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Marinated paneer cubes, grilled and further cooked in a tangy and spicy tomato based sauce that can be served with rotis, naans and phulkas. Paneer Tawa Masala recipe with step by step photos.
This paneer tawa masala is a very rich punjabi side dish made with soft and succulent paneer cubes, marinated in spices.
Milk and cream are used to enrich the gravy making it apt for parties and special occasions.
The marinated, grilled paneer cubes were such a delight to pop into the mouth and that alone will make a perfect appetizer and the kids will love it as finger food.
I have grilled the paneer cubes in the oven. But you can also use your grill plates of your sandwich maker, if you have one to grill or use a grill pan or a plain griddle (tawa) to do it on stove top.
The more the paneer cubes marinates, the better it will taste. You can also do the marinade ahead and store it in the refrigerator. Just thaw the cubes before you grill.
Step by Step recipe for paneer tawa masala:
1. In a mixing bowl, take chaat masala powder, ½ teaspoon red chili powder, ½ teaspoon ginger garlic paste, a pinch of salt and crushed kasuri methi.
2. Cut the paneer into cubes and add it to the mixing bowl. Add ½ teaspoon oil and mix well with your finger tips till the paneer cubes are coated well with the spices. Let it rest for one hour.
3. After an hour, spread the marinated paneer cubes on a greased foil paper and grill in the oven till done. It will take just 4-5 minutes. The cubes may appear a bit soft but by the time you get the gravy done it will become firm. You may also use your sandwich maker with grill plates to grill or shallow fry the cubes on a griddle (tawa). Keep aside.
4. Heat a pan with remaining oil and butter. Add ajwain, shah jeera and let it crackle.
5. Add finely chopped onions and sauté till light pink.
6. Add ginger garlic paste and sauté over low flame till the onion becomes light brown in color. Keep stirring to prevent sticking to the pan.
7. Add coriander powder, red chili powder, minced green chilies and mix well.
8. Sauté till the mixture becomes dry absorbing all the oil.
9. Puree the tomatoes, add to the pan and mix well.
10. Close partially with a lid and cook over medium flame, till the raw smell disappears and the oil separates and starts to float on top.
11. Add water, milk (if using), cream, garam masala powder, salt and mix well. Close with a lid and let it come to a boil. Simmer and cook for 2 minutes. Take off fire and keep aside.
12. Add these grilledpaneer cubes to the gravy and mix well. If the gravy appears too thick add enough warm milk or water to get the required consistency and mix well.
Paneer tawa masala is ready. Garnish with kasuri methi and serve piping hot with naan or rotis.
You can also check out other easy paneer recipes like Paneer Jalfrezi, 15 mins paneer butter masala, chili paneer, Dal paneer masalaand Kadai Paneer.
Paneer Tawa Masala Recipe details below:
Recipe
Paneer Tawa Masala
A rich punjabi side dish with marinated grilled paneer cubes simmered in a tomato gravy to serve with flat breads.
4.75 from 8 votes
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Prep Time : 15 minutes mins
Cook Time : 30 minutes mins
Resting Time : 1 hour hr
Total Time : 1 hour hr 45 minutes mins
Servings : 4 servings
Course : Side Dish
Cuisine : Indian
Author : Radhika
Ingredients
- Paneer - 200 gms cubed
- Onion - 1 big
- Tomato – 4 to 5
- Ginger Garlic paste – 1 tbsp
- Green Chillies – 2
- Red chilli powder – 1 tsp
- Coriander powder – 2 tsp
- Chaat masala powder – 1 tsp
- Garam masala powder – ½ tsp
- Ajwain / Bishops weed - ½ tsp
- Shahjeera / Caraway seeds - 2 pinch
- Kasuri methi - 1 tbsp
- Fresh cream – 2 tbsp
- Water -¼ cup
- Milk – ¼ cup optional
- Salt – to taste
- Butter – ½ tbsp
- Oil – 2 tbsp
Instructions
To Grill Paneer:
In a mixing bowl, take chaat masala powder, ½ teaspoon red chili powder, ½ teaspoon ginger garlic paste, a pinch of salt and crushed kasuri methi.
Add the cubed paneer and ½ teaspoon oil to the mixing bowl.
Mix well with your finger tips till the paneer cubes are coated well with the spices.
Close with lid and let it rest for one hour.
After an hour, spread the marinated paneer cubes on a greased foil paper and grill in the oven till done. It will take just 4-5 minutes.
The cubes may appear a bit soft but by the time you get the gravy done it will become firm.
You may also use your sandwich maker with grill plates to grill or shallow fry the cubes on a griddle (tawa). Keep aside.
For the Gravy:
Heat a pan with remaining oil and butter.
Add ajwain, shah jeera and let it crackle.
Add finely chopped onions and sauté till light pink.
Add ginger garlic paste and sauté over low flame till the onion becomes light brown in color.
Keep stirring to prevent sticking to the pan.
Add coriander powder, red chili powder, mined green chilies and mix well.
Sauté till the mixture becomes dry absorbing all the oil.
Puree the tomatoes, add it to the pan and mix well.
Close partially with a lid and cook over medium flame, till the raw smell disappears and the oil separates and starts to float on top.
Add water, milk (if using), cream, garam masala powder, salt and mix well.
Close with a lid and let it come to a boil. Simmer and cook for 2 minutes. Take off fire and keep aside.
Add these grilled paneer cubes to the gravy and mix well.
If the gravy appears too thick add enough warm milk or water to get the required consistency and mix well.
Paneer tawa masala is ready.
Garnish with kasuri methi and serve piping hot with naan or rotis.
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