Marinated paneer cubes, grilled and further cooked in a tangy and spicy tomato based sauce that can be served with rotis, naans and phulkas. Paneer Tawa Masala recipe with step by step photos.
This paneer tawa masala is a very rich punjabi side dish made with soft and succulent paneer cubes, marinated in spices.
Milk and cream are used to enrich the gravy making it apt for parties and special occasions.
The marinated, grilled paneer cubes were such a delight to pop into the mouth and that alone will make a perfect appetizer and the kids will love it as finger food.
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I have grilled the paneer cubes in the oven. But you can also use your grill plates of your sandwich maker, if you have one to grill or use a grill pan or a plain griddle (tawa) to do it on stove top.
The more the paneer cubes marinates, the better it will taste. You can also do the marinade ahead and store it in the refrigerator. Just thaw the cubes before you grill.
Step by Step recipe for paneer tawa masala:
1. In a mixing bowl, take chaat masala powder, ½ tsp red chili powder, ½ tsp ginger garlic paste, a pinch of salt and crushed kasuri methi.
2. Cut the paneer into cubes and add it to the mixing bowl. Add ½ tsp oil and mix well with your finger tips till the paneer cubes are coated well with the spices. Let it rest for one hour.
3. After an hour, spread the marinated paneer cubes on a greased foil paper and grill in the oven till done. It will take just 4-5 minutes. The cubes may appear a bit soft but by the time you get the gravy done it will become firm. You may also use your sandwich maker with grill plates to grill or shallow fry the cubes on a griddle (tawa). Keep aside.
4. Heat a pan with remaining oil and butter. Add ajwain, shah jeera and let it crackle.
5. Add finely chopped onions and sauté till light pink.
6. Add ginger garlic paste and sauté over low flame till the onion becomes light brown in color. Keep stirring to prevent sticking to the pan.
7. Add coriander powder, red chili powder, minced green chilies and mix well.
8. Sauté till the mixture becomes dry absorbing all the oil.
9. Puree the tomatoes, add to the pan and mix well.
10. Close partially with a lid and cook over medium flame, till the raw smell disappears and the oil separates and starts to float on top.
11. Add water, milk (if using), cream, garam masala powder, salt and mix well. Close with a lid and let it come to a boil. Simmer and cook for 2 minutes. Take off fire and keep aside.
12. Add these grilled paneer cubes to the gravy and mix well. If the gravy appears too thick add enough warm milk or water to get the required consistency and mix well.
Paneer tawa masala is ready. Garnish with kasuri methi and serve piping hot with naan or rotis.
You can also check out other easy paneer recipes like Paneer Jalfrezi, 15 mins paneer butter masala, chili paneer, Dal paneer masala and Kadai Paneer.
Paneer Tawa Masala Recipe details below:
Paneer Tawa Masala
Ingredients
- Paneer - 200 gms cubed
- Onion - 1 big
- Tomato – 4 to 5
- Ginger Garlic paste – 1 tbsp
- Green Chillies – 2
- Red chilli powder – 1 tsp
- Coriander powder – 2 tsp
- Chaat masala powder – 1 tsp
- Garam masala powder – ½ tsp
- Ajwain / Bishops weed - ½ tsp
- Shahjeera / Caraway seeds - 2 pinch
- Kasuri methi - 1 tbsp
- Fresh cream – 2 tbsp
- Water -¼ cup
- Milk – ¼ cup optional
- Salt – to taste
- Butter – ½ tbsp
- Oil – 2 tbsp
Instructions
To Grill Paneer:
- In a mixing bowl, take chaat masala powder, ½ tsp red chili powder, ½ tsp ginger garlic paste, a pinch of salt and crushed kasuri methi.
- Add the cubed paneer and ½ tsp oil to the mixing bowl.
- Mix well with your finger tips till the paneer cubes are coated well with the spices.
- Close with lid and let it rest for one hour.
- After an hour, spread the marinated paneer cubes on a greased foil paper and grill in the oven till done. It will take just 4-5 minutes.
- The cubes may appear a bit soft but by the time you get the gravy done it will become firm.
- You may also use your sandwich maker with grill plates to grill or shallow fry the cubes on a griddle (tawa). Keep aside.
For the Gravy:
- Heat a pan with remaining oil and butter.
- Add ajwain, shah jeera and let it crackle.
- Add finely chopped onions and sauté till light pink.
- Add ginger garlic paste and sauté over low flame till the onion becomes light brown in color.
- Keep stirring to prevent sticking to the pan.
- Add coriander powder, red chili powder, mined green chilies and mix well.
- Sauté till the mixture becomes dry absorbing all the oil.
- Puree the tomatoes, add it to the pan and mix well.
- Close partially with a lid and cook over medium flame, till the raw smell disappears and the oil separates and starts to float on top.
- Add water, milk (if using), cream, garam masala powder, salt and mix well.
- Close with a lid and let it come to a boil. Simmer and cook for 2 minutes. Take off fire and keep aside.
- Add these grilled paneer cubes to the gravy and mix well.
- If the gravy appears too thick add enough warm milk or water to get the required consistency and mix well.
- Paneer tawa masala is ready.
- Garnish with kasuri methi and serve piping hot with naan or rotis.
wow lovely colorful panneer Radhika... makes me wanna eat 🙂
yummy !!!
im salivating here..and i just had lunch!!! Damn delicious version of tawa paneer..bookmarked!! we are not so fond of ajwain too but all dont mind eating dishes to which a pinch of it is added..makes a diff in aroma..
Prathima Rao
Prats Corner
Happy 'Blog Hop Wednesday' Anniversary.
Paneer tawa Masala looks fantastic. Amazingly delicious. Nice clicks.
Tempting paneer recipe...yummy..
This is defintely the next paneer dish that I am making... Too good...
Looks absolutely yummmmmmmmy! I want some now! 🙂
wow this looks so flavourful and irresistible.
finger-licking gravy.. lovely clicks..
my god this looks so delicious gravy here. awesome dish radhika
what a delicious looking gravy...I love the aroma of Ajwain ...
Very very tempting Radhika. Bookmarking it to do.
tempting paneer
OMG Radhii!!! This looks bloody fantastic!! The color on the Paneer pieces is just WOW!!!! 🙂
yumminess personified
U r just a year old gasp !! I thought u were a veteran !! Awesome job ! On of my fav blogs !! Your paneer is to die for !! I can't say anything more - I want it !!
delicious and yummy !!! Join in Fast Food Event - Noodles .
delicious and yummy !!! Join in Fast Food Event - Noodles .
Super tempting bowl. Amazingly delish one.
Happy Anniversary for Blog Hop Wednesday,it is really wonderful,keep up the good work.
The paneer dish is stunning,delicious and super tempting.
nice color.. mouth watering..
Oh love that color!!! Very tempting gravy!!! 🙂
It's absolutely a winner in all respects Radhika...
tempting me... Happy krishna jeyanthi...
looks amazing! will definitely try this one out radhika... we love paneer n make it so often!
Awesome looking dish, adding kasuri methi surely does wonders to the taste
Lovely clicks
Lips smacking ... good one !!
absolutely delicious n looks too inviting Radhika...will try this for sure!
very inviting masala....
wow looks deliciuos..must try it someday.thanks for sharing
So tempting... Bookmarking it..
Radhika, that is absolutely delish looking! i now know where to go when i'm going to my next paneer dish!
Looks so so tempting ...am just drooling here...
nice color &tempting paneer
wow, what a color and texture. Gravy looks delicious!
Your clicks are real, great recipe. all time fav paneer
I love how 'restaurant like' this looks!
I am glad u opted for this, I must try this 🙂
Very delicious n yummy paneer !!
awesome...can't wait to try this tempting version..:)
Rich and delicious.. Beautiful clicks.
Beautiful clicks Radhika, lovely colour combo.., looks so delicious..
I am drooling here the Paneer dish looks so tempting.
Paneer curry looks tempting..
Perfect with rotis. Inviting.
This definitely looks like a winning paneer dish to me =)
Dear Radhika, Firstly, congrats on your own domain. The gravy does look irresistible and I agree ajwain would have added a great flavor.
hey radhi!! the paneer looks delectable... and sorry i was phoneless and internet less all last week. Got the connection repaired only today.. will call you tomoro morning 🙂
looks so rich and yum.
mind blowing recipe.love the curry.book marking it.happy to follow u.
OMG drooling..yummmmmm :))
Totally appetizing. Must try.
I made this for my dot's bday lunch and served it with Ghee Rice, it was a big hit and the kids loved it.I added the ajwain and my son kept munching on the paneer even before i could add it to the gravy. Its a perfect side dish for a party.
Thank You...
Hi,I made this for my daughter's bday lunch and everybody loved it including the kids. My son kept munching on the paneer even before I could add it to the gravy. I marinated it for a day and also added the ajwain. The burst of flavors in the dish were amazing.
Its a perfect side dish for a party too. Thank you for sharing
Thank you so much for the feedback Aartee. I'm so happy you kids loved it and had a great time.
Can i substitute tofu instead of paneer? My husband is vegan. Thanks!
Sorry for replying late. Sure you can replace tofu instead of paneer.
how long must the paneer be grilled?
Wah ji wah
Yummy...colourful paneer tawa masala
Can I substitute Cream? with something that is less rich and fat?
Hi Gowri, you can use skimmed milk instead of cream as a low fat option.
Not bad at all, apologies I didn’t take a pic. But damn delicious
??
thank you for such a lovely positive feedback
Was so delish.... Made today for family dinner along with garlic nan and rice. It was a blast of flavours. I did one thing wrong. I added ajwain a bit more. Even though it doesn't affected the flavour. Was so so yummy. My family loved it. Thanks for the great recipe.