Start by placing the cubed chicken in a bowl. Add lemon juice, tomato paste, olive oil, salt, garlic, ginger, yogurt, chili powder, 7 spice, coriander, and chili flakes. Mix everything well and let it marinate for at least 30 minutes, or even overnight if you have the time.
Once marinated, thread the chicken pieces onto skewers. If you're using wooden skewers, soak them in water for about 30 minutes to prevent burning. Aim for about 6 to 7 pieces per skewer.
Place the skewers in the air fryer and cook at 400°F for 6 to 8 minutes. Rotate the skewers and cook for another 6 to 8 minutes until both sides are golden brown.
Turn off the air fryer and leave it open to stop the cooking process.
Next, ignite a piece of coal over an open flame until it turns white all over. Place the coal in a small bowl made of foil and put it in the air fryer. Drizzle a bit of olive oil over the coal to create smoke. Seal the air fryer shut, but don't turn it on. This will infuse the skewers with a delicious smoky flavor. Leave them covered for about 10 minutes.
Finally, remove the skewers from the air fryer and serve them warm. Enjoy your flavorful BBQ-style chicken skewers!