Restaurant style Paneer Tikka at home. This recipe for yogurt marinated paneer, onion and pepper uses the Air Fryer to cook the paneer quickly but perfectly!
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Paneer (Indian cottage cheese) is a popular ingredient for Indian cooking. From appetizers and snacks to curries, parathas and rice; paneer finds application everywhere.
There are so many delicious recipes using paneer but the undisputed winner for popularity is Paneer Tikka.
In the appetizer form or as a curry called Paneer Tikka Masala, this one is always a great idea!
What is Paneer Tikka?
A delicious appetizer made with marinated paneer, onions and peppers, paneer tikka is super popular in Indian restaurants and in households.
This is also one the MOST popular vegetarian barbecue recipe. The recipe is super versatile and can be made on the stovetop, on the grill, in the oven and in the air fryer.
It is served with a bowl of spicy cilantro chutney and makes a great snack or appetizer.
What you need to make Paneer Tikka?
This recipe needs a handful of ingredients that are easy to get from the Indian store. Most of these ingredients are part of the Indian pantry.
Paneer: The starting point of a good Paneer Tikka is getting the best paneer. I use packaged paneer that is thawed for about 30 minutes.
Thawed paneer is easy to dice into clean cubes without crumbling it.
Peppers and onions: Great to add some crunch to the recipe, peppers and onions add taste and color to the paneer tikka.
Use any combination of colored peppers and onion. If you do not consume onions, skip them.
Adding tomatoes is an option too. However, we are not fans of that. It sometimes ends up mushy.
Yogurt: Using Greek yogurt in this is perfect. It is thick and stays on the pieces without flowing away.
However if you do not have it, strain regular yogurt using a muslin cloth and let the liquid drain. Use that yogurt after a couple of hours.
Spices: The heart of the recipe is definitely the marinade. It adds flavor and taste to the recipe and the spices are very important.
I would recommend adding all the spices mentioned below but if you do not have a couple you can skip them.
However, the tandoori masala and chaat masala are must-haves. They come together wonderfully and have the perfect balance of spice.
Aamchur (dried mango powder) can be substituted with lemon juice if need be. Dried fenugreek (kasoori methi) can be skipped if you cannot find it.
Cooking the paneer tikka
The paneer tikka can be cooked in several ways. From using a gas or charcoal grill to oven, stovetop or air fryer.
I have used the air fryer to make this paneer tikka.
It is easy, quick and yet it has the perfect flavor as the other methods. The air fryer needs just 7-8 minutes to brown well. This is my favorite feature for sure!
If making this over a grill, keep turning the skewers till all the sides are charred evenly.
In the oven, it can be baked at 400 F for 10 minutes; followed by broiling for a couple of minutes to get the char marks.
Serving suggestion
Paneer tikka makes a great appetizer or snack.
It can be served with a side of sliced onions, some chaat masala and spicy cilantro chutney.
The same paneer tikka can be dunked in red makhani sauce to make paneer tikka masala to enjoy with naan or rice.
Steps
1- Cut the paneer and onion into 1 inch cubes. Deseed and chop the peppers into 1 inch pieces too.
2- Take Greek yogurt in a bowl. Add red chili powder, turmeric powder, kasoori methi, tandoori masala, salt, chaat masala and aamchur.
3- Stir till smooth.
4- Add the paneer and vegetable pieces and coat them with the seasoned yogurt. Set aside for 30 minutes (or more).
5- Using skewers or toothpicks, skew the peppers, onions and paneer pieces ensuring the marinade goes with the pieces on to the skewers.
6- Preheat the Air Fryer at 400 F. Line the basket with some foil or parchment paper. Once the air fryer is hot, place the skewers in it ensuring there is space between them. Spray some oil on top.
7- Let the skewers cook for 7 minutes, flipping them once in about 4-5 minutes. The paneer, peppers and onions should have some brown spots by then.
8- Remove from the basket and serve with cilantro chutney. Top the skewers with chaat masala and lime juice.
Air Fryer Paneer Tikka
Ingredients
- Paneer 2 cups about 300 grams
- Onion 1 medium
- Peppers 1 large I used a mix of red, yellow, orange and green pepper
- Greek Yogurt 1 cup
- Kasoori Methi 1 tbsp
- Red Chili Powder 1 tsp
- Turmeric Powder ½ tsp
- Tandoori Masala 2 tbsp
- Chaat Masala1 tbsp
- Aamchur dry mango powder ¼ tsp
- Salt ¾ tsp
- Cilantro Chutney
- Chaat Masala
- Lime Juice
- Sliced onions
Instructions
- Cut the paneer and onion into 1 inch cubes. Deseed and chop the peppers into 1 inch pieces too.
- Take Greek yogurt in a bowl. Add red chili powder, turmeric powder, kasoori methi, tandoori masala, salt, chaat masala and aamchur.
- Stir till smooth.
- Add the paneer and vegetable pieces and coat them with the seasoned yogurt. Set aside for 30 minutes (or more).
- Using skewers or toothpicks, skew the peppers, onions and paneer pieces ensuring the marinade goes with the pieces on to the skewers.
- Preheat the Air Fryer at 400 F. Line the basket with some foil or parchment paper. Once the air fryer is hot, place the skewers in it ensuring there is space between them. Spray some oil on top.
- Let the skewers cook for 7 minutes, flipping them once in about 4-5 minutes. The paneer, peppers and onions should have some brown spots by then.
- Remove from the basket and serve with cilantro chutney. Top the skewers with chaat masala and lime juice.
Yield: 4
Air Fryer Paneer Tikka
Restaurant style Paneer Tikka at home. This recipe for yogurt marinated paneer, onion and pepper uses the Air Fryer to cook the paneer quickly but perfectly!
Prep time: 15 MinCook time: 7 MinInactive time: 30 MinTotal time: 52 Min
Ingredients
- Paneer 2 cups (about 300 grams)
- Onion 1 medium
- Peppers 1 large (I used a mix of red, yellow, orange and green pepper)
For the Marinade
- Greek Yogurt 1 cup
- Kasoori Methi 1 tbsp
- Red Chili Powder 1 tsp
- Turmeric Powder ½ tsp
- Tandoori Masala 2 tbsp
- Chaat Masala1 tbsp
- Aamchur ( dry mango) powder ¼ tsp
- Salt ¾ tsp
To serve
- Cilantro Chutney
- Chaat Masala
- Lime Juice
- Sliced onions
Instructions
- Cut the paneer and onion into 1 inch cubes. Deseed and chop the peppers into 1 inch pieces too.
- Take Greek yogurt in a bowl. Add red chili powder, turmeric powder, kasoori methi, tandoori masala, salt, chaat masala and aamchur.
- Stir till smooth.
- Add the paneer and vegetable pieces and coat them with the seasoned yogurt. Set aside for 30 minutes (or more).
- Using skewers or toothpicks, skew the peppers, onions and paneer pieces ensuring the marinade goes with the pieces on to the skewers.
- Preheat the Air Fryer at 400 F. Line the basket with some foil or parchment paper. Once the air fryer is hot, place the skewers in it ensuring there is space between them. Spray some oil on top.
- Let the skewers cook for 7 minutes, flipping them once in about 4-5 minutes. The paneer, peppers and onions should have some brown spots by then.
- Remove from the basket and serve with cilantro chutney. Top the skewers with chaat masala and lime juice.
Did you make this recipe?
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