Paneer tikka is a quintessential and much-loved Indian starter or appetizer. Thick chunks of paneer or cottage cheese along with vegetables like onions, peppers and tomatoes are marinated in a spicy tandoori masala and grilled on tawa or Air fryer for an absolutely delightful treat. This is a perfect keto recipe which is high-protein and super healthy.
What is Paneer Tikka?
Paneer is Indian cottage cheese which is made by curdling whole milk with lemon juice. It is supremely tasty and is a staple in Indian vegetarian diet. Cottage cheese cubes are marinated in a tasty tandoori marinade along with veggies and airfried or grilled on skewers till they are gorgeous brown. These are then served with garnishes and a chutney. Perfect starters!
Paneer tikka is traditionally in large tandoors or clay ovens for that heavenly char and smoky taste. But you can make the same at home by broiling in an oven or in an Airfryer. You can make it easily on stove top too. Do try it as it is a very simple recipe and really a crowd pleaser.
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Tips for Making the Softest Paneer Tikka:
Paneer is bland in taste hence the marinade needs to be spicy as well as put on paneer and the veggies for at least an hour. 2-4 hours marination would be the best.
Paneer just like meats must not be overcooked because then it goes from soft to chewy which is not nice. Make sure that you don’t broil it or Airfry it for too long.
While some people love to use tomato as well, I avoid it as it gets mushy and soggy. Use veggies like onion layers and peppers which stay crunchy along with paneer and have a similar cooking time. Trust me the veggies taste delightful.
How should you serve paneer tikka?
Paneer tikka is always served sprinkled with lemon juice and garnished with chaat masala. Also a lovely green chutney and some onion rings are perfect accompaniments.
Try my mint chutney recipe here.
How to Make Paneer Tikka Roll
Paneer tikka roll is a delicious wrap made with roti or tortilla, paneer tikka, chutney and a salad of chopped onion, green pepper and tomatoes. Take wholewheat flour roti or tortilla. Apply mint chutney on it. In the centre, put a few cooked paneer tikka pieces. Add a sliced veggie salad of onion, tomato and capsicum spiced with chaat masala, chilli powder, salt and lemon juice. Wrap the sides to form a roll. Enjoy as a hearty snack or meal.
Here’s how to make paneer tikka at home:
Step-by-step Pictures
Now add paneer, bell pepper and onion cubes to the marinade and mix well till they are well coated. Keep it marinated for about an hour. 2 hours is the best.
Airfrying instructions:
Preheat your Airfryer to 400 F or 200 C for 6 minutes.
Skewer your paneer cubes along with bell pepper and onion cubes, alternating them. Now spray or brush with oil. Place them in the Airfryer, ensuring that they are not overcrowded.
Now Airfry at 400 F for about 8 minutes. Turn once in the middle.
You can airfry for a 2 minutes more for a nice char. The paneer tikka is done when everything has a nice golden brown colour.
Oven instructions:
Preheat oven for 15 minutes at 450 F. Place tikkas in a tray that is lined with parchment paper. Cook for about 15 minutes in the oven. Then broil at 450 F for 2-3 minutes till they get a nice char. Your paneer tikka is ready to serve.
Stove-top Instructions:
Use a stove-top grill or a skillet. Oil it and cook till the paneer and veggies get a good char. It takes about 5-7 minutes. Make sure to keep turning your tikka skewers and also spray them with oil.
Recipe Tips:
Do not overcook the paneer or it will turn stringy. It must be soft and moist on the inside.
You can also cook this in the oven or on the stove stop as mentioned above.
Adjust the marinade for spice. This makes for a medium spicy paneer tikka recipe.
The Airfrying time varies as per each oven and the size of your paneer cubes so keep an eye on it when you are airfrying or baking in oven.
Easy Paneer Tikka Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup or 200 gm. paneer or cottage cheese cut into large cubes
- 1 onion cut into cubes
- 1 bell pepper cut into cubes
Marinade:
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 2 tsp. ginger garlic paste
- 1 tsp. cayenne or Kashmiri red chilli powder
- ½ tsp. pepper powder
- 1 tsp. kasuri methi or dried fenugreek
- 1 tsp. tandoori masala or garam masala
- Salt to taste
- 1 tsp. lemon juice
- 1 tsp. oil
For basting
- 2 tsp. oil
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients of the marinade together in a bowl to make a thick paste.
- Now add paneer, bell pepper and onion cubes to the marinade and mix well till they are well coated. Keep it marinated for about an hour. 2 hours is the best.
Airfrying instructions:
- Preheat your Airfryer to 400 F or 200 C for 8 minutes.
- Skewer your paneer cubes along with bell pepper and onion cubes, alternating them. Now spray or brush with oil. Place them in the Airfryer, ensuring that they are not overcrowded.
- Now Airfry at 400 F or 200 C for about 8 minutes. Turn once in the middle.
- You can airfry for a 2 minutes more for a nice char. The paneer tikka is done when everything has a nice golden brown colour.
Oven instructions:
- Preheat oven for 15 minutes at 450 F. Place tikkas in a tray that is lined with parchment paper. Cook for about 15 minutes in the oven. Then broil at 450 F for 2-3 minutes till they get a nice char. Your paneer tikka is ready to serve.
Stove-top Instructions:
- Use a stove-top grill or a skillet. Oil it and cook till the paneer and veggies get a good char. It takes about 5-7 minutes. Make sure to keep turning your tikka skewers and also spray them with oil.
Notes
You can also cook this in the oven or on the stove stop as mentioned above.
Adjust the marinade for spice. This makes for a spicy paneer tikka recipe. Airfrying time can vary depending upon the type of your oven and the size of your paneer cubes. So keep an eye on the Airfryer or oven if you are baking.
Nutrition
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Do also try out these Indian Air fryer recipes.
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Damyanti says
I do love tikka!