Paneer tikka recipe on tawa and in oven. Tandoori paneer tikka is one among the most after sought North Indian starters in Indian restaurants. Paneer tikka literally translates to grilled chunks of Indian cottage cheese. Paneer refers to Indian cottage cheese and tikka translates to chunks of grilled food.
These chunks are marinated in spiced yogurt and grilled in tandoor. The resulting chunks are delicious, flavorful and makes a meal exotic when served with this.
Traditionally paneer tikka was made in clay ovens known as tandoor. With time and trend now they are also made in electric ovens and even on gas stove using tawa (Indian griddle/pans). I am sharing both the methods i.e paneer tikka in oven and on tawa using gas stove or stove top.
No matter whether we make on tawa on stove top or in oven or in tandoor or barbeque, the marinade made is standard and same. This recipe yields a delicious starter that is just like the one served in restaurants.
Making paneer tikka is a frequent affair at home. Since I use them in so many ways like wraps, sandwich, pizza and even for making fusion fried rice and for making paneer pulao.
To make paneer tikka, I have not used any food color. Adding little oil to the marination helps to get a good color from turmeric and red chili powder. Use a good and enough quantity of chili powder to get a vibrant colour.
Tips to make best paneer tikka
1. Usually besan is added directly to the marinade. But roasting the besan in mustard oil, cooling it and then making a marinade out of it brings in a lot of aroma to the tikka.
2. Marinating or smearing mustard oil over the tikkas elevates the flavor of the dish.
I have mentioned these two tips as optional steps in the recipe card.
You may like to check Paneer recipes
Paneer popcorn
Paneer pakora
Paneer tikka masala
Paneer butter masala
Matar paneer
Kadai Paneer
Easy paneer tikka recipe
Paneer tikka recipe (restaurant style)
Ingredients (1 cup = 240ml )
Ingredients for paneer tikka
- 1 to 1 ½ tbsp oil (preferably mustard oil)
- 1 to 1 ½ tsp red chilli powder (mild variety)
- Salt as needed
- 1/8 tsp turmeric or haldi
- 1 tsp garam masala
- 1 to 1½ tsp coriander powder (optional)
- ¼ to ½ tsp chaat masala (optional)
- 1 tsp kasuri methi or dried fenugreek leaves
- 1¼ tsp ginger garlic paste
- 6 tbsps greek yogurt or thick hung curd (¼ cup + 2 tbsp) (refer notes)
- 200 grams paneer (cut to 9 cubes)
- 1 large onion – 10 to 12 cubes layers separated
- 1 red capsicum – 6 to 8 cubes
- 1 green capsicum – 6 to 8
Optional ingredients
- 1 tbsp butter for brushing the tikkas (optional)
- 1 to 1 ¼ tbsp gram flour or besan (optional)
- ¼ to ½ tsp carom seeds or ajwain (optional)
How to make the recipe
Preparation to make paneer tikka
- Stir together thick yogurt (refer notes), chilli powder, garam masala, turmeric, coriander powder, kasuri methi, chaat masala, ginger garlic paste, oil and salt.
- Optional for restaurant flavor – In a small pan, mix besan with the oil called for in the recipe and fry on a low heat until fragrant. Cool this and mix in the marinade along with ajwain.
- Mix everything well and check the salt and spice. If needed add more salt and chilli.
Marination
- Add the cubed capsicum and onions. Mix well. Then add paneer cubes and gently coat them with the marinade.
- Cover and rest this in the fridge for 1 to 2 hours. Overnight marination may break the paneer.
- Begin to thread the chunks of capsicum, onion and paneer alternately on the skewer.
- If making in oven, you can use large bamboo skewers. If making on tawa, you can use small ones. You will be able to thread these on 3 large or 4 small skewers.
Making paneer tikka in oven.
- Preheat the oven at 430 F or 220 C for at least 15 mins.
- Prepare a baking tray and line a parchment paper.
- Place the skewers on the tray. Spray oil to avoid the veggies from drying out.
- Grill them for 10 to 12 mins. Move the tray to a higher rack and broil for 2 to 3 mins.
- Do adjust the grill timings based on your oven and the size of paneer cubes. Over cooking may char them. When they are golden, take them off the oven.
- If desired brush paneer tikka with butter or mustard oil. Serve them with mint chutney, onion and lemon wedges.
- Optional: For restaurant flavors, Place a small steel bowl in the serving plate. Burn a wood charcoal piece on direct fire until red hot. Keep it in the bowl. Pour 1 tsp ghee or oil over it. It should begin to smoke immediately. Cover and let it smoke for 4 to 5 mins.
How to make paneer tikka on tawa or gas stove
- Heat a tawa with 1 tbsp oil and spread it evenly all over.
- When the tawa is hot enough, place the skewers and cook on a medium heat.
- Keep checking and turning them around to all sides for even grilling.
- When they turn golden, transfer them to a serving plate.
- Serve paneer tikka hot as a appetizer or a side in your meal.
Video
Video of paneer tikka
NUTRITION (estimation only)
Notes
If you are a beginner or new to Indian cooking, I highly suggest you to check the supporting step by step photos for best results. Step by step photos with description available below after the recipe card.
You can find the recipe of Kebab chutney here.
Preparation
1. To make this recipe, we need hung curd or thick curd. If you do not have thick curd, you can check this post on how to make hung curd. I have used thick curd here.
2. To a mixing bowl, add curd,red chili powder, turmeric, salt, coriander powder, garam masala and chaat masala.
3. Add ginger garlic paste, kasuri methi, ajwain (optional) and besan. If making in tawa do not skip besan as it helps to hold the curd well to the paneer tikka. It also brings out a good flavor and will avoid messing up the tawa.
For the restaurant flavor: On a low flame, roast the besan in oil until fragrant and then cool it. Later mix with the marinade.
4. Add oil. I have used mustard oil, you can also use any other oil.
5. Mix everything well. The marinade must be thick.
6. Add capsicum and onions. Coat them well with marinade.
How to make paneer tikka
7. Add paneer and gently coat them as well. Handle with care they may break.
8. Rest them in the fridge for an hour.
9. Next begin to thread them on skewers. With the quantities mentioned in the recipe card you can thread them on 3 large or 4 small skewers. Paneer tikka on tawa and oven were made at 2 different times so the number of skewers seen in the pictures will not match the recipe.
10. If making on tawa, heat a tawa with 1 tbsp oil. When it turns hot, place the skewers in the center and grill them on a medium heat.
11. Finally turn them around to grill evenly until they turn golden.
Serve them hot with onion, lemon wedges and mint chutney.
Making paneer tikka in oven
Preheat the oven to 430 F or 220 C for at least 15 to 20 mins. Place the skewers on a tray lined with greased foil or parchment paper.
Grill for 10 to 12 mins. Then move the tray to the top rack and broil for 2 to 3 mins. Do adjust the timing depending on the kind of oven and the thickness of the paneer cubes.
If desired brush paneer tikka with butter and serve hot.
Radhika says
I made these paneer tikka for a potluck. Wow! Compliments were pouring in. Thank you.
swasthi says
Hi Radhika,
You are welcome. Thank you! glad you all liked them.
🙂
Aadithyaa Eeswaran says
Great recipe!! I’m fifteen years old but was able to do this.
swasthi says
Hi Aadithyaa,
Glad to know you! Thanks for the comment! Glad you are able to make paneer tikka!
David says
My name is David Ayabi I’m from Nigeria i thank you so much I tried it today it was so good niece recipe
swasthi says
Welcome David!
Glad you like it
Raksha says
I tried this today. Really yummy!! Thank you for this wonderfully tasty recipe!!
swasthi says
Hi Raksha
You are welcome! Glad paneer tikka came out good. Thank you!
Aarthi Narayanan says
I tried it today. It was so good and yummy! Thanks for the recipe
swasthi says
Hi Aarthi,
You are welcome. Glad you all liked it! Thank you!
Rajashree says
I had tried and it was awesome…my guests love those. Thanks
swasthi says
Welcome Rajashree
Glad your guests loved them.
Rizwana says
And can I keep the marination overnight.. As I want to give my husband for work in the morning
swasthi says
Hi Rizwana
Yes you can marinate the paneer overnight. Just thread them in skewer in the night itself as they may break if soaked up for longer. You can just use 1 1/2 to 2 tbsp oil for roasting.
Manik shende says
Awasthi your all recipes are very nice and easy to prepare and very testy also some of them I always prepared and everyone in my house appreciate those recipes
swasthi says
Thank you.
Jayshri says
Swathi u r brilliant.your receipes are very practical and doable at home. Big fan thank you
swasthi says
Welcome Jayshri
Thank you so much. So happy to know you like the recipes.
🙂
Nishu says
This recipe looks great. Is there a way to make this without yogurt? Not really a fan of it.
swasthi says
Hi Nishu
I haven’t tried this recipe without yogurt. But it works. You can just marinate by sprinkling some water and more lemon juice.
Jyoti says
Hi swasthi
Thanks for the recipes. Indeed this is the best paneer tikka I have made. Roasting besan in oil enhances the aroma of the paneer tikka. Yes I found that amazingly flavours up the tikkas. Keep up the good work.
Bhavana says
Hi,
I really liked your recipe. I remember there was an older version of this recipe in which you mentioned mixing oil and Besan first and then boiling it. Could you please give me a link to that recipe? Thank you
swasthi says
Welcome Bhavana,
Yes there was another method. But the ingredient quantities are same as mentioned in the above recipe card. Only the method is different & i have removed the old images. I will share them back in some time soon as of now i dont have it as a seperate post. Here is the how to do it. Heat the oil and fry the besan in the oil on a low flame until it turns aromatic. Cool this completely. Add all the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Add paneer & veggies to this and marinate for 15 to 30 mins. Grill as mentioned above. Hope this helps. Thanks for trying.
🙂
Bhavana says
Awesome! Thank you 🙂
swasthi says
Welcome Bhavana
Pallavii says
Wonderful receipe, everybody loved it at home. Thank you….
swasthi says
Welcome Pallavi
Thanks for trying
Vidhya says
I loved the recipe. Tried it at home and turnes out great. Thanks swasthi.
swasthi says
Welcome Vidhya
Thanks for trying
vijay kumar aggarwal says
nice very simple & easy explained
swasthi says
Thank you
Anju says
Super recipe Swasthi .My kids just loved it and is a fan of this recipe
swasthi says
Thanks Anju
Glad to know your kids loved it
Simmey says
Hi
I have a query that can we use anything else for making paneer tikka instead of curd.
swasthi says
Hi simmey,
You can try with very thick malai (thick cream). Or you can try this recipe without yogurt
Niru says
perfectly made like in restaurants, The aroma was great. Thanks for sharing
swasthi says
Welcome Niru
ragini nirgude says
Recipee is so hot and tasty
swasthi says
Thanks Ragini
Sameera khurshid says
Awsum n very easy to cook recipes
swasthi says
Thanks Sameera
nasima khatoon says
It is very easy recipes, thanks for the sharing.
swasthi says
Welcome Nasima