Paneer tikka is a delicious vegetarian alternative to its non-vegetarian counterpart – chicken tikka! It is soft, juicy, and smoky, truly irresistible! If you are looking for a quick, simple and easy paneer recipe, then you ought to try this paneer tikka, a scrumptious Indian cheese dish. I love paneer and happily enjoy having it whenever we dine out! Besides, I often cook with paneer on days when we just have veg. I love how paneer draws in flavors of anything you add to it so one can add so many different and exciting flavors! And this tandoori paneer tikka is amongst the easiest paneer recipes you will ever try!
HOW TO MAKE PANEER TIKKA IN THE OVEN AT HOME?
Paneer tikka is really simple to prepare at home even if you don’t own a tandoor, which I’m sure, not many do. To make paneer tikka at home, you have to marinate paneer with hung curd, oil, and spices. A little roasted gram flour (besan) is added to help the tandoori tikka marinade coat the paneer well. Leave it to marinate for a while. Then grill it in the oven until it is cooked and slightly charred which gives that wonderful smoky flavor. Adding veggies is totally optional, but they add a wonderful dimension to the creamy and grilled paneer. I love to use bell peppers and onions, the roasted and sweet flavors complement the grilled paneer very well.
HOW TO MAKE PANEER TIKKA AT HOME WITHOUT THE OVEN?
You can make paneer tikka on the stovetop by simple placing the paneer tikka skewers on a greased tawa/skillet. If your tawa is not seasoned well enough, the paneer may stick. A good non-stick skillet would work better in that case for a stovetop version of paneer tikka. Now, that we discussed ways of making paneer tikka at home, here are some more basics questions that you probably have, let’s discuss those.
WHAT IS PANEER?
Paneer is Indian cottage cheese, made of 2 ingredients. Milk and an acidic agent such as vinegar, lemon juice. Sometimes, cream is added to make paneer creamier.
HOW TO USE SKEWERS IN THE OVEN OR STOVETOP?
If you are using metal skewers, you don’t have to do anything. Thread paneer and veggies alternately onto the skewers and grill as such. But if you use wooden skewers, remember to soak them in water for 30 minutes. Or else they will burn, especially if you use it in the oven.
IS PANEER TIKKA HEALTHY?
Paneer on its own is low in carb and high in protein. It is a good source of proteins for vegetarians. The ingredients that go into making paneer tikka are pretty healthy as well, plus not a lot of oil is used to grill the tikkas. So, I would say paneer tikka is healthy enough, and you can enjoy it without second thoughts, especially if you are making it at home, including the paneer. I can’t vouch much for the store bought paneer because they do contain preservatives, but once in a way, it is ok, no? Paneer tikka is best served hot as soon as it’s grilled. If left to sit it turns hard and rubbery, it may not reheat well too. So try and avoid leftovers!
I prepared a total of 4 grilled paneer skewers, 4 big cubes of paneer along with onions and bell pepper cubes on each. We enjoyed 2 skewers as an appetizer & I used the remaining 2 to make a sequel to this dish – Paneer tikka masala, which I shall share soon enough in a couple of weeks. For a non-vegetarian version, simply replace paneer with chicken, except the grilling times will vary. For now, let’s see how to make this easy paneer tikka!
IF YOU ENJOYED THIS TANDOORI PANEER TIKKA, YOU MAY ALSO LIKE THESE VEGETARIAN INDIAN APPETIZERS
Dahi ke kabab Corn and paneer kabab
YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY THESE INDIAN PANEER DISHES
Matar Paneer Paneer Makhani Paneer Nazakat Shahi Paneer Paneer Kali Mirch
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE TANDOORI PANEER TIKKA
1.In a large mixing bowl, add in the hung curd. Whisk well to make it very smooth and lump free.
2.Next add in Kashmiri chilli powder, garam masala, coriander powder, cumin powder, dry roasted and crushed kasoori methi, tandoori masala, ginger garlic paste, 1/2 tsp chaat masala, mustard oil, lemon juice, roasted gram flour and salt to taste. Whisk well to form a smooth marinade.
3.Add in the paneer and veggies and mix well to coat it gently with the marinade. Cover with a cling wrap and let it marinate for about an hour.
4.If using wooden skewers, place them in water for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, remove the paneer marinade and let it come to room temperature. Also, preheat the oven to 450 F. Skewer the paneer and the veggies alternately. Baste with little oil Oven method: Transfer the skewers on to a tray, big enough that the skewers are not touching the base of the tray. Or you may also use a rack placed over the baking tray, doing this helps in even circulation of heat under the food. Bake the tikkas for about 15 minutes or until evenly browned on all sides, turning sides once, basting with more oil as required. Stovetop method: Heat oil in a tawa or a griddle, add the prepared skewers, let it get a nice sear for about 2 minutes on medium heat, then flip and cook on all sides, till it is nicely grilled and charred from all sides.
5.Remove from the oven/griddle, and sprinkle chaat masala. Serve with some onion rings/sliced onions, lemon wedges, and coriander mint chutney.
HOW TO MAKE PANEER TIKKA?
PIN IT FOR LATER
I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to share your feedback with photos and suggestions to me at [email protected] You can also follow me on : Facebook @ Aromaticessence Pinterest @ Aromatic Essence Instagram @ aromatic_essence77 Twitter @ freda_dias Regards, Freda
