Restaurant style Paneer Tikka at home.
This recipe for yogurt marinated paneer, onion and pepper uses the Air Fryer to cook the paneer quickly, mess free and yet perfectly!
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 like Paneer Butter Masala, Paneer Biryani, Akbari Paneer and Palak Paneer. However, 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!
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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 sweet tamarind chutney and makes a great snack or appetizer. Plus, serve it over rice or with naan to make a hearty meal with some salad and a sauce.
Why this recipe works
- This recipe is easy to make in the air fryer. It creates much less mess than making it n the oven or on the grill.
- Marinating and grilling the paneer tikka masala takes under an hour from start to finish. This recipe is a quick one but does not compromise on the taste or flavor.
- The recipe is Vegetarian friendly and gluten-free. To make it Vegan, simply substitute paneer with tofu.
- This paneer tikka is a great appetizer by itself. Moreover, it can be added to makhani sauce to make a delicious curry to enjoy with parathas or naan.
- The paneer can be marinated ahead of time. It stays well for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator before air frying.
- Paneer tikka traditionally has onions, peppers, tomatoes with paneer. However, more vegetables can be added to the recipe too.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- 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. Thawing paneer makes it easy to dice into clean cubes without crumbling.
- 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. Moreover, more vegetables can certainly be added to the recipe depending on preferences and availability.
- 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) is great to use in the recipe. However, it can be substituted with lemon juice if need be. Dried fenugreek (kasoori methi) can be skipped if you cannot find it.
See the recipe card for detailed ingredient information, measurements and nutrition.
How to make this recipe
1- Cut the paneer and onion into 1 inch cubes. Also, 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- Mix well till smooth.
4- Add the paneer and vegetable pieces and coat them with the seasoned yogurt. Then 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.
Cooking the paneer tikka
This paneer tikka can be cooked in several ways. From using a gas or charcoal grill to oven, stovetop or air fryer. However, I like to use 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 char evenly.
In the oven, bake 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 cilantro chutney.
The same paneer tikka can be dunked in red makhani sauce to make paneer tikka masala to enjoy with naan or rice.
Expert Tips and Notes
- Marinade the paneer at least 30 minutes before grilling. The flavors deepen as they stand so it is okay to marinade for a longer time too.
- This recipe works wonderfully with paneer, onions and peppers. However, adding some tomatoes, other vegetables like baby corn, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage is an option too.
- Thaw frozen paneer till it comes to room temperature. Frozen paneer will not absorb the flavors of the marinade well.
- While I use the marinade to make paneer tikka, the same marinade works with mixed vegetables or tofu too.
- If using the recipe for a party; marinade and keep everything in skewers before hand. Simply air fry before serving so they are fresh and delicious when served.
- To reheat; place in a pre-heated air fryer for 2-3 minutes at 250 C before serving.
Recipe FAQs
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.
Paneer is a healthy fat which is high in calcium and protein among other nutrients. Greek yogurt is a great source of protein too. Together these are healthy in spite of being rich in good fats.
Yes this recipe is gluten-free as we do not use any flour for the recipe. If using a flour to bind the yogurt, pick a gluten-free one like rice flour or chickpea flour.
More Air Fryer Recipes
Here are some delicious Air Fryer recipes to try. These are pretty easy to put together and loved by everyone.
More Paneer Recipes
Air Fryer Paneer Tikka
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups Paneer (about 300 grams)
- 1 medium Onion
- 1 large Peppers (I used a mix of red, yellow, orange and green pepper)
- 1 cup Greek Yogurt
- 1 tablespoon Kasoori Methi
- 1 teaspoon Red Chili Powder
- ½ teaspoon Turmeric Powder
- 2 tablespoon Tandoori Masala
- 1 tablespoon Chaat Masala
- ¼ teaspoon Dry mango powder
- ¾ teaspoon Salt
Toppings
- ¼ cup Cilantro Chutney
- 1 teaspoon Chaat Masala
- 1 teaspoon Lime Juice
- ¼ cup 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.
Notes
- Marinade the paneer at least 30 minutes before grilling. The flavors deepen as they stand so it can be marinaded for a longer time too.
- This recipe works wonderfully with paneer, onions and peppers. However, adding some tomatoes, other vegetables like baby corn, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage is an option too.
- Thaw frozen paneer till it comes to room temperature. Frozen paneer will not absorb the flavors of the marinade well.
- While I use the marinade to make paneer tikka, the same marinade works with mixed vegetables or tofu too.
- If using the recipe for a party; marinade and keep everything in skewers before hand. Simply air fry before serving so they are fresh and delicious when served.
- To reheat; place in a pre-heated air fryer for 2-3 minutes at 250 C before serving.
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