Paneer tikka recipe to check in 2023
Are you a fan of Indian cuisine and looking for a new recipe to try? Look no further than Paneer Tikka! This classic dish is a favorite among vegetarians and meat-eaters alike, and is sure to be a hit at any dinner party or family gathering.
Paneer Tikka is a popular North Indian dish made from marinated paneer cubes, grilled to perfection on skewers. It is a delicious and healthy alternative to traditional meat-based dishes and is packed with flavor and protein. This dish has been a staple in Indian cuisine for decades and continues to be a favorite amongst food lovers all around the world.
If you’re looking for a new recipe to try in 2023, why not make Paneer Tikka? Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make this mouth-watering dish at home, and impress your friends and family with your culinary skills.
What is paneer tikka?
Paneer Tikka is one of the most beloved vegetarian dishes, especially in South Asia. It’s simple to prepare and has a wonderful combination of spices that result in an incredibly flavorful dish. The term “Tikka” refers to anything marinated and subsequently cooked, either grilled or fried. In this dish, cubes of paneer (Indian cheese) are marinated for a few hours in a mixture of yogurt and Indian spices. This allows all the flavors and aromas from the spices to fully infuse into the paneer, resulting in an intensely flavorful dish that is just bursting with taste.
The great thing about Paneer Tikka is how quickly it can be made on the grill, giving it a smokiness while creating a slightly crisp texture around each cube that complements its creamy center. To accompany Paneer Tikka, you can easily make the popular curry based dish of Paneer Tikka Masala using the marinade as your sauce base! Enjoying some naan bread with your Paneer Tikka will really highlight all its unique flavors!
What is tandoori style cooking?
Tandoori style cooking is a popular form of cooking found in many Indian restaurants. This method involves marinating ingredients, such as paneer cubes, in a spiced yogurt-based marinade and then threading them on skewers before being cooked in a tandoor. The tandoor is a traditional cylindrical clay oven that gives the food a slightly charred flavor due to its high heat intensity. For those who don’t have access to a tandoor, it’s possible to recreate this dish at home by grilling the paneer cubes in an oven or even baking them.
In order to make delicious tikka recipes with this style of cooking, it’s important to prepare the optimal marinade by mixing together ingredients like yogurt, garlic, ginger and various spices like garam masala and cumin powder. Once this has been done properly and allowed to sit for several hours or overnight if preferred, the paneer cubes are added along with any other desired vegetables. Finally, the food can be cooked either by grilling or baking until lightly charred and fragrant from the spices used – resulting in tandoori style goodness that can be enjoyed time and time again!
Ingredients you need
Paneer is a type of Indian cottage cheese that is essential when making traditional Indian dishes. Homemade paneer is the optimal choice for this recipe, as it avoids any hidden ingredients or preservatives often found in store-bought options. Additionally, homemade paneer ensures freshness and consistency throughout the dish. To add flavor to the dish, a marinade is used that contains hung curd, or hung yogurt. Hung curd offers a sour taste while still being creamy and thick. Alternatively, Greek yogurt can also be used as a marinade base. Ground spices are thrown in to balance out the sour taste of both options and provide an additional flavor kick to this delicious dish. Together, these ingredients will give you that rich, creamy delight you are looking for!
How to make paneer tikka – restaurant style?
Preparing the vegetables for a delicious Paneer Tikka is quite simple and can be done in a few easy steps. Begin by peeling, rinsing, and cutting one medium-sized onion into square-shaped 1 to 1.5-inch pieces. After that, rinse and slice one small to medium sized capsicum (green bell pepper) similarly. To ensure a good serving size, measure out half a cup of both the onions and capsicum together before setting them aside for later use.
The next step involves preparing the marinade for the paneer which will give it its signature flavour. Depending on which style of tikka you are making, various ingredients like garlic- ginger paste, tomato puree, turmeric powder, garam masala powder or freshly ground coriander seeds can be added to make your own custom marinade. Prepping time can also be saved by using store bought ready-made marinades available at your local stores or online websites as well. However this may not provide you with the same level of flavour as making it from scratch will.
To begin, you will need to cube the paneer into one-inch cubes and add it to the marinade. Make sure each piece is evenly coated before setting aside for thirty minutes or more. This will ensure that the flavours of the marinade penetrate through the paneer cubes, resulting in a perfectly flavoured tikka!
When ready to cook, start by preheating the oven to 200 degrees Celsius or 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, take a baking tray and line it with parchment paper. Thread the marinated paneer cubes, onion pieces, and capsicum pieces onto metal skewers – two pieces of each per skewer. Place these skewers onto the prepared baking tray and bake for 15-20 minutes in the preheated oven until lightly charred and fragrant.
To finish, brush the tikkas with some melted butter or oil and sprinkle with a pinch of chaat masala before serving. Serve them hot alongside cilantro chutney, onion slices, and lemon wedges for an unforgettable meal that will have your guests asking for seconds!