Paneer Tikka & Paneer Tikka Masala

Paneer Tikka is an Indian dish made from chunks of Paneer marinated in spices and grilled in a tandoori. It is a popular dish that is widely available in Indian Restaurants. Chunks of Paneer, are marinated in spices and are then arranged on a stick with capsicums, and tomatoes. These sticks are grilled in a tandoor and the dish is thereafter served hot, seasoned with lemon juice and chaat masala. When Paneer Tikka is served with gravy, it is called Paneer Tikka masala.  I made it at home and it came out very well.   It can be made in the oven, on the stove top or in a Tandoor. Here I cooked it in the Electric Skillet.

Ingredients

 Paneer cubes      -                                  2 cups

Green Bell Pepper/Capsicum                      1 no

Tomato                                                 1 no

(Cut Paneer and Veggies into 1” square pieces)

Butter                                                  1tsp

Ajwain                                                   1/4tsp.

Satay bamboo sticks                               few

For the Marinade

Ginger pastes                                        1 tbsp.

Mustard paste                                       ½ tsp.   

Thick Yogurt                                         1/4 cup

Kashmiri Red chili powder                      1 tsp.

Gram masala                                       1 tsp.

Turmeric Powder                                  1/4tsp.

Lemon juice                                       2tsp.

Besan                                                1 tsp.

Corn flour                                          1tbsp.

Oil                                                     1tbsp

 Sugar                                                ½ tsp.

Salt                                                    to taste.         

For Garnish

Coriander leaves

Lemon Juice

Chat masala                                     3 pinches

For Garnish

Method For the Tikkas

• Heat the butter in a pan, put Ajwain, besan flour. Roast it till you get nutty flavor. Mix it with corn flour. Add little water and Blend it well.  Keep aside.
• Take a bowl, add besan mixture, curd, red chili powder, gram masala, sugar, mustard paste  and salt.
• Heat one teaspoon of oil, add turmeric powder in it.  Add it to above mixture. Blend whole thing very well.
• Mix Paneer cubes, capsicum cubes and tomato cubes into the marinade mixture.  Mix it very well. And leave it  in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Soak the satay sticks in the cold water for ½ an hour.
• Arrange the marinated vegetables and Paneer on a skewer. Grill it in a tawa/skillet, until slightly golden brown.
• Sprinkle with chaat masala, coriander leaves and lemon juice over the Paneer Tikka and serve as appetizer  .

Method for the Paneer Tikka Masala:

Ingredients For Tikka Masala

Marinade Paneer and vegetables

Tomato puree                                       1 1/2 cup

Butter                                                  1 Tsp.

Ginger Paste                                         1 Tsp.

Tandoori masala                                    1 Tsp.

Bay leaves                                            2 nos

Salt                                                      To taste

Sugar                                                   1 Tsp.

Cream (optional)                                   2 Tbsp.

Freshly crushed cardamoms & cloves      1 tbsp.

Coriander leaves for garnishing

Method for Masala

• Heat the oil in skillet on a medium heat. Put marinated Paneer in it, and gently stir-fry for about five minutes until Paneer becomes light brown.   Take out the Paneer and keep aside.
• Heat the butter in a same skillet. Add bay leaves and ginger paste and sauté for a minute.
• Add the marinated capsicum and tomatoes pieces and sauté for few minutes.
• Now add the tomato puree, tandoori masala, cream (optional), crushed cardamoms, salt ,and sugar ,and cook until oil separated (medium slow flame).
• Add the stir-fry Paneer in the tomato gravy and let it cook for 5 minutes on low medium heat.
• Garnish with cilantro and serve hot with Pulao, Naan, Pulkas