Paneer Tikka Masala Recipe Restaurant Style | रेस्टोरेंट जैसे पनीर टिक्का मसाला

Paneer Tikka Masala is a tasty Indian Paneer recipe where we grill the paneer cubes marinated with tasty spices and then simmer it in a tomato-onion based gravy. Here I will tell you how to make that delicious Restaurant Style Paneer Tikka masala at the comfort of your home.

For all of those people who are wondering what on earth is Paneer, let me tell you that this is basically Indian cottage cheese which is after curdling milk with vinegar or lime juice and then it is transferred to a muslin cloth and hung overnight so as to get the thick milk solid. This is what we call paneer here in India. But, here we don't necessarily go through all those steps every time. We generally buy paneer packaged from stores.

So, basically Paneer Tikka Masala is a recipe where we make tikka of the paneer cubes and then add it to our spicy, tomato-y gravy.

I know you guys are really obsessed with Chicken Tikka Masala, and why not, it is one of THE tastiest Chicken recipes out there. This recipe is just a paneer version of that. But, since you are in my kitchen, I will always make sure that there is a delicious twist in the recipe. So, come along with me as I walk you through the Paneer Tikka Masala recipe.

How to Make Paneer Tikka Masala Restaurant Style?

Whenever we visit any Indian restaurant, we'll always find Paneer Tikka Masala listed on the menu. Just looking at the word "Tikka" I lose control over myself. To be honest, I have had this dish at least one hundred times if not more in various restaurants all around the country. And, after having had this dish so many times I can say that my taste buds have figured out the kind of Paneer tikka masala they want to have. And, whenever I am making Paneer tikka masala, I make sure that I am listening to those subtle gestures of my taste buds. This is how I infuse my travel and my experiences in my cooking. So, to make restaurant-style Paneer tikka masala, what you have to do is follow these four basic steps.

First: Marinate paneer cubes with thick yogurt, ginger garlic paste, and all the dry spices - coriander powder, garam masala, red chili powder, salt, ajwain or carrom seeds, and besan or gram flour. We'll cover this up and let it sit in the refrigerator for at least 35-45 minutes.

So, basically, what did I do here & Why: I am gonna grill the paneer cubes or make tikka out of it, but, if we would have grilled the paneer cubes as it is, they would have tasted so dull and boring. So, adding the dry spices, the ginger garlic paste, the yogurt, and especially ajwain or carrom seeds I have created a spicy and flavorful coating around my otherwise dull and boring paneer cubes. And, besan or gram flour is just to get that beautiful crust around our paneer. Now, when they will be grilled they will taste delicious.

Second: In the second step of making Restaurant Style Paneer Tikka Masala, we will make our gravy. For this step, there are many variations and people do as it pleases them. But, I will tell you a slightly unique way to do it.

What you have to do, is take two onions. First, cut one in dice. And cut the second one in half and make a paste out of it.

Yes, guys, I prefer adding both -  Diced Onions for that extra bit of crunch that we find in restaurants and some onion paste as well so as to thicken my gravy.

So, take a pan add some ghee and some oil. Now to make it flavorful we will add whole spices - you can use whatever is available at your home at that point. I have used cinnamon, cumin seeds or jeera, black peppercorns, mace or Javirtri, Cardamom pods or hari elaichi, coriander seeds, and cloves or laung.

Why? - So, guys, the reason behind adding the whole spices is to make the base of the gravy flavorful. These whole spices when sizzles in ghee or clarified butter release a beautiful flavor and fragrance. As a result, our oil in which we will make our gravy and cook further has got flavored.

Now let's add diced onions, then ginger garlic paste, followed by onion paste. As you add onions the onions will release water so there is no fear that your ginger-garlic will get burnt. Cook this until the onions are nicely done and they look sort of pale. Now we'll add our dry spices - which are turmeric powder, red chili powder, coriander powder, and garam masala. We'll cook this for a while and then add tomato puree. Now this will get cooked until oil oozes out from the sides.

Third: While this is happening you must grill your paneer cubes. So take a grill pan and grill both sides until its beautifully golden brown on both sides. If you want you can use an electric grill as well.

What If you want to Grill Your Paneer Cubes in the Microwave Oven:  You can also attach them to a skewer and arrange it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Now drizzle or spray some oil on the paneer cubes and bake them in a preheated oven at 450°F for 10 minutes and then broil for another 2-3 minutes.

Fourth and the Final Step: Now add these grilled paneer cubes in your gravy. Once you have added the paneer cubes, don't stir much. Just mix everything well and take it off from the heat. Garnish with cilantro or coriander leaves and some ginger julienne just like the way they do in restaurants.

One last tip: Cut out one small chunk of butter and place it just in the center and let it melt off by itself. It will give you the ideal restaurant style that you are looking for.

If you are making Paneer Tikka Masala at home then please tag me on Instagram with #twinskirasoi and please provide a rating to this recipe. If you have any doubts or anything that you would want to point out or ask then simply comment below. I would be more than happy to reply back. Please get in touch with us on all social media handles.

Other Paneer Recipes you can try:

• Chili Paneer Street Style
• Paneer Kali Mirch
• Dhaba Style Paneer Do Pyaza
• Crispy Paneer Pakora