đ What Makes This Recipe So Good
A vegetarian version of the popular chicken tikka masala dish, paneer tikka masala contains all the incredible flavors youâd expect. Instead of chicken, though, the star of this dish is a soft, creamy Indian cheese made from curds of boiled milk. That means this recipe is naturally meatless, but you can easily make it vegan if needed. This dish is well-spiced, but donât worry â itâs not spicy, at least not in terms of heat. If youâre particularly heat-sensitive, know that the gravy does call for 1 serrano pepper. Serranos are similar to jalapeños, but theyâre a decent bit hotter, ranking anywhere from 5,000 to 15,000 Scoville units as opposed to a jalapenoâs 2,000 to 5,000 Scoville units. The other ingredients temper the pepperâs heat well, but feel free to use less or omit it altogether if you need to. We take ZERO shortcuts with this recipe! Iâm all about getting the best, deepest flavors possible, which means simmering marinated paneer tikkas in a thick, tomato-based masala sauce. Itâs a little more involved than say, a Crockpot recipe, but trust me â itâs totally worth the effort!
đ©đŒâđł Chefâs Tips
Cut the paneer into cubes of any size, whatever you prefer. Depending on the size of your skillet, you may need to pan-fry the paneer in two batches. If you do, keep in mind that the second batch likely wonât need to cook as long as the first since the pan will already be good and hot! Love hot food? You can make your paneer tikka masala hotter if you like! The recipe calls for 1 serrano chili without seeds, which will give you a fairly mild temperature. One serrano chile with seeds will give you a medium temperature, but for a hot temp, use 2 serrano chiles and their seeds. Be careful not to overcook your paneer tikkas. Itâll end up being hard if you do! Homemade paneer should only need 2 to 3 minutes, while store-bought can handle 4 to 5 minutes.
đ„ More Indian-Inspired Recipes Youâll Enjoy
How to Make Paneer (Indian Cheese): Step by Step Guide Instant Pot Basmati Rice Instant Pot Dal Beef Vindaloo Indian Meatballs Recipe with Creamy Sauce (Whole30, Paleo) Whole30 Indian Saag Chicken (Paleo Indian Saag Chicken) Palak Paneer (Restaurant Style) Easy Chana Masala Vegetable Korma (Vegan, Gluten Free) Indian Butter Chicken Whole30 Indian Butter Chicken (Lactose-Free)
