Paneer Tikka

Every Punjabi, I believe, has a blood relation with paneer tikka. It’s the soul of everything that a Punjabi does, be it a wedding or an escort for their one glass of Patiala peg. ;)

Being a Punjabi myself, I remember indulging paneer tikka ever since the very beginning of my childhood. Dad always ordered it from a local restaurant and then my whole family used to have it together. Now, I make this at home, dad eats all the paneer pieces, mom eats all capsicum and I eat all onion. J

Traditionally, it is made in a cemented tandoor / oven in the bottom of which are bright red burning coal that give it a distinct burnt or charred flavour. With electric ovens the task has become easier however that original taste is always missed. This is what I have tried to achieve in this recipe by charring tikkas on nude flame. This recipe is mine, inspired from many others over the years. Hope you like it. J

Ingredients: Serves 2-3

200 gram cottage cheese or paneer, cut into 1 – 1½ inch pieces

1 medium sized capsicum, cut into 1 inch pieces

1 medium sized onion cut into four pieces

For batter:

4 tablespoon gram flour or besan

1½ tablespoon corn four

 5 tablespoon yogurt

½ tablespoon oil

Paste of 6-7 slices of garlic and 1 inch ginger

Salt and red chilli powder to taste

1/8 teaspoon each of Garam masala, chaat masala, rock salt, coriander powder, turmeric, dried mango powder.

For garnish:

Lime juice and chaat masala

Recipe:

In a microwave friendly bowl, add gram flour and corn flour sieved. To this add all dry ingredients and mix well.

In another bowl add yogurt, garlic, ginger and mix well.

Add this yogurt to dry ingredient along with oil and whisk to make smooth batter.

Now add paneer onion and capsicum to this batter and gently mix so that batter covers vegetables and paneer completely. Now keep this mixture in refrigerator for 15 – 30 minutes. Take the mixture out and let it come to room temperature.

Then microwave it for 4-5 minutes at highest temperature, after which take the bowl out.

Now skewer the veggies alternatively, onion paneer capsicum, and char them above nude flame on the stove. With help of pliers, hold one end of the skewer and roast tikka on the flame from all sides.

Paneer tikka is ready, garnish them with lime juice and chaat masala.

Note:

If you don’t have skewers, try tooth picks they work the same way, however just be cautious not to burn yourself as it’s made of wood and will burn when put on fire.

You can make tikka of any other vegetable in the same way.