TANDOORI PANEER TIKKA

I found this recipe on www.sanjeevkapoor.com presented by Chef Harpal Singh Sukhi. But here, I made some changes in it according to my tastebuds and it comes out awesome, lazaabab! I used my oven by making my tikkas, but really I missed that smokey flavour which comes out from the tandoor only. One thing you have to focus always by making tikka or kabab, the marination. Tikkas are generally made in tandoor or grilled in oven. But you may prepare it on stovetop too.

INGREDIENTS:
1 lb / 450 gm Cottage Cheese (paneer)
2 Medium Onions, cut in cubes
A Pinch of Carom seeds
1 Large Green Bell Pepper, cut in cubes
1 Medium tomato, cut in cubes
1/4 Cup Chickpea Flour (besan)
2 tbsps Clarified Butter (ghee)
1/2 Cup hanged curd / plain yogurt
1/3 tsp Red Chilli powder
1/4 tsp Black Pepper powder
1/4 tsp Turmeric powder
1/2 tsp freshly pounded Garam masala
1/3 tsp Dry Mango powder (amchur)
1 tsp Ginger paste
1 tsp Garlic paste
2 tsps fresh Lemon juice
3 tbsps Mustard Oil
Salt to taste
4 wooden skewers (soak in water for 3-4 hours)

METHOD:
Cut cottage cheese in 1&1/2" cubes. Set aside.

Heat clarified butter in a frying pan. Add carom seeds in it. Saute for 30-40 seconds, add chickpea flour now. Keep stirring continuously for 3-4 minutes, till a nice aroma comes out. Switch off the heat and pour chickpea flour in a large bowl.

Heat mustard oil in a pan, add turmeric in it. Immediately remove it from the pan.

Combine chickpea flour, mustard oil, curd, red chilli powder, black pepper powder, garam masala, dry mango powder, ginger paste, garlic paste, lemon juice, mustard oil and salt. Whisk nicely.

Add cottage cheese cubes, tomato cubes, green bell pepper cubes and onion cubes and mix with the batter nicely. Keep this marination aside for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

Thread the cottage cheese / paneer into the skewers, alternating the paneer with cubes of vegetables as you wish (alternating, onion-paneer-bell pepper-tomato-onion-paneer-bell pepper-tomato like that). Arrange the skewers on the baking tray.

Preheat the oven to 450 F. Bake each side for 5-6 minutes. To achieve the sizzling effect, now put the oven to broil mode for 5 minutes. Switch off the oven. Take out the baking tray from the oven immediately.

Place the paneer tikka onto the plate, squeeze little lime juice and sprinkle chaat masala on the top. Serve immediately.

TIPS: If you don't have oven or tandoor, just cook it in gas oven. Heat a griddle, sprinkle little oil in it. Place skewers on it. Cook 5 minutes each side on medium flame.
Sending to:  Chandrani's Holiday Recipes