Paneer Tikka Masala | Restaurant Style

Paneer Tikka Masala Restaurant Style

Paneer Tikka Masala is one of the most loved paneer recipes in India. This is a rich and delicious dish. Since North India is famous for rich dishes, it’s more loved in North India. It’s one of my best dishes until now.

Paneer or Cottage cheese has a very special place in Indian vegetarian cooking. This is a versatile dairy product.  It tastes great in any form. You can use them for preparing appetizers, main course or even in desserts. 

Normally I make paneer at home for any such dishes. But for this recipe I have used store brought paneer. In fact one of our friends had started a dairy firm (Godhenu Dairy Firm) and these paneers were sample ones. Well, the quality of paneer also matters in the preparation of any such dishes. When the paneer is fresh, it makes the dish more scrumptious.

What is paneer tikka masala made of?

Paneer tikka masala is made by marinating paneer cubes and shallow frying them before adding to curry gravy. Marinated paneer cubes can be grilled for this recipe. This dish is a perfect combination of spicy and creamy gravy with sauteed paneer and crunchy veggies.

Paneer cubes and crunchy veggies like bell peppers, onions and tomato cubes are marinated in a mixture of curd and spices such as:

hung curd + gram flour + coriander powder + cumin powder + turmeric powder + red chilli powder + garam masala + chat masala + ginger garlic paste + salt + lemon juice

Also read how to make paneer at home in 15 minutes if you wish to make fresh and soft paneer at home for this Paneer Tikka Masala.

Vegan Paneer Tikka Masala

If you are vegan, replace the paneer with tofu which is available in any supermarket. Tofu is made from soy milk and this is an even healthier option and a rich source of protein. Instead of paneer or even tofu, you can make theses tikka masala with cauliflower and mushrooms as well. Also, use vegan curd for the marination process.

So try this cauliflower tikka masala with the same recipe and do share your feedback in the comment box. I will also make and share my version of Vegan Cauliflower Tikka Masala and mushroom tikka masala soon.

Best combination with Paneer Tikka Masala

Paneer tikka masala is a rich creamy onion tomato curry base dish. This is best served for the main course. But you can make simply Paneer tikka as an appetizer for parties and special occasions. This goes best with tandoori roti or butter naan. This will give you the full satisfaction of restaurant-style food.

Also, try my tandoori paneer tikka without tandoor (on stovetop)

In case you don’t have a tandoor, then also you can make them on the stovetop on direct flame. Apply ghee or butter on homemade tandoori roti and serve them with this rich spicy Curry. What a heavenly combination!!

How to make restaurant-style paneer tikka masala

The real magic comes with the best quality of paneer and proper marination in the blend of spices is the most essential part of making tikka or tikka masala. For the best result, you need to marinate paneer and veggies cubes in the marination mixture (curd & spices) for more than 30 – 40 minutes.

So this is not a quick recipe. You need to plan before you start. Adding gram flour helps in the proper binding of spices and shallow frying process. Else it will stick to the pan. Use nonstick pan for making tikka if you are pan-frying them.

You can grill them or use a microwave to make tikka. Another method you can put them in skewers for tikka. I shallow fried in the pan so I have not used skewers.

Also read other North Indian food like matar paneer, kashifal sabzi, dum aloo, rajma masala, dal makhani, malai kofta, Palak Paneer Kofta. If you are looking for party appetizers, then read our veg seekh kabab, paneer corn seekh kabab, veg shammi kabab, potato lollipop, hara bhara kabab, crunchy falafel, Veg Lollipop, Tandoori Paneer Tikka.

Recipe Card For Paneer Tikka Masala

Paneer Tikka Masala | Restaurant Style

Paneer tikka masala is a rich and creamy gravy prepared with marinated paneer cubes, and vegetable cubes.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Dish, Paneer Special, Sabzi & Curry

Cuisine: Indian, North Indian

Keyword: Indian Curry

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Servings: 4 People

Author: Ipsa Faujdar

Ingredients

Preparing Paneer Tikka

• 250 gms Paneer Cubes
• 150 gms Hung Curd (Thick)
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1 tsp Red Chilli Powder
• 1 tsp Coriander Powder
• 1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
• 1 tsp Garam Masala
• 1/2 tsp Chat Masala
• 1 tsp Lemon Juice
• 2 tbsp Besan/ Gram flour
• 1 large bell pepper cut into cubes
• 1 large Onion cut into cubes
• 1 large Tomato cut into cubes & seed less
• 1 tsp Ginger Garlic Paste

Preparation of Gravy and Presentation

• 2 large Onion
• 4 large Tomato
• 2 tsp Coriander Powder
• 1 tsp Red Chili Powder
• 10 – 12 cashew nuts
• 2 Green Chilli
• 1 tsp Kasuri Methi Dry roasted
• 1 tsp Salt
• 2 tbsp Coriander leaves finely chopped
• 2 tbsp Refined Oil
• 1 tbsp Ghee

Instructions

Preparing Tikka

• Take a large mixing bowl. Add curd, gram flour and all dry spices mentioned in ingredients list above under paneer tikka section.
  
• 
• Dip the paneer cubes, capsicum & onion pieces in marination mix. mix them well lightly with help of a spoon or with hands. Keep it aside for minimum 30 minutes so that they will get nice flavor of spice mix.
  
• 
• 
• 
• After 30 minutes, Heat a non stick pan. Put few drops of oil. once oil is hot, put pieces of paneer, bell peppers, onions on pan and saute on all sides with help of tong.
  
• Remove from heat and keep aside.
  

Preparation of Gravy

• Heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan or kadhai. Add finely chopped onion and ginger garlic paste. Saute till onion is translucent. Add 2 green chilli slits.
  
• Add red chilli powder, turmeric powder and mix well. this will bring rich red color in gravy.
  
• In the meanwhile make a paste of tomatoes, garlic pods and soaked cashew nuts.
  
• Add tomato puree to the pan and mix well. cook for 3 minutes. Add 1/2 cup water if the gravy becomes thick. Don’t add more water as we want this gravy to be medium thick. Pour in rest of the marination mix to the gravy and mix well.
  
• Let it simmer for 4 – 5 minutes. Add crushed roasted kasuri methi and finely chopped coriander leaves. mix well.
  
• Add all sauteed vegetables and paneer cubes to the gravy. mix with light hand
  
• Cook for 2 minutes on low flame. Turn off gas when desired consistency achieved.
  
• Serve hot with roti, paratha or rice.
  

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