Afghani Paneer Tikka

Full written recipe for Paneer Afghani Tikka

Prep time: 30-35 minutes

Cooking time: 10-15 minutes

Serves: 4-5 people

Ingredients:

• DAHI | दही 200 GRAMS
• MUSTARD OIL | सरसों का तेल 1 TSP
• CASHEW PASTE | काजू की पेस्ट OF 15 CASHEWS
• FRESH CREAM | फ्रेश क्रीम 2 TBSP
• GINGER GARLIC & GREEN CHILLI PASTE
• GARLIC | लेहसुन 6 CLOVES
• GINGER | अदरक 1/2 INCH
• GREEN CHILLI | हरी मिर्च 2 NOS.
• POWDERED SPICES
• CORIANDER POWDER | धनिया पाउडर 1 TSP
• CUMIN POWDER | जीरा पाउडर 1/2 TSP
• CHAAT MASALA | चाट मसाला 1/2 TSP
• BLACK SALT | काला नमक 1/4 TSP
• WHITE PEPPER POWDER | सफेद मिर्च पाउडर 1/4 TSP
• ROASTED KASURI METHI POWDER | भुनी हुई कसूरी मेथी का पाउडर 1/4 TSP
• GARAM MASALA | गरम मसाला 1/4 TSP
• SALT | नमक TO TASTE
• LIVE CHARCOAL | कोयला
• GHEE | घी
• PANEER | पनीर 500 GRAMS
• CAPSICUM | शिमला मिर्च AS REQUIRED (DICED)
• ONION | प्याज़ AS REQUIRED (PETALS)

Method:

1. To make hung curd add the curd into a muslin cloth & squeeze out all the excess moisture, then place it in a sieve & place a small weight on it & let it rest for 25-30 minutes.
2. Further transfer the hung curd into a large plate & add mustard oil, cashew paste, fresh cream, ginger garlic & green chilli paste, all the powdered spices, salt & mix the marinade using your hand, make sure there are no lumps.
3. You can also give the marinade a smoky flavour by using live charcoal & ghee, this step is completely optional, place a piece of live charcoal in a small bowl & place it on the marinade, then pour a spoonful of ghee & cover the bowl using a lid & let it smoke for 3-4 minutes then take off the lid.
4. Cut the paneer into tikkas & also prep the capsicum & onion similarly.
5. To replicate the tandoor texture, I prefer to cook paneer tikka over direct flame using metal skewers.
6. Insert the onion petal onto the skewer, then coat the cut paneer with the marinade & insert it into the skewer followed by a diced piece of capsicum then alternate the same sequence until there are 4-5 pieces of paneer on the skewer, prep all the skewers similarly.
7. After skewering, cook them on open flame to get the charred texture, this method will replicate the tandoor.
8. Once charred, remove the skewer from the flame & serve.
9. Your delicious afghani paneer tikkas are ready, sprinkle some chaat masala & squeeze a bit of lemon while serving.
10. To cook these in an airfryer, preheat the air fryer on 200 C for 10-15 minutes, then skewer the paneer & the veggies similarly on a bamboo skewer.
11. Place a piece of foil in the air fryer & keep the skewered paneer tikkas, air fry for 10-12 minutes then apply butter & again let it cook for a few minutes until charred marks appear.

Green chutney

Ingredients:

• MINT | पुदीना A SMALL HANDFUL 1/2 CUP
• FRESH CORIANDER | हरा धनिया A LARGE HANDFUL
• GREEN CHILLI | हरी मिर्च 2-3 NOS.
• GINGER | अदरक 1/2 INCH
• GARLIC | लेहसुन 4-5 CLOVES
• JAGGERY | गुड़ A SMALL PIECE
• TAMARIND | इमली 2 TSP
• CUMIN | जीरा 1/4 TSP
• BLACK SALT | काला नमक 1/2 TSP
• SALT | नमक TO TASTE
• ICE CUBE | बर्फ
• WATER | पानी AS REQUIRED

Method:

1. Add all the ingredients of the chutney into a mixer grinder jar & grind it into a fine chutney.
2. Your green chutney is ready.