A few weeks ago, I made grilled naan, the perfect way to make naan in the middle of the summer! And, of course, if you make naan, you gotta have Indian food for dinner! And I am not picky when it comes to Indian food! Seriously, I have loved any Indian dish I have tried.
I suppose it’s not really fair to label it as just Indian, because many of these dishes cross borders and are just as prevalent in countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc. But, for common purposes, I’ll just say Indian and note that I am not trying to discount the wonderful cultures of these other south Asian countries!
Generally I stick to chicken dishes when I make or order Indian food. Although, there are some amazing lamb dishes! But when I want to make an easy Indian meal at home, lamb just isn’t the way to go… generally those are low and slow recipes to get the lamb perfectly tender. Although, that does get me thinking on making a slow cooker lamb recipe!… I have not yet given in to the instant pot craze, so don’t make me!
There are also a lot of vegetarian Indian dishes I love, with dal being right at the top of that list! But, paneer tikka masala takes a spot all on its own. The cheese is super subtle with a wonderful texture, and if you love chicken tikka masala, you know just how delicious tikka masala sauce is! It’s one of those sauces that you want a ton of extra sauce to wipe up with pieces of naan. While I make basmati rice with a lot of my Indian dishes, I never make rice with this dish. Having a big piece of naan to dip and wipe is the only accoutrement I need!
Don’t let this ingredient list intimidate you! This really could not be easier to make, and like any perfect weeknight meal, it also comes together quickly! And a quick note on paneer… my local grocery store does not sell it, but my nearest Whole Foods does. If you’re having trouble finding it, try a Whole Foods or search out your local Indian market. Some Asian markets carry Indian products (it is an Asian country after all!), but I usually only find that in large Asian markets… and even then, pretty rarely! We have a large Indian community out here, so I have some awesome Indian markets within half an hour. But, when in doubt, start with Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, or a speciality cheese store! You won’t regret the hunt!
Enjoy!
Paneer Tikka Masala
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Indian, Vegetarian
- Cuisine: Dinner
Ingredients
Tikka Paste
½ TB ground coriander
½ TB ground cumin
2 tsps paprika
1 tsp garam masala
1 tsp dried mint
½ tsp chili powder
¼ tsp ground turmeric
¼ tsp salt
1 lemon, zested & juiced
¼ cup nonfat Greek yogurt
couple drops of red & yellow food coloring (optional for vibrancy)
Tikka Masala
16 oz paneer, cut into bite-sized cubes
¼ cup nonfat Greek yogurt
1 small sweet onion, chopped
1” ginger, finely minced
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
1 small jalapeño, deseeded and finely minced
1 TB tomato paste
1 TB brown sugar
1 cup water
1 TB ghee, divided
handful cilantro, roughly chopped
salt & pepper
Instructions
In a medium bowl, mix together the tikka paste ingredients. Add in the paneer and toss to combine. Refrigerate and let marinate for 1 hour or overnight.
When ready, heat ½ tablespoon ghee in a large, nonstick saucepan. Add the onion and lightly salt. Sauté for about 5 minutes, stirring often, or until it starts to turn translucent. Add the garlic, ginger, and jalapeño and sauté an additional minute. Stir in the tomato paste and water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and let simmer for 10 minutes or until the sauce has started to thicken slightly. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly before add the sauce to a blender or food processor. Process until smooth.
Meanwhile, thread the paneer onto skewers and grill for about 10 minutes, turning frequently, until all sides are golden brown.
Return the sauce to the saucepan and stir in the marinade, grilled paneer, brown sugar, and remaining yogurt. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and let simmer for 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt & pepper. Garnish with cilantro and serve over basmati rice or grilled naan. Enjoy!
Keywords: tikka masala, masala, paneer tikka masala, vegetarian tikka masala, how to make tikka masala, tikka masala paste
