Paneer Tikka Snack
Paneer Tikka is a popular Indian snack consisting of cottage cheese, bell peppers, and onions. There are many different ingredients that could be added and taken away to change the dish, however, the vital ingredient that defines the snack is the paneer (cottage cheese). The dish can be skewered and served or even served on a platter as a whole.
It is a healthy alternative to meat as cottage cheese is rich in nutrients including protein, B vitamins, and minerals like calcium, selenium, and phosphorus.
Without further to do let us get cooking!
Supplies
Ingredients:
- 1lb Paneer (cottage cheese)
- bell pepper x 4 (preferred to be different colors)
- red onions x 2 (could also be white)
- lemon x 1
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 cup yogurt (less or more for how coated you want your cheese to be)
- 1/2 tbsp turmeric
- 1 tbsp red chili powder
- 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
- 1/2 tbsp coriander powder
- 1/2 tbsp cumin powder
- 1/2 tbsp pepper
- 1/2 tbsp garam masala (and any other masala of your liking)
- 2 tbsp oil
Most to all of the spices in the ingredients could be found in your local Indian market stores or any Asian spice store, the ingredients aren't as overwhelming as it seems.
Cookware Tools:
- Large Mixing Bowl
- Frying Pan
- Lemon Squeezer
- Some Skewers
Cutting Up the Ingredients
Cottage Cheese is stored in the refrigerator and hence needs some time to thaw. I usually leave it out in some warm water for about 30 to 60 minutes. You should do the same for the best results.
Start by cutting all the bell peppers and onions as shown in the image. Make sure it isn't too small as the pieces should fit on your skewers.
Prepare the Marination
To start off get a large mixing bowl and start by adding the following ingredients:
-
1 tbsp salt
-
1 cup yogurt
-
1/2 tbsp turmeric
-
1 tbsp red chili powder
-
1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
-
1/2 tbsp coriander powder
-
1/2 tbsp cumin powder
-
1/2 tbsp pepper
-
1/2 tbsp garam masala and any other masala
-
1 tbsp oil
While you can add food color instead of some of the spices, the spices are strongly preferred.
Mix the Marination!
Use a spatula, or any mixing tool and start mixing the marination.
Mix it until all the spices are blended into one color, and the consistency is even throughout the mixture.
Make sure you don't over mix it for good texture.
Coat the Paneer!
Now we can coat the cottage cheese (paneer), the bell peppers, and the onions with marination.
Start by adding the ingredients into the marination and then mix it around for 3 to 5 minutes.
Fry the Paneer
Place the pan on medium heat, and pour 1 tbsp of oil on the pan as evenly as possible.
Now, after a couple of seconds add half of the marinated mixture. (depending on how much your frying pan can hold).
Fry the mixture until the paneer is golden brown. Will take around 5 to 7 minutes.
Skewer the Paneer
Almost done!
After the frying step, you can move the paneer onto a plate and skewer them with the bell peppers and onions in designs of your choice.
Your Done!
Squeeze the lemons on the skewers to add in that sour taste!
And that is it. Enjoy eating it with your friends or family!