Paneer Tikka / Spiced marinated Cottage Cheese Cubes

Ingredients

the main ingredients for paneer tikka:

• 250 grams paneer or cottage cheese
• 1 large red bell pepper
• 1 large yellow bell pepper
• 1 large green bell pepper
• 1 medium sized onion

for the marinade:

• 200 grams hung curd or thick curd
• 1 tablespoon ginger-garlic paste or crushed ginger-garlic
• 1 teaspoon ajwain (carom seeds)
• 1 to 2 teaspoons kashmiri red chili powder
• ½ teaspoon turmeric powder (haldi)
• 1 teaspoon jeera powder (cumin seeds powder)
• 1 teaspoon dhania powder (coriander powder)
• ½ teaspoon garam masala powder
• 1 teaspoon dry mango powder (amchur powder)
• 1 teaspoon chaat masala
• ½ teaspoon black pepper powder, optional
• juice of half lemon
• 1 to 2 tablespoon oil or ghee or butter for brushing
• rock salt or black salt, as required

Instructions

the veggies and paneer:

1. chop the paneer in square shaped cubes.
2. the veggies also should be chopped in square shapes. keep the chopped veggies and paneer aside.

the marinade:

1. in a large bowl, take the curd and whisk it till it becomes smooth
2. add ginger garlic paste and all the spice powders plus ajwain, including black salt.
3. mix the spice powders with the curd.
4. you could also add oil at this stage if you do not want to brush the paneer tikka with oil later.
5. add the veggies and paneer to the marinade.
6. marinate for atleast 2 hours or more in the refrigerator.
7. remove after 2 hours and bring the marinated paneer and veggies at room temperature.
8. skewer the veggies and paneer alternately on skewers or tooth picks.
9. use a non stick tava so that paneer doesnot stick while frying. Add two tablespoon besan in the marination, to prevent paneer from sticking to tava and for much better taste.
10. arrange the panner tikka on a plate. sprinkle some chaat masala on paneer tikka.
11. serve the yummy panner tikka with mint chutney and onion rings with lemon wedges