Paneer Tikka (Spicy Grilled Cottage Cheese)

Paneer Tikka is an Indian dish made from chunks of paneer marinated in Indian spices and grilled with veggies. It’s the perfect ‘go-to’ starter if you want to please the crowd with minimal efforts.

Ingredients

• 250g  Paneer/cottage cheese (cubed)
• 1 Green bell pepper/capsicum (cubed)
• 1 Onion (cubed)

For the marinade

• 200g Greek style yogurt
• 1 tbsp Ginger-garlic paste
• 2 to 3 tsp Kashmiri red chilli powder
• ½ tsp Turmeric powder
• 1 tsp Cumin powder
• 1 tsp Coriander powder
• 1 tsp Garam masala
• ½  tsp Amchur powder/dry mango powder
• 1 tsp chaat masala
• ½ tsp Black pepper powder
• Juice of half lemon
• 2 tbsp oil for brushing
• Salt to taste

Method

1. In a large bowl, whisk the yogurt till it becomes smooth.
2. Add and mix together the ginger-garlic paste, all the spice powders and salt.
3. Add the veggies and paneer to the marinade.
4. Cover the mixture and let it marinate for 2 hours or more in the refrigerator.
5. Remove after 2 hours and bring the marinated paneer and veggies at room temperature.
6. Skewer the veggies and paneer alternately on skewers or tooth picks. Brush some oil on the veggies and paneer.
7. Preheat the oven for 5 minutes at 180 degree celsius.
8. Bake the paneer tikka for 20-25 minutes. After 10 minutes take it out and brush some more oil and bake for a further 10-15 mintues till done.
9. Remove the paneer tikka from the oven and sprinkle a bit of chaat masala (optional).