Paneer Tikka

Paneer tikka is a north Indian recipe where paneer cubes are marinated in spices and grilled in tandoori oven. Paneer is as such a yummy food, some more when you dress it with other spices never the less to say it tastes heaven.  I tried two versions stove top skillet and microwave grill. A Grilled version in an oven was tastier than the stove top. It’s a creative colourful cooking so engage your children while assembling vegetables and paneer in the skewers. My daughter helped me in the kitchen why because it's her favourite food..hmm.

Paneer health benefits:

Rich in protein which helps to burn more fat so it’s a diet food. Good source of calcium so women and children take note.

Paneer tikka

Cuisine: Indian/North

Category: Starter/Side dish

Serves: 4

Preparation time: 1hr

Cook time: 15-20min

Ingredients to cut into equal sized cubes:

200 gms Paneer

1 small Capsicum

1 large Onion

1 Tomato(deseeded)

Ingredients for marination sauce:

½ cup hung curd/thick yogurt

1 tsp Kasuri methi leaves

½ tsp turmeric

1 tsp garam masala

1 tsp pepper powder

1 tsp ginger garlic paste

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 tbsp red chilli powder

1 tsp oil

Salt as needed

Other ingredients:

Skewers soaked in water for at least 30 mins

To make Paneer tikka in oven:

1. Preheat oven to 250° C for 10 minutes with the bottom and top heat option switched on.

2. Meanwhile, mix all the ingredients given for marination sauce thoroughly.

3. Add the chopped vegetables and paneer to the marination sauce and set aside in the refrigerator for at least 1 hr.

4. Take out the marinated vegetables and paneer. Insert them in the skewers as desired.Brush the veggies and paneer slightly with oil which is completely optional.

5. I placed the skewers on a grill tray. Before that slightly coat the tray with oil. If you have metal skewers for your oven you can use it.

6. Bake for 15minutes. If you want the tikka to look barbecued cook for extra 5minutes or else 15 minutes is enough.

7. Enjoy hot with a lemon squeezed on top.

To make Paneer tikka in Tawa:

1.Heat the Tawa over a medium flame. Place the vegetables and paneer with or without skewers.Quickly keep turning the sides of veggies and paneer or else it might get burnt.

 You can add a little oil. When they are nicely browned flip over to a plate.

 Note:

When using Tawa be mindful on turning the sides quickly.

For a thick curd/hung curd place curd in a muslin cloth for an hour.

If skewers are not soaked in water they get burnt in the oven.

Make sure you have enough marination coated around each piece to enjoy the complete flavour and taste.

My oven has 250°c as maximum.If yours has only 200 or 230 its fine go ahead with the high temp or grill option.