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Tawa Paneer Recipe (Street Style)
4.8 from 202 votes

Tawa Paneer Recipe (Street Style)

Tawa Paneer is a flavorful street-style Indian dish made by sautéing paneer cubes with onions, capsicum, and a blend of aromatic spices including ajwain and pav bhaji masala. The technique includes creating a smooth tomato puree and incorporating a ginger-garlic paste, which together build layers of taste. The butter used in cooking helps meld the spices and vegetables into a richly spiced, savory coating on the paneer. A hint of fenugreek leaves and fresh coriander garnish complete this hearty preparation.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 3
Calories: 328 kcal
Course: Side Dish, Main Course
Cuisine: Indian

Ingredients

  • 200 to 250 grams paneer (cottage cheese)
  • 1 onion large, finely chopped - 100 to 120 grams
  • 1 capsicum medium-sized - 80 to 100 grams green bell pepper
  • 3 tomato medium-sized, chopped - 180 to 200 grams
  • 4 to 5 garlic small to medium-sized, cloves
  • 1 inch ginger
  • ½ teaspoon green chili or 1 green chili, chopped
  • ½ teaspoon carom seeds (ajwain)
  • 1 teaspoon coriander powder (ground coriander)
  • ¼ teaspoon kashmiri red chilli powder or paprika or cayenne pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder (ground turmeric)
  • 1 teaspoon pav bhaji masala or swap with ½ teaspoon garam masala + ½ teaspoon dry mango powder (amchur powder)
  • 2 tablespoons butter - salted or unsalted
  • ½ teaspoon fenugreek leaf kasuri methi, dry; crushed
  • salt as required
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons Coriander leaves for garnish, chopped
  • 2 to 3 lemon to serve with, wedges

Instructions

Preparation
    Cup of Yum
  1. Finely chop the onions and capsicum or green bell pepper.
  2. Roughly chop the tomatoes, green chili, ginger and garlic.
  3. Crush the ginger and garlic in a mortar-pestle to a paste.
  4. Add the chopped tomatoes in a blender and make a smooth puree. Set aside.
  5. Chop the paneer in small cubes.
Making tawa paneer
  1. Melt butter on a tawa or frying pan or skillet.
  2. Add the carom seeds and fry them for a few seconds or till aromatic.
  3. Add the onions and saute stirring often till they soften and turn translucent.
  4. Add the ginger-garlic paste, green chilies, finely chopped capsicum/green bell pepper and saute for about 3 minutes on a low to medium-low heat.
  5. Then add the red chili powder, turmeric powder, coriander powder and pav bhaji masala. If you don't have pav bhaji masala, then swap it with garam masala powder + dry mango powder.
  6. Stir and saute for about a minute.
  7. Then add the tomato puree and salt as needed.
  8. Stir well and saute till you see butter releasing from the sides and the masala has thickened a bit. This takes about 8 to 10 minutes on a low heat.
  9. If the tomato masala looks dry, then add 1 or 2 tablespoons of water and continue to saute.
  10. Add the paneer cubes and mix gently so that the masala coats the paneer cubes evenly. Switch off the heat.
  11. Then add the crushed dry fenugreek leaves and mix gently.
  12. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve paneer tawa masala with roti, naan, paratha or bread. Accompany with a few wedges of lemon slices which can be drizzled on the tawa paneer and a side onion salad.

Notes

  • Use soft homemade paneer for best texture and flavor.
  • Adjust ground spices carefully when scaling the recipe to maintain the right balance.
  • Avoid overly sour or unripe tomatoes to prevent excessive acidity.
  • If unavailable, fenugreek leaves can be omitted without greatly impacting the dish.
  • Carom seeds (ajwain) can be substituted with cumin seeds if needed.

Nutrition Information

Calories 328kcal (16%) Carbohydrates 16g (5%) Protein 12g (24%) Fat 25g (38%) Saturated Fat 15g (75%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g (6%) Monounsaturated Fat 2g (10%) Trans Fat 1g (50%) Cholesterol 64mg (21%) Sodium 424mg (18%) Potassium 483mg (10%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 7g (14%) Vitamin A 2564IU (51%) Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 1mg Vitamin B6 1mg Vitamin B12 1µg (42%) Vitamin C 78mg (87%) Vitamin D 1µg (5%) Vitamin E 2mg Vitamin K 14µg Calcium 358mg (36%) Vitamin B9 (Folate) 46µg Iron 1mg (6%) Magnesium 26mg (7%) Phosphorus 63mg Zinc 1mg

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 3 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 328

% Daily Value*

Calories 328kcal 16%
Carbohydrates 16g 5%
Protein 12g 24%
Fat 25g 38%
Saturated Fat 15g 75%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 2g 10%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 64mg 21%
Sodium 424mg 18%
Potassium 483mg 10%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 7g 14%
Vitamin A 2564IU 51%
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine) 1mg
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 1mg
Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 1mg
Vitamin B6 1mg
Vitamin B12 1µg 42%
Vitamin C 78mg 87%
Vitamin D 1µg 5%
Vitamin E 2mg
Vitamin K 14µg
Calcium 358mg 36%
Vitamin B9 (Folate) 46µg
Iron 1mg 6%
Magnesium 26mg 7%
Phosphorus 63mg
Zinc 1mg

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.