Malai Paneer Tikka recipe is an Indian starter made from cottage cheese (paneer) cubes marinated with yogurt, cream, spices, herbs. Marinated paneer cubes are stacked with slices of onion, capsicum and tomatoes and then placed in hot tandoor or baked in oven or even fried.
Paneer tikka is served with lemon wedges, mint chutney, raita and salad. I am pleased to share the restaurant style malai paneer tikka recipe with everyone. This starter is my favorite have a tendency to eat them a lot. The paneer tikka has a charcoal flavor, soft, crumbly just melts in your mouth.
When malai paneer tikka is served with gravy it’s known as paneer tikka masala. Similar fashion chicken tikka masala is made. In-fact paneer tikka recipe is a copy cat (replica) of chicken tikka recipe for vegetarians. This malai paneer tikka recipe is adapted and modified from penguin book.
This recipe for malai paneer tikka is step by step and easy to make at home. Also I have baked them in oven alternatively you could grill them. If you don’t have an oven don’t worry just shallow fry the skewered paneer with veggies.
Mostly hung curd is used for this recipe. Since it’s malai tikka I have used curd, cheese, cashewpaste and some cream. We love this dish immensely and make them quite often. Further have used this in the makhani gravy which I am gonna post soon. Looks like have fallen in love with paneer (cottage cheese).
The only challenge to this dish is don’t over cook if frying or don’t over bake else you would have a rubbery paneer. So take care of this and assure your dish would come out great. If you have a tandoor go ahead and put them in tandoor, I have baked them in oven. We love to eat tandoori food with naan or roti. Hence I have made whole wheat butter naan with this dish.
Let’s make step by step Malai Paneer Tikka Recipe:
1. Combine everything into the blender except kasuri methi and chat masala. Blend into a smooth paste.
2. Add the kasuri methi and give a nice whisk.
3. Now add the squared paneer and veggies to the marinade. Mix gently with your hand or just toss them gently. Ensure they are coated nicely with the marinade. Set aside for 30-40 mins, you could marinate in the fridge for a longer time if you wish.
4. Skewer the paneer and veggies on a skewer gently. To avoid a mess stack them over a platter. Grease a pan with oil and place them over the greased pan. Preheat the oven to 200°C exactly 15 mins before baking.
5. Bake for 10-12 mins. Brush them with oil or spray oil over them also if you have more marination mixture pour that too over them. Again bake for 10-15 mins more. Sprinkle some chat masala and squeeze lime juice over the tikka. Serve the malai paneer tikka with lemon wedges and green chutney. I have served mine with sauce as I am gonna make malai paneer tikka masala with them hence no chutney 😉
If you are looking for more paneer recipes then check chilli paneer, methi malai paneer, kadai paneer recipe, malai paneer curry, paneer tikka pizza, paneer kolhapuri recipe, paneer pasanda, palak paneer recipe , paneer toast sandwich and indian paneer curry.
Malai Paneer Tikka Recipe below:
- 10-12 cashewnut
- 2 tbsp grated cheese
- 2 tbsp fresh cream
- 1.5 tbsp hung curd
- 1 tbsp ginger-garlic paste
- 1.5 t/s lime juice
- 1-2 t/s kashmiri red chili powder or as required
- ½ t/s garam masala powder
- 1 t/s roasted cumin powder
- 1 t/s coriander seed powder (dhaniya)
- 1 t/s amchur powder
- 1 tbsp chat masala
- ¾ t/s pepper powder
- ½ tbsp crushed dry fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi)
- 1 t/s sugar
- black salt (kala namak) or rock salt
- 250 gms cottage cheese (paneer) diced into squares (i used store bought paneer)
- 3 tbsp oil
- 1 capsicum or bell pepper (optional) chopped into squares
- 1 onion chopped into sqaures
- Combine everything into the blender except kasuri methi and chat masala. Blend into a smooth paste.
- Add the kasuri methi and give a nice whisk.
- Now add the squared paneer and veggies to the marinade.
- Mix gently with your hand or just toss them gently. Ensure they are coated nicely with the marinade. Set aside for 30-40 mins, you could marinate in the fridge for a longer time if you wish.
- Skewer the paneer and veggies on a skewer gently. To avoid a mess stack them over a platter.
- Grease a pan with oil and place them over the greased pan. Preheat the oven to 200°C exactly 15 mins before baking.
- Bake for 10-12 mins. Brush them with oil or spray oil over them also if you have more marination mixture pour that too over them. Again bake for 10-15 mins more. Sprinkle some chat masala and squeeze lime juice over the tikka.
- Serve the malai paneer tikka with lemon wedges and green chutney.
2. If you are frying them then just sprinkle some corn flour over the marinated paneer and veggies. Now shallow fry the paneer along with the skewer for 2-3 mins or until cooked. This process will help the paneer not to stick to the bottom.
3. You could marinate paneer and keep overnight for better results. But leave them in the fridge if marinating for a longer time.
4. Please don't over bake as paneer tend to get harder if cooked, baked or fried for a longer time.
5. Home-made paneer is always good but you could use a store bought paneer too for this recipe.
6. While you skewer the cottage cheese be gentle as they might crumble so do it softly and gently.
7. You could use any veggies of your choice like mushroom, baby corn etc.
8. I prefer medium spicy but you could add more chili powder for more spice.
9. Preferably use kashmiri red chili powder for a robust, red color also it's mild spiced. If kashmiri red chili powder isn't available use deggi mirch powder instead.
10. If you want charcoal flavor then you would have to use a tandoor.
Div says
This recipe was such a big hit in my home! Thanks so much for the lip smacking recipe..loved it 🙂
maria says
Very pleased to know this Divya thankyou for your kind and positive words 🙂 and you are always welcome.