/body> >

Monday 28 November 2016

Hara Bhara Paneer Tikka / Indian Cottage Cheese in Green Marinade


Hara Bhara Paneer Tikka also known as Hariyali Paneer Tikka is a flavorful Cottage Cheese starter dish. In this a green marinade is made from hung curd, fresh coriander, mint leaves and basic Indian spices. Paneer (cottage cheese) chunks and veggies like onions and bell peppers are coated with this green marinade and thereafter grilled either on a stove top or in an oven.  Hara bhara paneer tikka is  gluten-free and is served hot seasoned with lime juice and chaat masala and usually accompanied with a mint chutney and salad. It is a delicious and healthy vegetarian alternative to Chicken tikka and other meat dishes. You can make this dish ahead of time and marinate the paneer and veggies overnight in refrigerator for more flavorful paneer tikka and grill it just at the time of serving.

When it is added to a spicy gravy, it gives yet another tasty dish called paneer tikka masala. Paneer cooks quickly and soaks all the flavors very well. Whenever I make a fresh batch of green chutney, I make this quick and lip smacking, protein rich starter from paneer. Hara bhara paneer tikka is a variation to the classic paneer tikka. Paneer Tikka is a popular Indian starter dish in which the cottage cheese chunks and veggies marinated in yogurt and spices are grilled. The marinated paneer chunks along with pieces of colorful bell peppers and onions are arranged on satay sticks and are grilled in tandoor. At home we can easily grill it in an oven or on a stove top. I have already posted the recipe of paneer tikka with both oven and stove top method. Click here for the recipe.

You may also add button mushrooms, tofu, soy chunks and veggies like broccoli, baby corn also to this tikka for variation. The longer the time of marination, the more flavorful the dish. To make hung curd at home, just tie some curd in a muslin cloth for 1-2 hours, so that all the liquid from the curd drains out and you get a creamy hing curd. 

Click on the following links for more tikka dishes from this blog. Paneer TikkaMushroom TikkaSoya Vegetable Tikka.

                           

Preparation Time : At least 1-2 hours, if time permits, marinate overnight
Cooking Time : 10-12 minutes using grill or tava (stove top) option and around 20-25 minutes in an oven.
Serves: 4-5

Ingredients:
  • 500 grams Indian Cottage Cheese /Paneer , cut into 10 cm cubes (I have used homemade Paneer)
  • 1 medium green pepper, cut into cubes
  • 1 medium red pepper, cut into cubes
  • 1 medium yellow pepper, cut into 10 cm cubes
  • 1 large red onion , cut into cubes
For the Marinade:
  • 3 tbsp hung curd (tie ½ cup curd in a muslin cloth and hang for 1-2 hours)
  • 1 small bunch of fresh coriander , around 50 grams
  • 1 small bunch of fresh mint leaves, around 50 grams 
  • 1 green chilly
  • 3-4 garlic cloves
  • ½ inch ginger root
  • 1 tsp roasted cumin powder
  • 1 tsp coriander powder
  • 1 tsp red chili powder
  • ½ tsp dry mango powder / amchur powder
  • Salt to taste
Other Ingredients:
  • Melted butter for basting
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • Chaat masala to taste
Method:
  1. In a blender jar take coriander and mint leaves, green chili, garlic cloves and ginger and make a smooth paste using little water. Our green paste is ready.

3.   For the Marinade, in a large mixing bowl , take hung curd . To it add the green paste, cumin coriander powder , dry mango powder , red chili powder and salt. Mix well and set aside.


4.   Add the paneer cubes along with bell pepper and red onion cubes. Mix well and marinate for at 6-8 hours or at least 1-2 hours. If you have time you can marinate even longer. The more you marinate the paneer becomes more flavorful. I usually marinate overnight.

   5. Put 3-4 wooden skewers in water and leave them to soak for 15-20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 180 degree Celsius for 15 minutes if using an oven. I have used a convection microwave with a grill option. When ready to cook, grease the skewers and baking sheet. Thread the paneer and vegetables alternatively onto the skewers. 
Place the skewers on a baking sheet in the preheated oven at 180 degree Celsius and bake for 20-25 minutes. In case you are using a grill option in a convection microwave, select the grill option. Keep the skewers on a greased plate onto the high rack and grill for 8-10 minutes. If you do not have an oven or microwave, you can use a greased tava and keep the skewered paneer onto it and cook on a medium flame for 10-12 minutes. In all the cases turn the skewer midway and brush with melted butter to assure the paneer and veggies do not dry up.


6.   We are looking for paneer which is soft , coated with marinade and charred around the edges. Do not overcook the paneer as it might turn rubbery. For those who intend to use a tava, can add 1-2 tsp of chick pea flour to the marinade to ensure the paneer does not stick to the tava.   Sprinkle the lemon juice and chaat masala and serve the hara bhara paneer tikka with mint chutney and salad and enjoy !
                             

Recipe Notes:
  • I would recommend to marinate the paneer and veggies in this green marinade for 6-8 hours or over night in a refrigerator as more the time of marination, the spices and yogurt infuse well into the paneer making it all the more flavorful.
  • Left over marinade can be added to any gravy.
  • Soak the wodden satay sticks in water at least for 20 minutes before grilling to prevent them from burning.
  • Do not overcook the paneer as it might turn rubbery. 
  • For those who intend to use a tava, can add 1-2 tsp of chick pea flour to the marinade to ensure the paneer does not stick to the tava.   

This is an old post which i have updated with the written content. I am sharing this post with a Facebook group, Foodies_RedoingOldPost which i have recently joined. This group is an initiative my friend and fellow blogger Renu who blogs at Cookwithrenu. In this group, bloggers update their old posts with new pics or contents every 2 weeks. I loved this concept, as bloggers we grow each day, our photography gets better and when we revisit our old post, we feel the photography could be better. Also many a time we make changes in our recipe which needs to be updated. I have many such posts which need to be updated and hope this group gives me the needed motivation for it. This is my fourth entry in this event (9th August).

                                                     Foodies_RedoingOldPost
If you ever try this recipe, do share your feedback with us in the comment section below. 
Follow us on #Facebook  #Instagram#Twitter,#Pinterest and #Google+  for more recipes and new updates. 

For more Paneer starter dishes , do check my posts on
                            
                            
                            
                            


9 comments :

  1. A marinade with coriander and mint sounds like a wonderful idea for paneer tikka. Love the colour. I usually used red paste for the marinate but next time will try this refreshing marinate Poonam.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mint and coriander add a flavorful and refreshing taste to the paneer tikka di. Do give it a try . I am sure you will love it.

      Delete
  2. Love the flavours that you have put here. It looks awesome. My children love this snack.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I too love paneer tikka and do it the same way. I do not add amchur powder but add lemon, next time will try this. one of our favourite summer food

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Renu. Do share your feedback once you try it.

      Delete
  4. It's been ages since I made kebabs of any kind. These hara bara tikka are awesome and yes I am drooling over the pics. Great way to get my kid to eat paneer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are right di,this flavorful hara bhara paneer tikka is one of the best ways to feed kids with Paneer. Glad you liked it. Thanks.

      Delete
  5. amazing recipe.. I am a food lover and food blogger..
    I am addicted to exploring new food..
    This is my 2nd time visit here, and
    I want to thank u because I have tried this
    recipe on my first visit to GrandMaa and the best
    thing is she liked it so much..
    thanks for this great recipe.. well written..!!


    palak paneer recipe in hindi



    recipe in hindi

    ReplyDelete

poonambachhav.blogspot.com