Paneer Tikka Masala

Recently when I had buffet in Indian restaurant I tasted Paneer Tikka Masala. It was delicious, I could taste paneer butter masala flavor along with paneer tikka taste. I tried to combine my tofu butter masala and tofu tikka recipe; prepared this Paneer tikka Masala and happy with the results:-)

Preparation Time : 15 mins | Marination time : 2 hours | Cooking Time : 45 mins

Recipe Category: Side dish

Ingredients:

For Tikka:

Paneer – 1 packet (225 gram)

For marination:

Hung Curd/Sour Cream – 3 tbsp +1 tsp (I used Sour Cream)

Pepper Powder – 1/4 tsp

Turmeric powder – a pinch

Garam Masala powder – 1/4 tsp

Tandoori Masala  – 1 tsp

Chat Masala – 1/4 tsp (optional)

Lemon juice – 1 tsp

Ginger garlic paste – 1/2 tsp

Oil – 1 tbsp

How to make hung curd:

Hang 1/3 cup curd in a muslin cloth or any thin cloth for an hour to make the required hung curd.

For Gravy:

Onion – 2

Tomato – 3

Ginger garlic paste- 1 tsp

Garam Masala powder- 1 tsp

Chilli powder – 1/2 tsp

Coriander powder – 1/2 tsp

Cumin powder – 1/4 tsp

Heavy Cream – 3 tbsp

Turmeric powder – 1/8 tsp

Cinnamon Powder – 1/4 tsp

Salt – as needed

Butter – 1 tbsp

Method:

• Preheat the oven at 400 deg F
• Cube the Paneer and keep it aside. In a separate bowl Mix the ingredients listed under ‘for marination’ and keep aside. Mix paneer with the marinated ingredients and keep refrigerated for 2 hours (minimum an hour). Take it out and arrange the Paneer in the baking tray

• Bake them for 15-18 mins, turning over in between for even cooking. Paneer tikka is ready

• Boil onion and tomato in hot water and strain the water. When it comes to room temperature, blend them into fine paste

• Add butter to the pan. Add ginger garlic paste and sauté for 30 seconds. Add the blended tomato and onion puree and cook for 3-5 minutes

• Add garam masala, coriander powder, cumin powder, chilli powder, turmeric powder and allow it to cook for 2-3mins

• Add heavy cream and cook till it starts boiling. Add paneer tikka and cook for 2 minutes and switch off

My Notes:

• Instead of fresh cream you can add 1/3 cup of milk and cook for 5-8 minutes till the gravy become thick
• If you are using a cinnamon stick, add it while tempering
• Can marinate capsicum and onion along with paneer while preparing tikka and use it
• This gravy goes well with any variety rice like fried rice as well as with naan/rotis
• I boiled the onions and tomatoes, blended them, instead can sauté them in oil and grind them

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Tofu Butter Masala

As I had mentioned in Kadai Tofu and Tofu Tikka, though I love paneer, I am afraid of the calories it adds. Happy that Tofu can satisfy my taste buds in the same way as paneer. Couple of days weeks back I had prepared Malai Kofta with paneer. I was craving for paneer dish again, and this time, tried a side dish with tofu instead of paneer.

Tofu is similar to paneer, except that it is made with soy milk, which is said to be protein rich. My version of Tofu Butter Masala:

Tofu Butter Masala

Preparation Time : 10 min | Cooking Time : 25 mins | Serves : 4

Recipe Category: Side dish

Ingredients:

Firm Tofu – 1 packet (225 gram)

Onion – 1 big

Tomato – 2

Ginger garlic paste- 1 tsp

Garam Masala powder- 1 tsp

Chilli powder – 1/2 tsp

Coriander powder – 1/2 tsp

Cumin powder – 1/4 tsp

Milk – 1/3 cup

Turmeric powder – 1/8 tsp

Cinnamon Powder – 1/4 tsp

Salt – as needed

Butter – 2 tbsp

Method:

• Boil onion and tomato in hot water and strain the water. When it comes to room temperature, blend them into fine paste

• Add butter to the pan. Add ginger garlic paste and sauté for 30 seconds. Add the blended tomato and onion puree and cook for 3-5 minutes

• Add garam masala, coriander powder, cumin powder, chilli powder, turmeric powder and allow it to cook for 2-3mins

• Add the Tofu and salt. Saute well for 2-3 minutes

• Add cinnamon powder and milk and let it cook for 3-5 minutes

My Notes:

• Instead of milk, you can add 3 tbsp of fresh cream
• If you are using a cinnamon stick, add it while tempering
• This gravy goes well with any variety rice like fried rice/ pulao as well as with naan/rotis
• I boiled the onions and blended them, as it will save time while cooking blended onion. Instead, you can also sauté the onions
• For vegan version, instead of butter, you can add oil and use coconut milk to try Tofu Butter Masala:-)

Malai Kofta

Malai kofta is my sister’s favorite dish. I still remember those days, when we went to restaurants, she used to order butter Naan and malai Kofta most of the times. Rich creamy gravy creates so much addiction. Have tried both white and red gravy, but white gravy is my personal choice. I happened to see  Harpal Singh‘s video in youtube, and inspired from his preparation, here is my version.

Ingredients

Paneer Kofta – 10

Onion – 1 big, roughly chopped

Green chilli – 1 (Adjust according to your taste)

Cashewnut – 3 tbsp

Cardamom – 2 pods

Cinnamon – 1/2 piece

Fennel seed powder – 1/4 tsp

Ginger garlic paste – 1 tsp

Milk – 1/3 Cup

Butter/Oil – 2 tbsp (I used 1 tbsp oil and 1 tbsp butter)

Cardamom powder – 1/4  tsp

Salt – as needed

Pepper powder – 1/4 tsp

Heavy  cream/ Fresh Cream – 3 tbsp

Chopped nuts – 1 tbsp (Optional) to garnish

Method

• Add about 1 cup of water to a pan and bring water to boil. Add chopped onions and cook them. Strain the water and cool the onions. Once the onion comes to room temperature, blend them into a fine paste without adding water

• Add water to the pan again and bring water to boil. Cook the cashew and cool. Blend them into a fine paste by adding little water
• Add oil and butter to the pan, when the pan is hot, add cinnamon, fennel seed powder and cardamom, and  sauté for ½ minute.
• Add  onion paste and ginger garlic paste and saute for 3-4 minutes

• Add cashewnut paste and continue to sauté for 2-3 minutes

• Add milk and 1/2 cup of water. When the mixture comes to  boil, add  heavy cream and green cardamom powder

• Place the koftas in a serving dish and pour the gravy over the Kofta (Make sure the koftas are in room temperature, else they will break)

 

 

Kadai Tofu

Though I love paneer, I am afraid of the calories it adds. Happy that Tofu can satisfy my taste buds in the same way as paneer.

Tofu is similar to paneer except that it is made with soy milk, which is said to be protein rich and low in cholesterol when compared to paneer. I have followed the traditional kadai paneer recipe, but  replaced paneer with Tofu.

Kadai Tofu:

Preparation Time : 10 min | Cooking Time : 20 mins | Serves : 2

Recipe Category: Side dish

Ingredients:

Firm Tofu – 1 packet (225 gram)

Green Bell Pepper – 2 medium size, diced

Onion-1 diced

Tomatoes – 3 finely chopped

Ginger garlic paste – 1/2 tsp

Cumin seeds – 1 tsp

Coriander seeds – 2 tsp

Red chilli – 3 (use according to desired spice level)

Garam masala – 1/4 tsp

Fennel seed powder – 1/4 tsp

Cinnamon powder -1/8 tsp

Oil- 1 tsp

Asafoetida – a pinch

Salt as needed

Method:

• Dry roast 1 tsp + 1/2 tsp of coriander seed and 1/2 tsp of cumin seed and red chilli. Blend into coarse powder

• Drain the water out of the tofu, pat it dry with a paper towel and keep aside
• Add oil to the pan. Once the oil is hot, add 1/2 tsp of coriander seeds, 1/2 tsp of cumin seeds, fennel seed powder and cinnamon and let it splutter. Add tomatoes and sauté till it becomes mushy. Add bell pepper, onion, and stir fry. Add salt, the ground coarse powder and  garam masala,  and saute for 5 minutes

• Add tofu and gently mix. Cook for 5 minutes

 

My Notes:

• Instead of directly adding can roast tofu in oil and add them
• Can follow the same procedure and cook paneer