Grilled Paneer Hariyali Tikka.

“Grilled Paneer Hariyali Tikka” … My Style … A delicious chatpata paneer tikka with green / hariyali masala prepared on gas top with grilled pan along with capsicums and tomatoes … Great as a starter … So go ahead and Enjoy these with friends as you celebrate the day … Yummy Yumz … 

Paneer is good source of calcium and is said to have protein content too. Though the calorie content is higher, it is a loved and is a favorite dish of both children and the aged alike. Paneer is a dish that was prepared rarely in my home as I had to get it from shops that were little far off from my locality. And it used to become difficult to keep going as paneer is best used fresh. But my happiness knew no bounds, when a sweet shop re-opened their store with addition of some more items. And now fresh paneer is available to me almost on daily basis. That’s it now on paneer dishes will occupy my blog with glory. Having said this I must say I am using the skewer method for tikka for the first time. I usually just tava fry them. As I was not comfortable if the ingredients will get cooked properly, I first tava fried them on my grilled tava and then grilled them again by arranging them on wooden skewers. You may follow the method directly too. Sure to try many more dishes now that I have access. So keep in touch with my blog for many more paneer recipes. I must say the tikkas tasted simply awesome. 

** For the Grilled Paneer Hariyali Tikka :

** Cut about 200 – 250 gms of paneer into desired sized squares / cubes. Keep them about ½ inch in thickness. 

** To be ground to a paste for marinade : Add into a mixer grinder … 2 cups of coriander leaves (picked and cleaned), ¼ cup pudina / mint leaves (picked and cleaned), 4-5 green chillies, 1 inch piece of ginger cut to pieces, 10-12 garlic cut into pieces, 1-2 ajwain leaves or ½ tsp ajwain seeds (I added leaves) and grind all with little bit of water to a smooth paste. Do not add in more water. The paste should be really smooth. 

** Put the ground paste in a bowl add in salt to taste, ¼ cup of thick curds and 1-2 tblsp of besan / gram flour and beat well into a lump free mixture. 

** Note : If the curds are thinner in texture, strain a little bit of water and then use the same or else the batter will be too thin. 

** Remove and put the mixture in a flat shaped broad bowl / box. Roll the cut paneer pieces in the marinate and keep them in the same bowl. Cover and keep aside for some time. Say 20-30 mins. If you want to prepare it later in the day just put the whole bowl / box in the fridge covered with a tight lid. Remove from fridge about 30 mins before preparing the same. 

** Required No. of green capsicum and tomatoes as per your liking. You can add in onions too … I have not added them this time. 

** Cut the capsicum into cubes or triangular shapes. Discard the inner seeds. Add in a pinch of salt and a tablespoon of oil and microwave for 1 min. 

** Note : You can leave out this step and cook the same directly arranged on skewers and grill on on tava too. But it will take longer time so I just cooked for a min in MW. Choose any method you prefer. 

** Cut the tomatoes into squares or triangular shapes. Discard the inner seeds. Keep them ready aside. 

** Note : It is said that the wooden skewers should be soaked in water for some time. I have not followed this step I just washed the same and used as I was preparing the same on gas and not oven. If using oven method please follow the step of soaking the wooden skewers in water for some time.

** Apply oil on the grilled non stick pan and bring it to full heat. Lower the heat to medium and arrange the paneer pieces one by one on the tava and fry for a minute. Flip on to the other side and grill for another minute. Remove and keep aside. 

** Note : You can leave out this step and directly arrange it on skewer and then grill them .. I did so to get the grill marks on the panner. Choose any method you wish. 

** Arrange the veggies on the skewer by threading them in on order of tomato, paneer and capsicum. Check the picture enclosed. You can add in cubed onions too as well as other veggies of your choice. Repeat the sequence till all are done. 

** Now heat the grilled non stick pan and bring again to a full heat. Lower the heat apply oil if necessary and arrange the skewers on them one by one. Brush on some oil all over the arranged tikkas. Now grill on medium flame turning the sides for 2-3 mins. As we have already grilled the paneer and cooked the capsicum, it will not take more time. Also do not cook for long period or else the paneer will get hardened up. 

** Grilled Paneer Hariyali Tikka with Capsicum and Tomato is ready to be served My Style … Serve them hot by sprinkling some chat masala, lemon wedge and any green chutney of your choice. You can add some thinly sliced cabbage also while serving. Excellent starter to serve and enjoy with family and friends.