Paneer Tikka masala or Paneer Curry is one of the best vegetarian Indian curry. This Paneer curry recipe goes well with any Indian bread.

Since we normally don’t eat meat on Mondays, I have to think of what to prepare for lunch. Paneer, also called Indian cheese, is a star in my house whenever it is a vegetarian day.

You can make any kind of dish using this awesome paneer cheese, though we prefer Tikka masala, which is basically a gravy, little thick in consistency and tangy in taste. I have tried to master this recipe and to prepare it in restaurant style. It tastes best with naan or tandoori roti.

So, here is the step by step Paneer Tikka masala or paneer curry recipe.

Preparation Time: 30 Minutes

Cooking Time: 20  Minutes

Serves : 4

Ingredients: 

• 1 lb(453 Grams) Paneer
• 1 Bell pepper cut into cubes
• 1 Big onion peeled cut into 4 pieces and layers separated
• 2 tablespoons Olive Oil

For Coating: 

• 1/4 Cup(4 Tablespoons) Yogurt
• 1 Teaspoon Red Chili Powder
• 1 Tablespoon Homemade Tandoori Masala Powder
• 1/2 Teaspoon Turmeric Powder
• 1 Teaspoon Red Chili Powder
• 1 Tablespoon Ginger Garlic paste
• 1 Teaspoon Olive Oil
• 1 Teaspoon Salt

For Tikka Paste: 

• 1 Medium onion
• 2 medium Tomatoes
• Handful of Cashew Nuts
• 1 Tablespoon Ginger Garlic paste
• 1/2 Cup(8 Tablespoons) well whisked Yogurt
• 1 Teaspoon Coriander Powder
• 1 Teaspoon Homemade Tandoori Masala Powder
• 1/2 Teaspoon Turmeric Powder
• 1 Teaspoon Red Chili Powder
• 1 Teaspoon Kasoori Methi/Dry Fenugreek Leaves
• 1 Teaspoon Olive Oil
• Water as required
• Salt

Method:

Cut Paneer into an inch size cubes.

In a big bowl, Mix in all the ingredients mentioned above under coating ingredients.

Add in paneer cubes, along with bell peppers and onion layers and mix well. Keep aside for about 30 minutes.

Blanch tomatoes in water for about 10 minutes . Peel them . Add into the mixer grinder along with Cashew Nuts and make puree .

Similarly, peel off the onion, chop roughly and make puree using very little water. .

Thread the marinated paneer cubes, bell pepper cubes and onion layers onto bamboo skewers .

Heat a griddle or a skillet. Drizzle a tablespoon of oil and place all the skewers and drizzle another tablespoon over them.

Once nicely cooked on one side, turn them and cook on the other . Remove once paneer looks slightly browned and veggies nicely cooked.

While you are frying your veggies, you can simultaneously prepare the curry as given below .

To prepare paneer curry, first heat a saucepan . Add in a teaspoon oil . Add onion paste and saute for about 2 minutes .

Add in ginger garlic paste and saute until raw smell goes away.

Add tomato cashew nuts puree and saute for 2-3 more minutes.

Add all the spices like Coriander Powder,Tandoori Masala Powder, Turmeric Powder and red chili powder and mix well. Saute for few seconds.

Remove out from the heat. and add about 1/2 cup whisked yogurt and mix. Don’t add yogurt without removing from heat, otherwise it will get curdled up. Add little water to smoothen out and salt to taste.

Place the pan on heat again and add kasoori methi. Mix and let the gravy come to complete boil.

Once it comes to complete boil, add pan fried veggies and paneer cubes. Gently mix.

Let it simmer on low heat for about 5 minutes, then remove from heat.

And enjoy my Restaurant style Paneer Tikka masala with any kind of Indian bread like, naan, roti, chapati.

[mpprecipe-recipe:359]

Other Popular vegetarian gravy Dishes:

Kadai Mushroom

Paneer Butter Masala

Dahi Bhindi