Iffa chicken is all over the internet lately, and it’s for all the right reasons! Creamy, spicy, charred, and with the most delicious sauce ever, this Dubai chicken is what you need to try ASAP!
Every once in a while, a recipe like this Iffa chicken goes viral, and you can’t help but wonder, is it actually as good as everyone says? And I can tell you, after making it multiple times now, this one genuinely lives up to the hype. It’s a Dubai-style grilled chicken with the most delicious creamy white sauce that I guarantee you haven’t tried before. The chicken itself is super flavourful from a simple yogurt-spice marinade, but it’s the sauce that makes this dish what it is.
If you’ve tried & loved my appetiser recipes like chicken tikka or air fryer chicken wings before, then this iffa chicken recipe needs to be next on your list. The whole recipe takes about 25 minutes and uses ingredients you’ll most likely already have at home. And the result looks and tastes like you spent way longer on it than you actually did, which, let’s be honest, is always a win.
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Ingredients for Iffa Chicken
- Chicken Thighs: Boneless thighs work best here; they stay juicy and tender even with the high-heat grilling.
- Marinade: Whisked curds, ginger garlic paste, Kashmiri chilli powder, coriander powder, turmeric, pepper, meat masala, mustard oil, lemon juice, and salt.
- White Sauce: Boiled egg whites, a cheese slice, garlic, milk, lemon juice, a pinch of sugar, and salt; blended into a smooth, creamy sauce.
- Oil: Any neutral-flavoured cooking oil, such as sunflower, for grilling the chicken.
Richa’s Top Tips
- Hammer the chicken thighs before marinating. This evens out the thickness so the chicken cooks uniformly and doesn’t dry out in thinner spots while thicker parts are still raw.
- Use mustard oil in the marinade. It adds a subtle pungency that really lifts the flavour of the chicken. Don’t skip it, it makes a noticeable difference.
- Don’t over-blend the white sauce. You want it smooth but not airy. A quick 30-second blitz is all it takes, just enough to bring everything together into a creamy, pourable consistency.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken while it’s still hot. The heat from the chicken gently warms the sauce and helps it cling to the surface instead of sliding off.
Frequently Asked Questions
Iffa chicken is a Dubai-style grilled chicken dish that went viral on social media. It’s spiced, marinated chicken thighs served with a unique white sauce made from boiled egg whites, cheese, garlic, and milk.
You can, but thighs are recommended. Breast tends to dry out quickly on high heat, while thighs stay juicy and tender throughout. If you do use breast, reduce the grilling time slightly so it doesn’t overcook.
Absolutely. Air fry the marinated chicken at 200°C for about 12–15 minutes, flipping halfway through. It comes out just as good, slightly crispier on the outside, actually.
It’s mild, creamy, and slightly tangy. The egg whites and cheese give it body, the garlic adds flavour, and the lemon juice and sugar balance everything out. It doesn’t taste eggy at all, that’s usually the first thing people are surprised by.
Storage Tips
- In the fridge: Store the grilled chicken and white sauce separately in airtight containers for up to 2 days. Keeping them separate prevents the sauce from breaking down and the chicken from getting soggy.
- Freezing: The marinated or grilled chicken freezes well for up to two weeks. The white sauce, however, is best made fresh as the texture can change once thawed.
- Reheating tip: Warm the chicken on a hot pan or in the air fryer for a few minutes to bring back that char. Microwave the sauce separately for just 15–20 seconds; you want it warm, not hot, or it can split. Pour it over the chicken right before serving.
Serving Ideas
Iffa chicken is an appetiser at heart, but it’s versatile enough to be served in a bunch of different ways depending on the occasion:
- As a starter spread: Serve it alongside air fryer chicken tikka and hariyali paneer tikka for a proper tikka platter that covers all the bases when you have guests over.
- With garlic naan or garlic cheese kulcha: Tear off a piece, scoop up some of that white sauce with the chicken, and you’ve got the most satisfying snack.
- Turn it into a meal: Slice the chicken, drizzle the sauce over some chilli garlic fried rice or egg fried rice, and you’ve got a quick weeknight dinner sorted.
- With a fresh side: An Asian slaw on the side adds crunch and freshness that cuts through the richness of the sauce really well.
I don’t say this about every viral recipe, but this one has earned its spot in my kitchen. Give it a try and let me know if it earns a spot in yours. Tag me on Instagram @my_foodstory when you do!
Watch Iffa Chicken Recipe Video
Iffa Chicken | Dubai Chicken
Ingredients
For marination
- 500 grams chicken thighs
- ¼ cup curds whisked
- 1 ¼ teaspoons ginger garlic paste
- 2 ½ teaspoons kashmiri chilli powder
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 ¼ teaspoons coriander powder
- ½ teaspoon pepper powder
- 1 ¼ teaspoons shan meat masala
- 1 teaspoon mustard oil
- 1 ¼ teaspoons lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
White sauce
- 2 boiled egg whites
- 1 cheese slice
- 4 garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/16 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon sugar
- 2 teaspoons oil
Other
- 1 ½ tablespoons sunflower or any neutral-flavoured cooking oil
Instructions
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Hammer chicken thighs on both sides and marinate with all the ingredients listed and let marinate for 30 minutes at least.500 grams chicken thighs, ¼ cup curds, 1 ¼ teaspoons ginger garlic paste, 2 ½ teaspoons kashmiri chilli powder, ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder, 1 ¼ teaspoons coriander powder, ½ teaspoon pepper powder, 1 ¼ teaspoons shan meat masala, 1 teaspoon mustard oil, 1 ¼ teaspoons lemon juice, ¼ teaspoon salt
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To make the white sauce, blend all the ingredients listed to a smooth paste and set aside.2 boiled egg whites, 1 cheese slice, 4 garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons milk, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, 1/16 teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon sugar, 2 teaspoons oil
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Add oil to a pan and grill chicken for 7-8 minutes on each side till it gets roasted well.1 ½ tablespoons sunflower or any neutral-flavoured cooking oil
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Pour the white sauce on top of the grilled chicken thighs and serve hot.
Video
Nutrition
This article was researched and written by Harita Odedra.
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