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Home / Courses / Main Dish / Grilled Masala and Lemongrass Chicken

Grilled Masala and Lemongrass Chicken

By: 👩‍🦳 Linda · Published: 🖨 June 26, 2012 · Updated: 💻July 26, 2019 · 🗨 25 Comments

Recipe ▼

This flavorful Grilled Masala and Lemongrass Chicken uses boneless skinless chicken thighs for a shorter cooking time. Lowfat yogurt helps keep them moist.

This flavorful Grilled Masala and Lemongrass Chicken uses boneless skinless chicken thighs for a shorter cooking time. Lowfat yogurt helps keep them moist. | RotiNRice.com

With a little planning, you can do all your cooking on the grill and avoid heating up the kitchen during the hottest months. Refreshing side dishes like fruits and salads, which require no cooking, make great accompaniments to those delicious grilled meat and vegetables.

Grilled foods need not be fat and greasy. Make them healthy with leaner cuts of meat. Instead of traditional barbecue sauce every time, use dry rubs and spices to create exciting new flavors. Low-fat yogurt works really well as a binder—it helps keep the meat juicy and moist with the advantage of an added layer of flavor.

Grilling Chicken

Chicken is one of my favorite meats for the grill, and one of my favorite cuts is boneless, skinless chicken thighs. The meat is moist and flavorful, and it cooks relatively quickly. I like to enhance flavor with a myriad of marinades. Boneless, skinless thighs are also widely available, and one of the best buys in the meat case.

One of the challenges of grilling chicken – or any meat for that matter – is the tendency for it to burn and dry out. Boneless chicken without its protective skin is especially susceptible to this problem. Heat control is crucial. It should be high enough to cook the meat through, but not so high as to char the meat. A medium-low heat under a cover works best. This allows the meat to cook evenly without drying out.

This flavorful Grilled Masala and Lemongrass Chicken uses boneless skinless chicken thighs for a shorter cooking time. Lowfat yogurt helps keep them moist. | RotiNRice.com

Grilled Masala and Lemongrass Chicken

Today’s Grilled Masala and Lemongrass Chicken recipe is a simple yet flavorful one. I marinated the thighs with a combination of store-bought garam masala, lemongrass, onion, and low-fat yogurt. I was really pleased with the outcome – the meat was very tasty and moist, fragrant with garam masala and lemongrass. This recipe is definitely a keeper; the family thoroughly enjoyed it.

Garam Masala and Lemongrass

Garam masala, which means “hot mixture” in Hindi, is a blend of ground spices, mainly coriander, cumin, fennel, cardamom, peppercorn, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and bay leaves. The combination differs region by region, family by family, and person by person. Garam masala is best made fresh with whole toasted spices and ground together. Garam masala mixtures are widely available at most grocery stores, as well.

Lemongrass, on the other hand, is an herb from the tropics, best known in Southeast Asia. It has a lemony flavor and aroma that combines well with garam masala. Always use fresh (or fresh-frozen) lemongrass, and only use the white parts. Fresh lemongrass can be trimmed and kept frozen for months. I do not recommend using dried lemongrass—it is tough and usually devoid of both flavor and aroma.

Similar Tools Used in Making These Grilled Masala and Lemongrass Chicken

This post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy here.

Char-Griller 5050 Duo Gas-and-Charcoal Grill
Flexible Heatproof Stainless Steel Pastry Brush, Pack of 2
Silicone Basting | BBQ | Pastry | Oil Brush | Set of 2

This flavorful Grilled Masala and Lemongrass Chicken uses boneless skinless chicken thighs for a shorter cooking time. Lowfat yogurt helps keep them moist. | RotiNRice.com
5 from 2 votes

Grilled Masala and Lemongrass Chicken

This flavorful Grilled Masala and Lemongrass Chicken uses boneless skinless chicken thighs for a shorter cooking time. Lowfat yogurt helps keep them moist.
Author : Linda Ooi
Course : Main Dish
Cuisine : Fusion
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 21 mins
Total Time 31 mins
Servings : 5
Calories : 270kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 10 pcs (2 lbs/900g) skinless boneless chicken thighs
  • 1 tsp salt
  • Vegetable oil for grilling

Spice Paste

  • 1 lemongrass (white part only)
  • 1 onion
  • 1 tbsp garam masala
  • 2 tbsp plain low-fat yogurt (30ml)

Instructions
 

  • Grind lemongrass and onion in a blender or food processor. Add a little water if necessary.
  • Pour into a bowl. Add garam masala and yogurt. Mix well.
    Grilled Masala and Lemongrass Chicken-4
  • Sprinkle salt over the chicken thighs in a large bowl. Add spice paste. Stir to get chicken thighs well coated with spice paste. Allow chicken to marinade in the refrigerator for at least an hour.
    Grilled Masala and Lemongrass Chicken-5
  • Pre-heat an outdoor grill to medium heat, about 250°F to 300°F (120°C to 150°C). Brush the hot grates of the grill with a little oil.
  • Arrange the chicken pieces on the preheated grill. Brush the tops of chicken pieces with oil. Allow it to cook for about 16 minutes, turning once mid-way.
  • Increase heat slightly to brown meat, turning whenever necessary. This will take another 5 minutes.
    Grilled Masala and Lemongrass Chicken-6
  • Remove and serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 270kcal
Tried this recipe?Mention @RotiNRice or tag #RotiNRice

Serving Suggestions

To keep the meal light and fresh, I served this Grilled Masala and Lemongrass Chicken with a cold Cucumber and Tomato Raita, a side dish dressed with yogurt, cumin, mustard seeds, and mint leaves. It was a nice counterpoint to the grilled chicken. Other side dishes like steamed corn-on-the cob or a toss vegetable salad will also be delicious. For dessert, we had homemade Cantaloupe and Mango Sorbet.

This flavorful Grilled Masala and Lemongrass Chicken uses boneless skinless chicken thighs for a shorter cooking time. Lowfat yogurt helps keep them moist. | RotiNRice.com

Enjoy…..and have a wonderful day! 😎


1.8K shares

Categories: 🗂 Main Dish, Poultry, Southeast Asian Tags: 📋 lemongrass

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Comments

  1. Haruna says

    June 26, 2012 at 3:20 pm

    5 stars
    This looks so tasty and good. Well done on making it to Light & Fresh!

    Reply
    • Biren says

      June 27, 2012 at 2:28 pm

      Thank you! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Reem | Simply Reem says

    June 26, 2012 at 3:44 pm

    5 stars
    Yum!!!
    I love how flavorful this is.. Totally bookmarking this recipe..
    This really look very delicious…

    Reply
    • Biren says

      June 27, 2012 at 2:29 pm

      I hope you give it a try soon. We really enjoyed it.

      Reply
  3. Raymund says

    June 27, 2012 at 1:42 am

    That think looks like it packs a lot of flavour

    Reply
    • Biren says

      June 27, 2012 at 2:30 pm

      Thanks Raymund! It was quite delicious! The family has requested for it again. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Blackswan says

    June 27, 2012 at 3:54 am

    I love the scent from Lemongrass & your clever use of herbs! I’m inhaling it from here. Hahaha! This is just superb for entertaining.

    Reply
    • Biren says

      June 27, 2012 at 2:31 pm

      I much prefer boneless, skinless chicken for entertaining. Less mess. 🙂

      Reply
  5. denise @ singapore shiok says

    June 27, 2012 at 6:19 am

    Oh my! That looks so tantalising…. I can imagine the smoky note from the grill marks and the wonderful fresh citrus notes from the lemongrass. Divine!!

    Reply
    • Biren says

      June 27, 2012 at 2:33 pm

      You are so right about the smoky and citrus notes. Hubby did a great job grilling these. Actually made them twice. 😀

      Reply
  6. Mari says

    June 27, 2012 at 6:53 am

    This looks absolutely delicious! The mixture of garam masala and lemon grass….ummm the chicken has to me as exquisite as it looks.

    Reply
    • Biren says

      June 27, 2012 at 2:34 pm

      Thanks Mari! The family thoroughly enjoyed it. Will have to make more soon.

      Reply
  7. Ramona says

    June 27, 2012 at 7:38 am

    Love the use of lemongrass here! The chicken looks gorgeous!!

    Reply
    • Biren says

      June 27, 2012 at 2:34 pm

      Thanks Ramona!

      Reply
  8. Angie@Angie's Recipes says

    June 27, 2012 at 7:44 am

    The chicken must be very flavourful!

    Reply
    • Biren says

      June 27, 2012 at 2:35 pm

      Thanks Angie!

      Reply
  9. kitchenriffs says

    June 27, 2012 at 10:20 am

    Nice recipe. I do a tandoori-style chicken the same way – mix yogurt with spices, marinate the chicken, then grill. Good tips here, great post – thanks.

    Reply
    • Biren says

      June 27, 2012 at 2:35 pm

      I have not made tandoori in a while. Got to look into that soon.

      Reply
  10. mjskit says

    June 27, 2012 at 10:01 pm

    I agree – it’s so easy to overcook meat on a grill, especially chicken. I think the general rule is that boneless, skinless chicken is done a lot sooner than you think it is! 😉 Your chicken looks perfect and I love the preparation and seasoning. I’ve never used yogurt but it does look like it yields a perfect grill meat!

    Reply
  11. Kitchen Belleicious says

    June 28, 2012 at 9:06 pm

    everyone is using lemongrass these days. I need to jump on the bandwagon. I love working and cooking with it and this chicken looks perfect with the masala and lemongrass! well done my friend

    Reply
  12. Kari@Loaves n Dishes says

    April 27, 2013 at 7:16 am

    Biren, I just discovered your blog! The flavors that you use are not ones I normally cook with, but I love them and I am looking to broaden my culinary vocabulary! I look forward to reading many more of your posts!
    This chicken in particular looks so tasty and juicy, just perfect!

    Reply
    • Biren says

      April 27, 2013 at 6:54 pm

      Thanks for visiting, Kari! Good to have you here. Please visit again soon. 🙂

      Reply
  13. Shelly says

    September 4, 2019 at 11:30 pm

    Hi Linda, thbajs for sharing such a wonderful recipe. Is it possible to cook this chicken in the oven?

    Reply
    • Linda says

      September 9, 2019 at 10:52 am

      I can’t tell you the exact timing as I have not tried it but it can certainly be cooked in the oven.

      Reply
  14. Elizabeth says

    June 11, 2022 at 7:54 pm

    Looks amazing. Could you recommend a substitute for the onion, due to allergies? Thanks!

    Reply

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My grace is sufficient for thee…
2 Corinthians 12:9

Hi, I’m Linda! I make quick, easy meals, and spin on classics and old favorites with focus on Malaysian, Chinese, and American cuisines. Read more →

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