Chicken Koftas

1. Assemble your culinary arsenal: Gather all the ingredients to ensure a seamless cooking experience.

2. Craft the Flavor Base: In a food processor, combine the onion, cilantro, mint, garlic, ginger, and jalapeño. Pulse until the mixture is very finely chopped, approximately 10 quick pulses. (Estimated time: 5 minutes)

3. Refine the Mixture: Transfer the herbed mixture to a clean kitchen towel. Squeeze out as much liquid as possible, extracting the vibrant essence while preventing soggy koftas. (Estimated time: 3 minutes)

4. Blend the Flavors: In a large bowl, gently combine the squeezed onion mixture, ground chicken, breadcrumbs, olive oil, egg, garlic powder, salt, cumin, coriander, and black pepper. Mix until thoroughly incorporated, being careful not to overwork the meat. (Estimated time: 5 minutes)

5. Shape the Koftas: With moistened, gloved hands, shape the chicken mixture into 12 cylindrical koftas, each about 3x1-1/2 inches. Place them neatly on a baking sheet. If grilling, shape the mixture around skewers for an elegant presentation. (Estimated time: 10 minutes)

6. Choose Your Cooking Method:

- To Broil: Preheat the oven's broiler and position a rack about 7 inches from the heat source. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and coat generously with cooking spray. Arrange the koftas in a single layer, ensuring they are about 2 inches apart. Lightly spray the tops with cooking spray. Broil, flipping the koftas halfway through, until they are beautifully browned and an internal thermometer registers 165°F (74°C), approximately 8 minutes.

- To Grill: Preheat your grill to medium heat, around 350-400°F (175-200°C). Place the skewered koftas on the oiled grates, and grill, covered, flipping every 2 minutes, until they are delightfully charred and reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C), about 8 minutes. For an alternative, heat a large oiled grill pan over medium-high heat for about 2 minutes. Add the koftas to the pan and grill, uncovered, flipping every 2 minutes, until charred and cooked through, about 10 minutes.

- To Air-fry: Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (193°C) for 2 minutes. Spray the koftas with cooking spray. Working in batches if necessary, place the koftas in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook, flipping after 4 minutes, until they are browned to perfection and an internal thermometer shows 165°F (74°C), approximately 8 minutes.