Paneer Tikka

Paneer Tikka: This is a famous appetizer from North India. Paneer and vegetables are marinated in tandoori masala and then grilled in the oven. Paneer is an unaged, acid -set and non-melting curd cheese common in South Asian cuisine. You can buy it from any ethnic Indian store.

Ingredients:

- 15 to 20 small cut cubes of Paneer

- 1 small green capsicum cut in to small square pieces

- 1/2 red onion cut into small square pieces

- 1 tsp of ginger garlic paste

- 1 tbsp of tandoori masala ( If you do not have tandoori masala you can use the masala given at the end of the ingredients' list)

- 2 tbsp of oil

- 1 tsp of lemon juice

Instead of tandoori masala you can use:

- 1 tsp chilli powder

- 1 tsp cumin powder

- salt

** Pieces of Paneer and the vegetables should be such that they can be put on to skewers or toothpicks.

Preparation:

- In a bowl take tandoori masala , ginger garlic paste, lemon juice and 1 tbsp of oil. Mix everything together.

- Take this mixture and rub it thoroughly on each piece of paneer, capsicum and onion.

- Keep the marinated pieces overnight or atleast for 6 hrs.

- Take a toothpick and put in a piece of paneer in the center and a piece of onion and capsicum on both the sides of the paneer (as shown in the picture). Do the same with the rest of the pieces.

- Once all the toothpicks are done, put them on a greased baking tray.

- Sprinkle the remaining 1 tbsp of oil on all the skewers.

- Put the tray in the oven on 375 degrees for 10-15 min till the paneer is golden brown and the vegetables are cooked.

- Serve them hot.

*** Do not over cook the paneer otherwise the texture becomes rubbery and the tikka turns out to be rather difficult to eat.