Restaurant-Style Paneer Tikka - Sanjana.Feasts - Paneer Recipes (2024)

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One of my most favourite meals in the world is the iconic North Indian dish, Restaurant-Style Paneer Tikka.

When this street food gem is served alongside lemon wedges, salad and mint and coriander chutney, nothing else comes close.

Restaurant-Style Paneer Tikka - Sanjana.Feasts - Paneer Recipes (1)

The beauty of simple ingredients, very few spices and fiery cooking method ensures this dish is world famous for its leopard-spotted char and smoky flavours.

How to make amazing paneer tikka at home

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I’ve been working on this recipe for the ultimate Restaurant-Style Tandoori Paneer Tikka made without a tandoor or barbecue for SO long.

You’ll notice my dreams of installing a big, badass tandoor in my garden still haven’t come to fruition.

Don’t worry though, I’ve found a great workaround.

It’s a recipe that gives you restaurant or street-style flavours at home with minimal effort.

Spoiler: there’s no grill or oven involved either.

What is paneer tikka?

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Juicy chunks of paneer marinated in a punchy hot and sour tandoori masala are skewered up with onion petals and pieces of pepper.

The loaded skewers are then grilled on a wire rack directly over the cooker to infuse deep, smoky flavours into the paneer and veg.

The ghee and oil combo in the marinade ensures the outside becomes freckled with the familiar scorch marks you’d expect from a restaurant or street-style tandoori dish.

How to serve Restaurant-Style Paneer Tikka

Serve it up with a pool of coriander and mint chutney, fresh salad leaves and lemon wedges. You can also toss in raw red onion slices and serve with butter naan or garlic naan for a true Punjabi-style feast.

Restaurant-Style Paneer Tikka - Sanjana.Feasts - Paneer Recipes (4)

A few tips before you make Restaurant-Style Paneer Tikka

1. Marinate!

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Marinate the paneer, peppers and onions for a minimum of 30 minutes to give the ingredients time to get acquainted.

If you have time, you can pop the paneer and veg in the tandoori marinade the night before. Be sure to keep it covered in the fridge.

2. Soak the paneer

Restaurant-Style Paneer Tikka - Sanjana.Feasts - Paneer Recipes (6)

Being your resident paneer fangirl, you’ll know I’m always going on about soaking shop-bought paneer for a fresh, homemade texture and taste.

You can find out how I do this in the recipe below.

The basic idea is to rehydrate the paneer in boiling water to soften it up and give a brilliant-white colour that’s just like homemade.

If you want to make your own paneer at home, you can find my recipe here: Homemade Paneer.

3. Crack a window open

Open all the windows in your house for good ventilation. The cooking process will create smoke which will need to escape.

If you have an extractor fan, switch it on. It will make your house smell like a restaurant kitchen. Glorious!

4. Consider these alternative cooking options

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If you don’t fancy cooking this over a flame, you can also place the skewers on a wire rack and cook them in an oven.

Make sure it’s very hot.

Traditional tandoors average 400°C heat so it needs to be hot! You can also place these on a griddle pan or on the barbecue.

5. Choose the right kind of skewers

I used flat metal skewers (be careful when turning as the handles can get really hot) but you can also use bamboo skewers.

Be sure to soak them in cold water for an hour before you use them.

This will stop them burning during the cooking process.

6. Kashmiri chilli powder is your friend

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Most restaurants and street vendors add red food colour to their marinade for the iconic and eye-popping crimson colour.

I’m no food snob and am not opposed to food colours in cooking but I just don’t find it necessary in this dish.

Kashmiri chilli powder will give you a gorgeous natural red colour with very little heat.

If you can’t get hold of it, use equal parts smoky paprika and regular chilli powder in its place.

I often use tomato paste for colour and tang which isn’t traditional but works a treat.

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Can I veganise this Restaurant-Style Paneer Tikka?

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If you’re looking for a vegan tandoori option, check out my Tandoori Tofu Tikka recipe.

The marinade for that recipe packs a huge punch to really infuse the tofu with plenty of flavour.

If you prefer a milder tikka, you can easily veganize this recipe.

Switch the paneer for tofu, tempeh or seitan, use all oil instead of ghee and sub in coconut yoghurt in both the tikka marinade and chutney recipes.

Yield: 4 servings

Tandoori Paneer Tikka (Restaurant Style)

Restaurant-Style Paneer Tikka - Sanjana.Feasts - Paneer Recipes (11)

Learn how to make the most delicious Tandoori Paneer Tikka, just like your favourite Indian restaurant! Pieces of paneer (cottage cheese), peppers and onions are first marinated in yoghurt and spices, and then skewered and grilled to smoky perfection. Serve with naan and mint yoghurt. Here's an easy to follow recipe and video.

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

For the paneer tikka

  • 500g paneer
  • 2 large red onions
  • 2 peppers (bell pepper/capsicum)
  • 150g thick plain yoghurt
  • 2 tbsp roasted gram flour
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tsp minced ginger
  • 2 tbsp Kashmiri chilli powder
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp ground fennel seeds
  • 2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 6 green cardamom pods, seeds finely ground
  • 2 tsp kasoori methi, ground or rubbed between your palms
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt (or to taste)
  • 100ml edible mustard oil (or any vegetable oil of your choice - do not use olive oil)

Instructions

  1. Cut the paneer into cubes, about 1.5 cm x 1.5 cm. Soak the cubes in a bowl of boiling hot water (skip this step if using homemade paneer) whilst you make prepare the rest of the vegetables for the tikka and make the marinade.
  2. Core and de-seed the peppers and cut them into pieces, about the same size as the paneer.
  3. Peel the onions and slice them into quarters, or roughly the same size as the peppers and paneer. Peel the layers of the onions apart to separate into 'petals'.
  4. In a large bowl, whisk together the yoghurt, roasted gram flour, Kashmiri chilli powder, cumin, coriander, fennel, black pepper, smoked paprika, cardamom, turmeric, kasoori methi, salt, lemon juice, garlic and ginger. Whisk well. Heat the mustard oil in a small saucepan until smoking hot. Carefully pour the hot oil over the yoghurt mixture. Whisk again until smooth.
  5. Add the paneer, peppers and onions to the prepared marinade and toss well to coat.
  6. Skewer the paneer and vegetables onto oven-safe kebab skewers (I use metal ones). Alternate the ingredients according to your preference.
  7. Set the skewers over an oven tray, resting the exposed bottom and top of the skewer on the lip of the tray so the ingredients are suspended and not touching the tray. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 220°C/425°F fan for 15-18 minutes. Keep an eye on them to ensure they do not burn.
  8. You can finish by scorching the kebabs over an open flame like I do (see video), or under the grill. This will give the tikka a restaurant-like flavour, as if they have been cooked in a tandoor (clay oven).
  9. Serve hot with naan and mint yoghurt or green coriander chutney.

Notes

  • Paneer tikka without skewers or kebab sticks: If you don't have any skewers or kebab sticks, you can simply arrange the pieces of marinated paneer and vegetables on a greased roasting tray, taking care to leave some room around each piece. Roast the pieces as per the recipe, keeping an eye on them as they may brown faster this way. Do not finish them over an open flame if roasting individual pieces.
  • If using wooden bamboo skewers, you'll need to soak them in cold water for three hours prior to using. This will keep them from burning.
  • How to cook paneer tikka without an oven: Air fry, pan fry, grill or barbecue the kebabs. Be sure to brown all sides.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 527Total Fat: 36gSaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 89mgSodium: 2246mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 6gSugar: 11gProtein: 29g

Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Watch a full step-by-step video for this Paneer Tikka recipe

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Pin it for later!

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If you like this, you’ll love my recipe for Shahi Paneer

More Chutney Recipes to pair with this Tandoori Paneer Tikka recipe

Mango, Lime & Coconut Chutney

A sweet and mild chutney packed with fruity flavours. This quick and easy mango-based chutney is made creamy with coconut milk and packs a zing with fresh lime zest.

Check out this recipe

Restaurant-Style Paneer Tikka - Sanjana.Feasts - Paneer Recipes (15)

Atomic Red Chilli Chutney

Calling all chilli lovers! This red chilli chutney is quick and easy to make and intense enough to satisfy your spice cravings. Use two or more types of chilli for both flavour and intensity. Mixing your chillies in this way will add multiple layers of flavour.

Restaurant-Style Paneer Tikka - Sanjana.Feasts - Paneer Recipes (16)

Tamarind & Date Chutney

Learn how to make sweet and sour tamarind and date chutney from scratch! No Indian chaat is complete without a drizzle of this mouth-puckering fruity chutney.

Check out this recipe

Restaurant-Style Paneer Tikka - Sanjana.Feasts - Paneer Recipes (17)

Love Sanjana

Restaurant-Style Paneer Tikka - Sanjana.Feasts - Paneer Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between paneer tikka and paneer tikka masala? ›

Is paneer tikka the same as paneer tikka masala? Paneer tikka is an appetizer of grilled paneer skewers whereas paneer tikka masala is a curried dish of grilled paneer in a spicy tikka masala gravy.

Should I soak paneer before marinating? ›

Yes, marinating paneer significantly enhances its flavor and texture. It absorbs the spices, becoming more tender and tasty. Should you soak paneer before cooking? Soaking paneer in warm water before cooking makes it softer and more absorbent of flavors, especially if it's been refrigerated.

Which paneer dish is best? ›

One of the most popular and a favorite Indian paneer recipe is Paneer Butter Masala. A smooth, velvety, creamy tomato based gravy with soft and succulent paneer cubes. The dish is a vegetarian take on Butter Chicken but fairly easy to make than butter chicken.

Why is paneer tikka healthy? ›

Some benefits of Indian Paneer Tikka include: Paneer is a good source of protein, which is important for maintaining muscle mass and overall health. The yogurt marinade used in Paneer Tikka is a good source of calcium, which is important for strong bones and teeth.

What is paneer tikka called in English? ›

The term paneer tikka literally translates to grilled chunks of Indian cottage cheese. Paneer refers to Indian cottage cheese and tikka translates to chunks of grilled food, most often refers to meat. But here it is the chunks of Indian cheese. This was my friends starters in a restaurant.

Is paneer healthy? ›

As paneer is healthier compared to cheese, it could be consumed on a regular basis. Paneer which is rich in protein and low in carbohydrates is an excellent item for those who are trying to shed weight. It is quite filling and prevents you from snacking on unhealthy food items to satiate your hunger pangs.

Why does paneer become hard after cooking? ›

Heating dries up the moisture content in the paneer and it makes it hard and rubbery. Hence after frying paneer in oil or ghee, always soak it in warm water for five to ten minutes. Then add the soaked paneer to any gravy of your choice.

Is it better to fry paneer before cooking? ›

Do you have to fry the paneer? Absolutely not! The thing is, raw paneer has a tendency to fall apart when added to a sauce. By frying the cubed paneer, you create a crispy crust to the cheese which helps it retain its shape when cooked into a hot curry sauce.

Should you fry paneer before adding to curry? ›

Paneer is already cooked.

So it's not essential that you cook it prior to adding to curry. Some people like a golden brown colour on the outside. If you like, you can shallow fry, deep fry, or grill paneer before adding it to a curry. This will create a golden crust on the outside.

What is paneer called in English? ›

Likely originating in India, paneer is also known as Indian cottage cheese. You might find that the mild taste of paneer reminds you of American cottage cheese.

Which milk is best for paneer? ›

Typically in India, buffalo milk is used to make paneer—it has a higher fat content than cow's milk and a richer flavor. If you can get your hands on whole buffalo milk, then do use it, but you can still get great results using regular cow's milk.

What to pair with paneer? ›

Most times paneer is cooked with vegetables like onions, tomatoes, bell peppers, green peas & leafy greens. For a complete vegetarian Indian meal pair any of these with fluffy Basmati Rice, Butter naan, roti, Jeera rice or with plain basmati rice. A lassi on the side with a veggie salad will be great to go with.

Can I eat paneer every day? ›

Yes. It is good to eat paneer every day, provided the intake is moderate. However, people who do a lot of weight training at the gym need a lot of energy and the right amount of protein. So, an approximate 100gm of paneer per day won't hurt, provided you have an active lifestyle.

Is paneer healthier than chicken? ›

Fat Content

Chicken tends to be lower in fat, particularly saturated fat, compared to paneer. Skinless chicken breast, in particular, is a lean protein choice with minimal fat content. On the contrary, paneer is a dairy product and typically contains higher amounts of saturated fat.

Can paneer be eaten at night? ›

The findings of a new study suggest that a protein-filled late-night snack, like cottage cheese (paneer), can have a positive effect on muscle quality, metabolism and overall health. More importantly, for those who have sworn off eating at night, there is no apparent gain in body fat by consumption of paneer.

Are tikka and tikka masala the same? ›

Tikka refers to grilled or roasted pieces of meat that are either marinated in yogurt or spiced water before being cooked on skewers. Masala refers to a sauce made with cream, yogurt, or tomatoes; or a mixture of spices used to flavor food.

Is paneer tikka butter masala the same as paneer makhani? ›

They are both popular paneer recipes but the way you make them is different. For the tikka masala, we first marinate the paneer, grill it and then add to the curry. For the paneer makhani, the sauce is made with nuts, onions, tomatoes and then paneer pieces are added to it directly.

Which is more tasty paneer butter masala or kadai paneer? ›

Kadai paneer is spicier than the other two as there is the addition of freshly prepared kadai masala in it. Whereas shahi paneer and paneer butter masala are more rich and creamy and sweet in taste. Also, shahi paneer is prepared with dry fruits like cashew and almonds without having any tomatoes in it.

Are there different types of tikka masala? ›

Indian Vs British Tikka Masala

Cashews impart a magical creamy texture and flavour without making you feel heavy. The British tikka masala has more deep flavors due to the use of passata and you will love this if you love the delicious umami flavour.

References

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