I am also sharing oven, tawa (stove top), and grill methods to cook paneer tikka later in this post. Are you ready to savor mouthwatering paneer tikka prepared effortlessly each and every time? A huge party favorite, these vegetable & paneer skewers are colorful to look at and a must for my parties or get togethers. This achari paneer tikka recipe is my another go to when I am entertaining. This popular indian paneer appetizer is ideally cooked using a tandoor (clay oven), however the same taste can be re created at home with modern equipment like air fryer or oven + broiler and a few recipe tweaks. I love my air fryer, what can I say! I have been getting wonderful results making different kinds of tikka (lamb tikka, malai chicken tikka) in it . Not just the taste but the texture is really amazing.
What is Paneer Tikka
In Indian cuisine, tikka refers to pieces of vegetables, paneer or meat marinated in a spiced mixture(usually yogurt based)and cooked on high heat until charred. Tandoori paneer tikka, also know as grilled paneer or just paneer tikka is a sought-after indian vegetarian appetizer with soft & juicy chunks of paneer that delight the palate with every bite. To make tandoori paneer tikka, cubes of paneer (Indian cottage cheese) are marinated in an aromatic, spiced yogurt mixture, then skewered (usually on metal rods) with bell peppers and onion petals, and thereafter traditionally cooked in a tandoor (clay oven). Cooking in tandoor makes them delightfully smoky (due to cooking over charcoal) and also gives a charred look & taste to the paneer tikka. At home, you could thread the paneer tikka on metal or bamboo skewers and cook them in air fryer, over grill or in the oven. My expectations from a well-cooked paneer tikka are pretty high—the paneer chunks should be substantial (thick-cut and large), with charred skins, while soft and juicy to bite into.The marinade should lightly coat the paneer, striking a delicate balance with milkiness of paneer without overwhelming the taste buds. When served with fresh green cilantro chutney, onion slices and lemon wedges, tandoori paneer tikka makes for one of the most mind blowing appetizer.
Air Fryer Paneer Tikka is
Authentic north indian style tikka made with flavors like mustard oil, besan(gram flour) and kasuri methi Gluten free and nut free Easy to make at home Perfect for meal prep Crispy & charred on the outside and creamy on the inside
What is Tandoori Paneer Tikka Made of
Paneer - Paneer is simply un-aged, firm indian cheese made by pressing together the milk curds. Use malai or full fat paneer from the stores or make your own paneer at home. Homemade paneer is preferred however if purchasing from stores, from stores, my favorites brands are Gopi or Verka. Besides indian grocery stores, paneer is easily available in the cheese section of stores like Costco, Sprouts and Whole Foods. Besan (Gram Flour) - Is used in indian tikka recipes for two reasons. It adds an undertone of nuttiness (without making marinade taste of gram flour) and also absorbs up moisture from the marinade and keeps it thick. Whole Yogurt - You could use plain whole greek yogurt (I use it) or regular yogurt. When using regular yogurt, make sure that the yogurt is thick and not too sour. Garlic, Ginger & Green Chillies - If you have ready to use garlic paste & ginger paste in the fridge, use it. Add green chillies to a mortar and pound to make a coarse paste. Ground Spices - chaat masala, garam masala powder, kashmiri chilli powder, red chilli powder, coriander powder & amchoor. You could also use store bought tandoori masala if you wish. Kasuri Methi - Or dry fenugreek leaves are a popular dried herb used in north indian cuisine. They are added to creamy curries and tikka marinades to add a unique aroma and flavor. Unfortunately, there is no substitute. Mustard Oil - This is a key ingredient and gives these tikka a smoky restaurant like taste. You wont taste the pungency of virgin mustard oil in the marinade. Bell Peppers & Onions - Onions are a must to add a sweetish bite to these tikka, you could skip bell pepper or use colorful ones if you wish.
Few Ingredient Substitutions
How To Make Paneer Tikka in Air Fryer
Preparation
Make The Tandoori Marinade
Tip - If time allows, let this marinade sit in the fridge for 1-2 hours to deepen the flavors. Yes, marinate the marinade- its a thing!
Marinate Paneer Tikka
Note - Don’t marinate the vegetables else they will get watery due to salt in the marinade. If you want to add flavor to the vegetables, save 3-4 tablespoon of the marinade and toss the reserved marinade with capsicum and onion 6-8 minutes before you are ready to make tikka. Tip - When skewering paneer, thread the paneer with the flattest side facing up(see image 5). This way the tikka will get maximum exposure to heat while cooking.
Air Fry Paneer Tikka
Tip :- The only downside of air fryer method is that you can cook maximum of 6-7 skewers (in an 8 qt air fryer). This limits its convenience when making paneer tikka for parties or for a large group of people. If that’s the case, use oven to make paneer tikka.
How To Make Paneer Tikka in Oven
You can make paneer tikka in oven if you wish. Preheat the oven to 450F (250C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Arrange the skewers on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush the tikka liberally with oil. Make sure that the skewers are not touching each other. Bake for 12-14 minutes, flip midway or until the edges start getting charred.
Paneer Tikka on Gas/Stove Top Tawa
This was (and still is) one of my favorite methods to make paneer tikka at home from when I didn’t have an air fryer. Warm up a cast iron skillet, stove top grill pan or any heavy tawa you have at home. Brush with oil once hot. Layer the paneer skewers on the tawa and let brown up. Flip and brown on the other side. Add oil as needed.
Making Paneer Tikka On Outdoor Grill
Liberally spray oil on your grill else the paneer will stick. Line the paneer tikka skewers on the grill. Spray oil on the tikka itself. Grill for a total of 8-10 minutes or until you see grill marks on the paneer. Flip once midway.
How to Create Charred Taste At Home
Use ONE of the two methods mentioned below to get rrestaurant style taste on your paneer tikka skewers after you are done cooking them.
Char directly on the flame of stove (I use this method)
For this method make sure that the skewers are long enough so that you can hold them on both sides. I wear baking mittens to be extra careful. Switch on the stove flame on high and rotate the skewers over it (without touching the flame) to get an even char on all sides. Takes about 45 seconds to 1 minutes. This methods makes the paneer tikka irresistibly smoky.
Under The Broiler
You can char the tikka for a total of 2 minutes under the broiler. Rotate after 1 minute for char on other side.
Dhungar (Charcoal Smoking)
This method wont char that tikka but infuse a smoky taste. Place the cooked paneer tikka in a large bowl or rectangular tray with lid. Place a small bowl in the center and add a burning piece of charcoal to the bowl. Add a few drops of ghee on the charcoal. Immediately you will notice smoke. Cover with a lid and let smoke infuse for a minute or so.
Recipe Tips
If using frozen paneer chunks, make sure to thaw them completely before adding to the marinade. You can make paneer tikka without skewers in oven, air fryer or pan. Place the paneer chunks apart from each other. Don’t skimp on oil else the tikka will be dry and stick to the pan. Vegan Tikka- For vegan version of this recipe, use firm tofu instead of paneer. Instead of yogurt, use dairy free yogurt (cashew yogurt works great!).
Troubleshooting Paneer Tikka
Storage
Paneer Tikka is best enjoyed hot. However, you can make it ahead and store in an air tight container for 2-3 days in the refrigerator. Reheat in the air fryer or use microwave. I don’t recommend freezing paneer tikka.
Serving Ideas
Serve as an appetizer or snack with two kinds of chutneys like green chutney, tamarind chutney, sliced onion and lemon slices. Add a refreshing drink like mango lemonade. You could serve as a main meal with naan or steamed rice, a side of methi dal and boondi raita. These paneer tikka also pair well with all sorts of pulao like mushroom pulao, soya chunks pulao or egg pulao. Wrap up panner tikka in paratha or roti to make rolls.
More Paneer Recipes
