Balochi Tikka ❤️ Karachi Food Street Recipe

Balochi Tikka is a famous dish from Balochistan, known for its smoky and spicy flavors. It is especially popular at Karachi's food streets, where it's cooked over charcoal for that signature aroma. Here’s how you can make it at home!

### **Ingredients**:
- 1 kg mutton (preferably bone-in)
- ½ cup yogurt
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
- 1 tsp salt (adjust to taste)
- 1 tbsp red chili powder
- 1 tsp black pepper powder
- 1 tsp cumin powder
- 1 tsp coriander powder
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 2 tbsp mustard oil (or regular oil)
- 2 tbsp raw papaya paste (for tenderizing)
- Charcoal for smoking

### **Instructions**:

1. **Marinate the Meat**:
- In a bowl, mix yogurt, lemon juice, ginger-garlic paste, salt, red chili powder, black pepper, cumin, coriander, turmeric, garam masala, mustard oil, and papaya paste.
- Add the mutton pieces and coat them well with the marinade.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least **4-6 hours** (overnight for best results).

2. **Prepare for Cooking**:
- Heat a grill, tandoor, or BBQ setup with charcoal.
- If using a pan, brush it with oil and heat it on medium flame.

3. **Grilling the Tikka**:
- Thread the marinated mutton onto skewers.
- Grill over charcoal, turning occasionally, until tender and slightly charred (takes around 25-30 minutes).
- If using a pan, cook on medium heat, flipping until the meat is golden brown and cooked through.

4. **Charcoal Smoking for Authentic Flavor**:
- Heat a small piece of charcoal until red hot.
- Place it in a small bowl in the middle of the meat, drizzle a few drops of oil on it, and cover for **5 minutes** to infuse the smoky aroma.

5. **Serving**:
- Serve hot with **naan, paratha, or chapati**.
- Garnish with onion rings, lemon wedges, and fresh coriander.
- Enjoy with mint raita and spicy chutney!

🔥 **Tip**: For extra juiciness, baste the tikka with butter while grilling!

Would you like a Karachi-style chutney recipe to go with it? 😋