Paneer Tikka masala recipe

Mobasir hassan
16 December

Paneer tikka masala restaurant style

Paneer tikka masala is everyone's favourite. A vegetarian version of popular recipe chicken tikka masala. This delicious paneer tikka masala is for all the foodies and cooking enthusiast who love vegetarian recipes.
Serving garnished paneer tikka masala

Paneer tikka masala is yummy, versatile and extremely easy to make. And the best part is you don't even need a tandoor to make paneer tikka for this recipe. If you have looking for such paneer tikka masala recipe, you have come to the right place. Here I bring you the step by step guide on how to make paneer tikka masala recipe at home with photos and video.

What is paneer Tikka masala

Paneer tikka masala is a rich, creamy and little bit tangy dish of paneer made by grilled or roasted paneer tikka in a tomato onion based gravy. It is a famous north Indian dish hugely popular in Delhi and Punjab. Paneer known as a cottage cheese is a most popular vegetarian food item of India.

Paneer tikka masala is a two steps recipe
  1. Making paneer Tikka
  2. Making masala gravy
Ingredients required

Paneer : homemade paneer is best to use for the recipe. Otherwise use malai paneer. If you want to make soft paneer at home then go for the best recipe here.

Spice powder :  commonly used spices like cumin powder, coriander powder, garam masala, red chili powder, kasoori methi and salt.

Onion tomato and capsicum : medium size onion and fresh tomato capsicum.

Herbs : ginger garlic paste, coriander leaves and green chili.

Cooking oil : any good brand's vegetable oil is suitable.

Other ingredients : curd, cashew nut, fresh cream and butter.

Serving suggestions

Paneer tikka masala is a thick gravy based dish so it is best to serve with some Indian flatbreads like Butter Naan, tandoori roti and lachcha paratha.

Homemade breads like chapati and phulka are excellent to serve with it. And kulcha also works fine with it.

Steps to make the recipe

1. Making paneer tikka 

First cut paneer into cube size pieces. Similarly cut capsicum, onion and tomato into small cube size.

Next take thick curd in a mixing bowl and mix with red chilli powder, ginger garlic paste, cumin powder and salt. Add lemon juice and one tablespoon oil and whisk everything together to make a masala paste.

Coat the paneer and vegetables with this masala and keep marinated for 15 minutes.
After that roast the marinated paneer tikka either using an Oven or pan or tawa. 

If using a pan or tawa then heat 1 tablespoon oil in medium high flame. When it became hot, lower the flame and add the paneer pieces removing excess marination.
Roast them from all sides till crisp golden. Similarly roast the remaining vegetables as well for 2 minutes.

Read how to make paneer tikka on pan or oven

   paneer tikka on Tawa and oven

Roasting paneer Tikka on tawa or pan for paneer tikka masala recipe

Grilling tomato capsicum cubes on pan for paneer tikka masala recipe

2. Making onion tomato puree 

You can either boil roughly sliced onion, tomato, ginger, garlic, Cashew nuts and red chilli powder with some whole spices like green cardamom, bay leaf, cloves and cinnamon stick for 15 minutes.

After that drain and remove the whole spices and cool down. Grind them into a fine puree. 

Or heat one tablespoon oil in a pan and fry ginger garlic paste and onion slices till light brown. Add cashew nuts, red chilli powder and tomato slices and fry till they become soft. Cool down and then make puree.

Tomato onion cashew mixture for Paneer Tikka masala recipe

Tomato onion cashew puree for paneer tikka masala recipe

 3.Making the masala gravy

Heat oil in a pan and fry cumin seeds till sizzling. Then add chopped garlic and onion and fry till light brown.

Add red chilli powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder and garam masala.

Mixing masala with onions and spices for paneer tikka masala recipe

Mix and cook them for 30 seconds. Then add the prepared tomato onion puree and cook for 2 minutes in medium heat flame.

Cooking onion tomato puree with onion masala for paneer tikka masala recipe

Now add little bit curd, prepared paneer tikka with the vegetables and salt. Give them a nice mix and further cook for one more minute.

Mixing paneer Tikka with gravy for paneer tikka masala recipe

Now add a small butter cube, fresh cream, some chopped coriander leaves and crushed fenugreek leaves into the paneer tikka masala gravy. 

Mix everything nicely and cook for one more minute. Taste the seasoning and thickness of the gravy and if required add.

Switch off the flame and remove to serve hot. This paneer tikka masala recipe give you the same flavour and taste as restaurant style paneer tikka masala.

Tips to make restaurant style paneer tikka masala recipe
  • Make a tandoori masala paste and marinate the paneer pieces for 2 - 3 hours to absorb all the flavours. Then roast them either using an Oven or pan.
  •  For making the masala you can use some whole spices like green cardamom, cinnamon stick, cloves and bay leaf. This spices can make the paneer tikka masala more aromatic and taste. 
  • Use a less sour yoghurt.
  •  Use crushed fenugreek leaves for restaurant style flavour.
  •  Use small amount of green chili paste to make it little bit spicy.
If you love this recipe then I am sure you would love Paneer butter masala recipe  as well.

Easy paneer tikka masala recipe at home with step by step methods and complete video.

Easy Paneer Tikka masala recipe

Serving paneer Tikka masala recipe

Prep time           cooking time         serving
25 min                15 min                        2
Author :              Mobasir hassan

Ingredients 

For making paneer tikka
  • 200 gm paneer
  • 1/2 tablespoon red chilli powder
  • 1/3 teaspoon cumin (jeera powder) 
  • 1 tablespoon curd(yogurt)
  • Salt as per taste
  • 1 fresh capsicum and tomato 
For making  the gravy
  • 2 medium size onion ( cut into slices)
  • 2 tablespoon cashew nuts
  • 2 medium size tomato ( cut into slices)
  • 1/2 tablespoon red chilli powder
  • 1/2 tablespoon ginger garlic paste
  • 1 tablespoon cooking oil
For making the masala 
  • 1 medium size onion ( chopped)
  • 1/3 tablespoon chopped garlic
  • Small pinch of whole cumin seeds
  • 1/4 tablespoon fenugreek (kasoori methi) 
  • 1/2 tablespoon red chilli powder
  • 1/4 tablespoon coriander powder
  • 1/4 tablespoon garam masala
  • 1 small butter cube
  • 2 tablespoon fresh cream
  • Some coriander leaves for garnish
  • salt as per taste
How to make the recipe

Preparation for paneer tikka
  1. Cut paneer, capsicum and tomato into cube size and mix with red chilli powder, cumin powder, salt, ginger  garlic paste and yoghurt in a bowl. Let it marinate for 15 minutes.
  2. After the marination time, heat an pan or tawa with half teaspoon oil and roast the marinated paneer pieces from all sides till crisp. Similarly roast the capsicum and tomato. Remove them in a bowl to use in gravy.
Making paneer tikka gravy
  1. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a pan and fry ginger garlic paste till raw smell goes off. Add the onion slices and fry till light brown.
  2. Add the cashew nuts and fry till golden.
  3. Now add red chilli powder and saute then add the tomato slices and fry till the tomatoes become messy.
  4. Remove and cool down completely and make a fine paste using grinder or mixer.

Making paneer tikka masala

  1. Heat oil in a pan and saute the chopped onions and garlic till brown. Then add cumin seeds and fry.
  2. Now add red chilli powder, coriander powder, turmeric powder and garam masala and saute for 30 seconds.
  3. Pour the prepared onion tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes..
  4. Add curd and prepared paneer tikka with vegetables, salt, crushed fenugreek leaves and chopped coriander leaves and cook for 1 minute.
  5. Mix butter cube and stir well. Then  pour fresh cream and mix and cook for 1 minute. Check the thickness of the gravy and seasoning. Sprinkle crushed fenugreek leaves and some chopped coriander leaves.  Remove and serve the paneer Tikka masala with roti, naan or paratha.
                           Video

 paneer tikka masala recipe video



Nutritional value (estimate only)
  • Calories :- 325
  • Fats :-  25 g | Protein :- 11 g
  • Carbohydrate :- 14 g  | Fiber :- 2 g
  • Calcium :- 355 mg | Iron :- 0.8 mg
                  Serving tips
  • As paneer Tikka masala is a semi thick gravy dish , it is best to serve with flat Indian breads. Best to serve with butter Naan and Roti .
  •  You can even serve it with homemade chapati and phulka.
  •  Pour it over  plain steam basmati rice or jeera rice and serve . It really taste well with them also.
                  Recipe notes 
  • Use best quality paneer or homemade paneer for the recipe to get soft chunks of bites.
  • Use less sour curd for the recipe. For making paneer tikka marination, use hung curd or Greek yogurt for the best results.
Popular Indian recipes to make at home
Chicken Tikka masala , yummy chicken curry, Samosa recipe and Egg curry recipe

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