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Paneer tikka is Indian barbeque kabab recipe made with marinated cheese, veggies and spices. It is served on skewers for a party appetizer or main meal.
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5 from 1 vote

Paneer Tikka Recipe

Learn to make best Tandoori Paneer Tikka using an air fryer, oven or on the grill. This recipe makes restaurant style Punjabi grilled paneer appetizer.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Additional Time30 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Course: Appetizers
Cuisine: Indian
Servings: 6
Calories: 293kcal
Cost: $7

Ingredients

  • 1 pound paneer cut into 1-inch cubes - about 4 cups
  • 1 cup sweet bell peppers cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 1 large onion cut into 1-inch cubes

For Marinade

Instructions

Prepare and Marinate Paneer and Vegetables

  • Cut the paneer into 1-inch cubes and peppers into 1-inch pieces. Slice the onion lengthwise and separate the petals.
  • In a medium-sized mixing bowl add yogurt, lemon juice, ginger garlic paste, turmeric, salt, red chili powder, garam masala, and kabab masala.  Mix all the ingredients together to make the marinade.
  • Add cut paneer, peppers, and onions to the marinade. Mix well so the marinade coats the paneer, peppers and onions well.
  • Cover the bowl and allow it to marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature or refrigerate for up to 24 hours.
  • If using wooden skewers, soak them in cold water. It prevents them from burning while grilling or air frying.
  • Carefully thread the marinated paneer, peppers and onions on to the skewers. Leave some space between each piece so it evenly cooks from all angles.

How to Make Air Fryer Paneer Tikka

  • Lightly spray or brush the air fryer basket with oil. Line the skewers inside the air fryer basket. Spray some oil over them.
  • Cook for 5 minutes at 360°F (180° C). Turn the skewers, spray lightly with oil and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes.

Grilling Paneer Tikka on Outdoor or Stove Top Grill

  • Preheat the grill. Brush the grill with some oil. Place the skewers on the grill and cook for 8 to 10 minutes, turning a few times so it chars and cooks well from all angles.

Making Paneer Tikka in the Oven

  • Preheat the oven to 400 Degrees Fahrenheit. Put the skewers on a baking tray. Bake for 10 minutes.
  • Increase the oven temperature to 425 Degrees Fahrenheit and broil the skewers for 3-4 minutes. This gives a nice blackened char on the top.
  • Remove promptly and serve with desired garnishes. Enjoy!

Notes

Marinate the paneer for at least 30 minutes or even overnight for deep flavors.
If using frozen paneer, make sure to thaw it completely before marinating.
To thaw the paneer simply keep it in the refrigerator overnight. You can also keep it at room temperature or in warm water for an hour.
Use only full fat or Greek yogurt to marinate the tikka mix. Low fat yogurt will leave the water in marinade and it will not stick to the pieces.
Typically bright red tikka at restaurants comes from added red food color. I do not like using food colors. So bright golden orange it is.
The longer you marinate, the flavorful and juicy your Paneer Tikka will turn out to be. So I prefer overnight marinade.
I used only onion and colorful sweet peppers in the skewers but other sturdy veggies like zucchini,  eggplant,  mushrooms and baby corn also work.
Do not thread the pieces on skewers too close. If you do so, the sides that touch the other piece don't cook properly. Leave some space between each piece so everything cooks well and evenly.
Also, do not overcrowd the skewers in the air-fryer basket or while grilling.  Leave enough space between each skewer.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Skewer | Calories: 293kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 882mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g