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Paneer Tak-a-Tak / Tawa Paneer

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Tak-A-Tak

 

I came to know of this recipe my friend’s cousin. This happens to a very popular street food in Mumbai. It got its name from the sound the vendor makes with spatula holding it vertically on the big tawa thereby mashing the contents and bringing together the entire dish. She had come down for a wedding to Chennai and she was surprised to hear the Tak, Tak sound when we were walking along the road where in a vendor was making Koththu Parotta. That was when she told us that they also had a dish named tak-a-tak being cooked similar to this.

 

 

She was kind enough to share the recipe with us and we all loved it very much when I served it with Naans. Also I got to know a new recipe where in pav bhaji masala is used. I always thought this special masala powder is only used in the bhajis served with Pavs. This is also the first time I’m using ajwain in a side dish and was amazed by the flavor it imparted. As I had no idea how it tasted, I made it in my own way and was happy to find it finger licking delicious.

 

 

Paneer Tak-a-Tak / Tawa Paneer

(Print this Recipe)

You’ll need:

  • Paneer – 200 gms
  • Onion – 2
  • Tomatoes – 3
  • Ginger Garlic paste – 1 tsp
  • Red chilli powder – 1 tsp
  • Pav Bhaji Masala – 1 tsp
  • Ajwain – 1 pinch
  • Salt – to taste
  • Butter – 3 tbsp
  • Oil – 2 tbsp
  • Coriander leaves – for garnish

 

 

Method:

 

I used store bought paneer. Crumble and mash the paneer either by hand or in a food processor. Pulse the tomatoes in a mixie coarsely. This step is purely optional as pulsed tomatoes will cook faster there by saving time while bringing  about the masalas together.

 

Heat the butter and oil together tawa. Add the ajwain and cook over high flame for a few seconds. You have to get the aroma. Add the finely chopped onions and fry for a minute. Add the ginger garlic paste and fry again for 1 min. Now add the tomatoes, cook for a couple of minutes and add the red chilli powder, pav bhaji masala powder and mix well.

 

Now hold 2 spatulas preferably wooden ones, upright over the cooking masala. Bring together the masala with both the spatulas and mashing it while you are at it. It is like how you would pound a garlic. Cook like this for 2-3 mins.

 

Now add the mashed paneer and salt and repeat cooking with the spatulas for another 2-3 min over high flame. Simmer and let it cook for another 2 min. Garnish with coriander leaves and serve hot with Naans.

 

 

Notes:

  • I understand that the ajwain flavor should be predominant in this masala.
  • In case you do not like ajwain, avoid it and add 1 more tsp of ginger garlic paste.
  • Pulsing the tomatoes makes the work easier.

 

This is off to Anu’s Street food event.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  10. Anonymous

    Thanks for the informative article, it was a good read and I hope its ok that I share this with some facebook friends. Thanks.

    Reply

  15. Anjali Shukla

    What an article and what a recipe, too! I loved the name of the recipe the most, though…’ Tak-a -tak’…haha… 😀
    This is like Paneer Bhaji instead of Paav Bhaji and what a twist I admit; fantabulous!! 🙂
    The color is beautiful, the clicks perfect and the feel gratifying.

    Reply

  31. Priya Purush

    Good Day Radhika, Today for breakfast I made this dish and your paneer paratha. It was so good. The pinch of ajwain was just right, for even i dont like the flavour of ajwain much. I am very happy today because this is the first dish i had cooked other than my normal sambar, koottu and poriyal. It is the snap which made me to try this dish of all the other paneer dishes you had posted. I will never be able to explain in words how much it means to me to be cooking like this. Thank you so much and my heart felt thanks for making me cook, cos it is something which my MIL was not able to achieve even after 5 years of my marriage.

    Reply

    • Radhika

      That is the sweetest compliment I have ever received so far and thanks a lot for your kind words Priya. It is me who must be thanking you for making my day.

      Reply

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