Paneer Tikka Recipe (Tandoori Paneer Starter Snack)
User Reviews
4.8
168 reviews
Excellent
Paneer Tikka Recipe (Tandoori Paneer Starter Snack)
Report
Paneer Tikka is a marinated Indian appetizer featuring paneer cubes and diced vegetables like onions and bell peppers, flavored with yogurt and a blend of spices including Kashmiri red chili, turmeric, cumin, coriander, and garam masala. The marinated pieces are threaded onto skewers and grilled or baked at high heat to form a slightly charred, tender, and flavorful dish. Mustard oil and lemon juice in the marinade add tang and depth, while optional black salt and chaat masala enhance the overall taste.
Description
This Paneer Tikka recipe starts with cutting paneer into cubes and dicing accompanying vegetables such as onions and capsicum. The marinade combines hung curd (thick yogurt) with a mix of aromatic spices—Kashmiri red chili powder for mild heat and color, turmeric, cumin, coriander, garam masala, carom seeds, dry mango powder, and chaat masala—balanced with ginger garlic paste, lemon juice, mustard oil, salt, and optionally black salt and black pepper.
After coating the paneer and veggies thoroughly, the mix is refrigerated for at least two hours or overnight to allow flavors to penetrate. The marinated pieces are skewered alternately and grilled at high temperature or broiled in the oven until edges are slightly charred but the paneer remains soft and succulent. Brushing oil during cooking prevents dryness.
The resulting Paneer Tikka can be served as a starter or snack and pairs well with chutneys or fresh salads. Variations include adding different vegetables or substituting vegan alternatives like tofu with plant-based yogurt. Avoid overcooking to keep paneer tender rather than rubbery.
Share:
Ingredients
main ingredients
- 200 to 250 grams paneer or Indian cottage cheese
- ½ cup onion or 1 medium sized onion, diced
- ½ capsicum or 1 small to medium bell pepper - green, yellow or red, diced
for paneer tikka marination
- 200 grams hung curd or greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon ginger garlic paste or 1 tablespoon crushed ginger-garlic
- 2 teaspoons Kashmiri red chili powder or 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
- ½ teaspoon turmeric powder (ground turmeric)
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder (ground cumin)
- 1 teaspoon coriander powder (ground coriander)
- ½ teaspoon garam masala
- 1 teaspoon ajwain (carom seeds)
- 1 teaspoon dry mango powder (amchur powder)
- 1 teaspoon chaat masala
- ½ teaspoon black pepper optional (ground black pepper, powder
- 1.5 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon mustard oil or any neutral tasting oil
- ½ teaspoon black salt - optional
- salt as required
- mustard oil for brushing, some
Instructions
Preparation
- Chop the paneer in square shaped cubes.
- Dice the onions and capsicum in 1 or 1.5 inches square pieces.
Making Marination
- In a large bowl, take the hung curd (greek yogurt) and whisk it lightly till it becomes smooth
- Add ginger-garlic paste, all the spice powders, carom seeds, black salt, regular salt, lemon juice and mustard oil.
- Mix very well. Check the taste and add more seasonings if required.
- Add the veggies and paneer to the marinade. Slowly and gently mix them with the marinade.
- Cover the bowl and marinate for at least 2 hours or more in the refrigerator.
- After 2 hours thread the paneer and veggies alternately on bamboo skewers. Soak or rinse the bamboo skewers before threading.
Grilling Paneer Tikka
- Preheat the oven for 15 to 20 minutes at 230 or 240 degree celsius or 464 degrees Fahrenheit. Use only the top heating element.
- Line a baking tray with aluminium foil or parchment paper. Arrange the paneer skewers on the tray. Brush some oil on the veggies and paneer cubes all over.
- Place the tray on the top rack. Grill the paneer tikka first for 7 to 10 minutes at 230 or 240 degree celsius or or 464 degrees Fahrenheit. Then remove and turn the skewers.
- Place back on the top rack in the oven and continue to grill for 3 to 5 minutes more till the edges of the paneer are golden or slightly charred. Do not grill for a long time as then paneer cubes becomes hard.
- Since temperatures vary from oven to oven do keep a check. You can reduce or increase the time as required. Total grilling time will be 15 to 20 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and then place the paneer cubes on a serving plate. Sprinkle some chaat masala and lemon juice.
- Serve paneer tikka with mint chutney and onion rings with lemon wedges
Notes
- Marinate paneer and vegetables for at least 2 hours, or overnight for deeper flavor infusion.
- Use a variety of vegetables like bell peppers, onions, tomatoes, baby corn, or mushrooms for added texture.
- Brush the paneer and veggies with oil before and during grilling to prevent drying out.
- Use the barbecue grill or oven broiler at high heat for best charred flavor without overcooking.
- Avoid overcooking to keep the paneer soft and tender rather than rubbery.
- Extra marinade can be added as a sauce or base if making paneer tikka masala gravy.
- For vegan options, substitute paneer with tofu or seitan and use plant-based yogurt.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Calories
316kcal
(16%)
Carbohydrates
11g
(4%)
Protein
17g
(34%)
Fat
22g
(34%)
Saturated Fat
11g
(55%)
Trans Fat
1g
(50%)
Cholesterol
47mg
(16%)
Sodium
470mg
(20%)
Potassium
193mg
(4%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Vitamin A
271IU
(5%)
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)
1mg
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)
1mg
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)
1mg
Vitamin B6
1mg
Vitamin B12
1µg
(42%)
Vitamin C
19mg
(21%)
Vitamin E
1mg
Vitamin K
3µg
Calcium
406mg
(41%)
Vitamin B9 (Folate)
12µg
Iron
13mg
(72%)
Magnesium
14mg
(4%)
Phosphorus
102mg
Zinc
1mg
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 3Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 316 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 316kcal | 16% |
| Carbohydrates | 11g | 4% |
| Protein | 17g | 34% |
| Fat | 22g | 34% |
| Saturated Fat | 11g | 55% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 47mg | 16% |
| Sodium | 470mg | 20% |
| Potassium | 193mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 271IU | 5% |
| Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) | 1mg | |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | 1mg | |
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) | 1mg | |
| Vitamin B6 | 1mg | |
| Vitamin B12 | 1µg | 42% |
| Vitamin C | 19mg | 21% |
| Vitamin E | 1mg | |
| Vitamin K | 3µg | |
| Calcium | 406mg | 41% |
| Vitamin B9 (Folate) | 12µg | |
| Iron | 13mg | 72% |
| Magnesium | 14mg | 4% |
| Phosphorus | 102mg | |
| Zinc | 1mg |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.8
168 reviews
Excellent
Other Recipes
You'll Also Love
