Paneer Tikka Masala, a famous vegetarian gravy served for Roti/Chapati in Restaurants. This goes well even with Pulao and Fried Rice varieties especially with Jeera Rice. Crispy and tasty Paneer Tikkas in spicy masala gravy gives a wonderful aroma and a perfect delight for our taste buds!!!

Paneer cubes are marinated with yogurt+spices based masala paste, shallow fry the marinated paneer and then tossed into onion+tomato spiced gravy. The first part of marination and shallow frying of paneer is same as the Paneer Tikka, a starter / appetizer. Also in the appetizer, we used to add cubed onions, green/red bellpepper along with paneer. Even in this Paneer Tikka Masala we can toss in the onions and green/red bellpepper. My kids are not a great fan of bell peppers and so I skipped and used only paneer. We can also toss the bell peppers in the gravy instead of marinating with paneer.

We can shallow fry the marinated paneer pieces using a tawa on the stove top or we can grill the paneer using oven. Since the paneer has been nicely marinated and fried, it adds a nice flavor to the whole dish instead of just tossing plain paneer. This Paneer Tikka Masala is always a popular and scrumptious Indian Vegetarian Gravy and a perfect accompaniment!

Tips for making Paneer Tikka:

We can add Onions and bell peppers along with paneer in the marination process.
We can also add gram flour which makes the paneer more crunchy outside during grilling process.
We can also enrich with fresh cream to the curry and make it richer.

Recipe card for Paneer Tikka Masala:

INSTRUCTIONS WITH STEP BY STEP PICTURES:

MARINATION PROCESS

In a mixing bowl, take hung curd or thick yogurt along with cumin powder, coriander powder, red chili powder, garam masala, ginger-garlic paste, turmeric powder, salt and lemon juice.

Mix well.

REFRIGERATE

To the prepared marination, toss the Paneer cubes and mix well so that each paneer cube is nicely coated with the marination mixture. We can also add cubed onions, green / red Bell pepper along with paneer cubes.

Cover this mixing bowl with a lid and refrigerate for 2 hours.

GRILLING PROCESS

Heat a tawa. Brush the tawa with little oil. Add 8-10 marinated Paneer cubes and sizzle some oil and grill the Paneer cubes on all of its sides till golden brown.

Take Grilled Paneer aside and repeat for rest of the marinated Paneer Cubes. Keep these grilled Paneer aside.

CURRY PREPARATION PROCESS

Heat butter or oil in a heavy bottomed pan. Add cumin seeds and allow it to sputter.

Then add the onions and saute the onions till it is translucent. We can add a pinch of salt which will bring out the moisture in the onions and allow the onions to cook quickly and evenly also less oil is enough if we add a pinch of salt. Along with onions, add ginger-garlic paste and saute it.

SPICE UP THE CURRY

To the sauteed onions, now, add tomato puree along with cumin powder, coriander powder, red chili powder, turmeric powder and salt and mix well. Cover & cook the curry in medium flame for 5 mins or till the oil oozes out.