes them so special? First, this recipe, like the first tandoori chicken, involves topping the chicken with yoghurt and spices. However, instead of large pieces, I prefer to cut (or even grind) my own first. A finer chop means more dressing area with spicy yoghurt, so every little bite is full of flavour, and all that chicken stays tender and has juice on the grill.

Second, the patties are lightly charred when they reach the grill, deepening those flavours and giving a wonderful texture on the outside. That’s the texture that makes delicious burgers so great, and these patties are no different. Not to mention, I love the contrast between the bright yellowy-orange patties and the dark brown cover.

Third, they offer you excuses for making another Homemade Garlic Naan collection. I think the only thing I like more than anything it’s a sandwich made with naan, Grilled Tandoori Chicken Patties, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions, and Jalapeno-Mint Yogurt Sauce.

And yes, we have to talk about that sauce. It has a slight kicking due to the chopped jalapeno, and it also cools slightly, like yin and yang. But more importantly, the cream makes a huge difference in the sealed texture of the sandwich. There is icing on the patties, green toppings, pillowy naan, and then a smooth sauce to combine it all.

There’s a lot going on in these sandwiches – chicken patties with juice, herbed tangy yoghurt sauce, and garlicky naan- but all together it works to turn your favourite Indian flavours into a delicious sandwich. So let’s not stop right now. I have twelve more parts of these Grilled Tandoori Chicken Patties that I have to make before I consider it.