Afghani Paneer Tikka | Tandoori Paneer Sashlik
Afghani Paneer Tikka, also known as Tandoori Paneer Sashlik, is a rich and creamy appetizer that blends the delicate flavors of marinated paneer with a mildly spiced, yogurt-based Afghani-style sauce. Grilled or tandoor-roasted to perfection, the paneer is paired with bell peppers, onions, and sometimes tomatoes on skewers, offering a smoky aroma and melt-in-the-mouth texture. It's a crowd-pleasing vegetarian starter, perfect for festive occasions or barbecue platters, celebrated for its indulgent taste and subtle spice.
Ingredients
For 1st Marination
- Paneer (पनीर) – 300 gms
- Salt (नमक) – 1 tsp
- Pepper Powder (काली मिर्च पाउडर) – ½ tsp
- Lemon (नींबू) – 1 no
- Ginger Garlic Paste (अदरक लहसुन पेस्ट) – 1 tbsp
2nd Marination
- Coriander Leaves, roughly Cut (ताज़ा धनिया) – 1 cup
- Onion, small (प्याज़) – 1 no
- Green Chillies (हरी मिर्च) – 2-3 nos
- Mint Leaves (पुदीना) – ½ cup handful
- Cashews, Soaked (काजू) – ¼ cup
- Cheese Slice (चीज़) – 2 slices
- Ginger Garlic Paste (अदरक लहसुन पेस्ट) – 1 tbsp
- Hung Curd (गाढ़ी दही) – ¾ cup
- Fresh Cream (ताज़ी क्रीम) – ½ cup
- Pepper Powder (काली मिर्च पाउडर) – ½ tsp
- Kasuri Methi Powder (कसूरी मेथी) – ½ tsp
- Chaat Masala (चाट मसाला ) – 1 tbsp
- Garam Masala (गरम मसाला) – ½ tsp
- Cumin Powder (जीरा पाउडर) – 1 tsp
- Salt (नमक) – to taste
- Black Salt (काला नमक) – ½ tsp
- Lemon (नींबू) – 1 no
- Capsicum, chunks (शिमला मिर्च) – ½ cup
- Onion, chunks (प्याज़) – ½ cup
For Finishing
- Butter (मक्खन) – 1 tbsp
- Chaat Masala (चाट मसाला ) – 1 tbsp
- Coriander, chopped (ताज़ा धनिया) – handful
Garnish
- Pudina chutney
- Masala onions
- Coriander sprigs
Instructions
- To marinate the diced cottage cheese, put salt, chilli powder, lemon, and some ginger garlic paste and leave for at least 10 min.For the second marination, in a grinder, put coriander, mint, onions, green chilies, soaked cashews, and cheese slices with some water. Grind this to make a thick paste.
- Now transfer the ground paste to a flat bowl. To this add hung curd, fresh cream, salt, pepper, kasoori methi, chaat masala, garam masala, and cumin powder, black salt, lemon juice. Mix this well and marinate the cottage cheese in this mix. Add some diced bell peppers and onions to the marinade and mix them well. Leave it for at least 30 mins.
- Insert the paneer and veggies into the skewer tightly. Grill the paneer in the OTG for 40 mins at 200C. Brush some melted butter and sprinkle a generous amount of chaat masala and coriander chopped. Afghani Paneer tikka is ready to be served hot with some mint chutney.
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