Tandoori Paneer Tikka........

Hello my vegetarian friends...something for you today.

Paneer Tikka! Simple yet complicated ....the flavours...I mean. Paneer or cottage cheese is very bland, often sweet”ish”and needs spices to enhance its delicate flavour. 

Kind of like a hulk and his pretty petite girlfriend. 

The cottage cheese being the girlfriend that is.

Most north Indians have this restriction of no meat Tuesdays and no meat Thursdays...so we are left with little options but to indulge in Paneer Tikkas....not very happily though.

I jazz them up with things you’ll not generally use, and they make such a difference.

For the

Tandoori Paneer Tikka

You need

500 grams fresh Paneer

2 tablespoons hung curd

1 tablespoons fresh cream

2 tablespoons vinegar

1 tablespoons honey

1 tsp ginger garlic and green chili paste

Salt, Red chili flakes to taste,pinch turmeric

1 teaspoon Tandoori Chicken masala (it's the right blend of all the spices –nutmeg, cumin, cardamom etc....nothing non vegetarian about it!)

1/2 tspn ajwain

1 teaspoon kasoori methi

1 pinch red food colour (optional...I tried it...just made the Paneer more jewel coloured)

1 large capsicum cut into bite sized pieces

1 large onion quartered and opened 

Cut the Paneer into large rectangular pieces. You can cut them into small ones before you cook them. They have a tendency to break. Delicate remember?

In a large bowl mix the spices and liquid ingredients  well...

that's cream and curd...

here is the honey...

And then add the Paneer. Now you need to be careful or you may break the paneer. If you intend to bake the Paneer soon add the veggies right now too. If you have time....do that up to two hours before you cook the Paneer.

I marinated the paneer in the morning,,and I skipped the veggies for now.

Covered and kept aside....

Success in the game...go for cheat codes.......

Same Old Same Old....

Click on 

http://baketitude.blogspot.com/2011/09/cheat-codes.html

Get the embers...

Get the Al foil bowl...

Get the cloves and the "ghee".

Smokey aromas on demand.....

I added the veggies as an after thought...so they were not smoked-Pity!

OK now get cracking! Turn on whatever you intend using ...rain played hooky with our plans so the BBQ was not turned on...back to my trusted electric tandoor.

Greased AL foil...

Same technique....wait 5-7 minutes...turn only once and baste when you turn....

Just out...Steam....

and plate  with green chutney and mustard,,,,

Go easy on the cholesterol and calories  for a change...and enjoy!

So what are you baking today????