Paneer Tikka Masala (Straightforward Genuine Indian Recipe)
6 min read
That includes golden fried paneer items in luscious gravy, paneer tikka masala is a charming Indian dish everybody ought to strive. Excellent for vegetarians, this deeply-spiced recipe is the style of India on a plate.
When you’ve tried our hen tikka masala earlier than, you’ll little question love the meatless model of it that makes use of paneer. It’s an Indian-style agency cheese comprised of full-fat milk.
Widespread in lots of Indian recipes, it’s most well-known in a tikka masala.
What’s paneer tikka masala?
Paneer tikka masala is an Indian dish that includes paneer cheese in a gravy flavored with spices. To make this Indian curry, paneer is minimize into cubes and marinated in yogurt. It’s then pan-fried and mixed with the flavorful sauce.
Simply one of the vital widespread dishes in an Indian restaurant; it’s truly ridiculously straightforward to make it your self! We love doing it this manner as a result of it’s:
- Stuffed with taste. Made with fragrant tikka masala curry paste, this dish seems scrumptious and tremendous flavorful each single time.
- Vegetarian. In case you are on the lookout for an Indian curry recipe that doesn’t comprise meat, then this paneer masala is one thing you’ll take pleasure in.
- Adjustable warmth. You can also make this dish as spicy as you want by adjusting the variety of chili peppers you set in it.
Substances wanted
This recipe calls for easy, on a regular basis elements that may be discovered at mainstream grocery shops. You probably have bother discovering paneer, strive Asian supermarkets or specialty markets. Here’s what you’ll want:
- Paneer. Minimize into 2-inch items.
- Yogurt. Plain Greek yogurt to marinate the paneer.
- Tikka masala curry paste. A flavorful paste that comprises a spread of spices and tomato paste.
- Curry leaves. To present the dish a strong curry taste.
- Onion. Chopped brown onion.
- Chili pepper. Chopped and seeded. Modify the variety of chilis you employ relying on the extent of spiciness you want.
- Garlic. Minced.
- Vegetable broth. To supply a flavorful base for the sauce.
- Tomatoes. Canned diced tomatoes works, or contemporary ones.
- Tomato paste. To counterpoint the flavour of the sauce.
- Heavy cream. To make the tikka masala sauce silky easy.
- Lemon juice. To stability and brighten the flavour of the dish.
- Olive oil. To sauté the greens and pan-fry the paneer. Some other impartial cooking oil will work.
Learn how to make paneer tikka masala
Making this recipe isn’t troublesome in any respect. Even should you don’t prepare dinner Indian dishes usually, making this dish shouldn’t be an issue for you as long as you comply with these steps.
Step 1 – Marinate the paneer
Add yogurt and half the tikka masala curry to a big mixing bowl. Slice the paneer cheese into same-size items and add to the bowl. Combine to coat the cheese with yogurt, then cowl the bowl and refrigerate for not less than 10 minutes or as much as 4 hours.

Step 2 – Prepare dinner the sauce
Warmth oil in a non-stick pan. As soon as sizzling, add the curry leaves and prepare dinner for a couple of minutes till aromatic. Subsequent, add the chopped onion, chili peppers, and minced garlic. Prepare dinner for a few minutes till translucent. Add the remaining tikka masala curry paste together with the vegetable broth, tomatoes, and tomato paste. Cut back the warmth to low and permit the sauce to simmer till it thickens right into a wealthy gravy.

Step 3 – Pan-fry paneer and mix it with the sauce
Whereas the sauce cooks, add oil to a pan and pan-fry the paneer till it’s good and golden. Add the paneer to the sauce and prepare dinner for one more quarter-hour. Add the heavy cream and lemon juice and serve instantly.

Tricks to make the perfect recipe
- Soak the paneer in sizzling water. It is not uncommon for store-bought paneer to be a little bit arduous or rubbery. If that is so for you, slice the paneer and soak it in sizzling water for round 10 minutes. The new water will drastically enhance the consistency of the cheese.
- Pressure the sauce to make it further easy. Whereas this step is completely non-obligatory, you’ll be able to pressure the tikka masala sauce to make it further easy.
- Add butter to make it creamier. When you add the heavy cream, add a knob of butter to the sauce to make it wealthy, creamy, and shiny.
- Prime with contemporary herbs. Contemporary cilantro and mint are the proper crowning glory for paneer tikka masala.
- Serve with naan. Paneer tikka masala is nice with rice, however it is usually scrumptious to pair with naan.
Storage directions
To retailer. Place leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge. It can final 3 to five days within the fridge.
To reheat. Reheat paneer tikka masala on the range on low warmth. Add water, vegetable broth, or heavy cream if wanted.

Extra curry recipes to strive
Continuously requested questions
Paneer masala isn’t the sam as tikka masala. Tikka masala is basically the gravy during which the paneer cubes are served for this dish.
Sure, you’ll be able to freeze paneer tikka masala. Divide it into parts and freeze it in hermetic containers for as much as 3 months. Defrost it in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating it.
Shahi paneer is one other widespread Indian paneer dish consisting of paneer items served in a thick sauce. In contrast to paneer tikka masala, the cheese items usually are not marinated and are pan-fried for shahi paneer. They’re added straight to the sauce consisting of cream, varied spices, and, most significantly, cashew paste.

- 1/2 lb paneer sliced into 2-inch cubes
- 1/4 cup plain yogurt
- 2 tablespoons tikka masala paste divided
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 curry leaves
- 1/2 massive brown onion chopped
- 1/2 small chili seeded and chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1/2 cup vegetable broth
- 6 ounces diced tomatoes canned
- 1/1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
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Add the sliced paneer, yogurt, and half the tikka masala curry paste in a big bowl and blend properly. Cowl the bowl and refrigerate for not less than 10 minutes, or as much as 4 hours, to marinate.
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Warmth one tablespoon of the oil in a non-stick pan and place over medium warmth. As soon as sizzling, add the curry leaves and prepare dinner till aromatic. Add the onion, chili, and garlic and prepare dinner for 2 minutes or till translucent. Add the remaining tikka masala curry paste, broth, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste. Cut back the warmth to low and let every thing simmer till the sauce has thickened.
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In a separate pan, add the remaining oil. Prepare dinner the paneer till barely charred. Add the paneer to the sauce and simmer every thing collectively till the sauce thickens much more.
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Stir by means of heavy cream and lemon juice and serve instantly.
TO STORE: Place leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge. It can final 3 to five days within the fridge.
TO FREEZE: Divide it into parts and freeze it in hermetic containers for as much as 3 months. Defrost it in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating it.
TO REHEAT: Reheat paneer tikka masala on the range on low warmth. Add water, vegetable broth, or heavy cream if wanted.
Serving: 1serving | Energy: 309kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 10g | Fats: 27g | Sodium: 180mg | Potassium: 209mg | Fiber: 1g | Vitamin A: 480IU | Vitamin C: 25mg | Calcium: 324mg | Iron: 1mg | NET CARBS: 7g