Paneer Tikka Masala

Panneer tikka masala served with vegetable biryani and raita (Indian salad) is one my favorite comfort food. Needless to say being a spice lover, I love this yum cottage cheese cubes marinated in tandoori spices and served in a tangy gravy made with full cream milk, minced onion, chili, garlic, ginger and other Indian spices. The main meal is fragrant basmati rice infused with Biryani spices. And definitely something very charming and to cool your body is salad in yogurt base. It is mouth watering as it looks; this is the kind of a food that takes you above the grounds…. You know what I mean right? Such a comforting meal to have for a weekend lunch. 

Print recipe here
Ingredients

Serves 4-6

400g Panneer, cut into cubes

2 tbsp Tandoori Spice powder

4 tbsp low fat yoghurt

100ml canola oil

To Make the Gravy

1 large onion

1 large tomato

6 cloves of garlic

1 piece of ginger

Handful of coriander leaves

Few Curry leaves

4 dry red chilies

Mince all of the above ingredients together using a food processer and set aside.

4 tbsp canola oil

2 tsp coriander powder

1 tsp fennel powder

1 tbsp chili powder

2 tbsp tomato puree

200ml full cream milk

200ml water

1 tbsp kasoori methi (dried fenugreek leaves)

1 tbsp garam masala

½ lemon juice

Salt to taste

Method

Mix low fat yoghurt and tandoori powder together, add paneer cubes mix well till it’s coated with spice paste. Marinate for around 30 minutes.

Heat oil to deep fry, when oil hits smoking point, add marinated paneer in batches fry till it’s slightly crispy on outside. Drain them and leave to dry in kitchen towels.

Separately to make the gravy, heat oil and fry minced ingredients for about 5 minutes till the raw smell evaporates. Add dry spices like coriander, chili and cumin powder, stir well and add tomato puree mix well to form a paste.

Add full cream milk and water, stir well, close the lid and let it cook for 5-10 minutes. When gravy starts to simmer add dried kasoori methi (fenugreek leaves), garam masala and salt to taste.

Turn off heat, mix paneer cubes with gravy, sprinkle lemon juice. You can serve this with Biryani rice and raita (Indian Salad) or any type of Indian bread.(paratha, naan, roti, chapati)