achari paneer tikka

Achari paneer tikka recipe with step by step photos – yet another variation of the popular Paneer tikka flavored with pickling spices. If you enjoy biting into pickle and relishing the sour taste of lemon or mango then you will like this recipe. You can also check this recipe of Achari paneer.

Achar or pickle is a condiment which often accompanies Indian food. The spices which are used to make the achar masala is more or less the same everywhere in India. Mustard, fenugreek (methi seeds), red chili, turmeric and asafoetida (hing) are the common spices used in many pickles.

These spices flavor this achari paneer tikka too. I have also added fennel seeds, nigella seeds (kalonji) and mustard oil. You can skip kalonji if you don’t get them. Any other oil can also be added instead of mustard oil.

Since I get a lot of queries for making tikka on stovetop, in this post I have mentioned Both stovetop and oven method For cooking the achari paneer tikka. you can also grill the tikka in an electric grill or barbecue grill. Even a tandoor will work.

How to make achari paneer tikka

1. First take all the spices namely – mustard seeds (i used split mustard seeds also called as rai ka kuria), fenugreek seeds, fennel seeds, nigella seeds and dry red chilies in a dry grinder or coffee grinder.

2. Grind all these spices to a fine powder. A slight semi-fine texture is also ok. This is the dry achari masala.

3. In a bowl take hung yogurt or thick yogurt and whisk till smooth. To make hung yogurt, place about 1 cup curd/yogurt in a muslin cloth or a cotton napkin. Tie tightly and place on a strainer, which is kept over a bowl. Keep in the fridge till all the whey gets collected in the bowl. Here I used thick yogurt.

4. Add the powdered achari masala, red chili powder, gram flour/corn starch, ginger-garlic paste, asafoetida, red chili powder, dry mango powder or lime juice, crushed dry fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi), salt and mustard oil. You can also use ready-made achar masala or pickle masala instead of grinding the spices. add about 2 tbsp of dry achar masala in the marinade.

5. Mix everything into the beaten curd. Check the taste and add more salt or other seasoning if required.

6. Add the bell peppers, onions and paneer cubes.

7. Gently mix the paneer cubes and veggies till they are evenly coated with the achari marinade. Cover and refrigerate for about 1 hour or overnight. You can also keep for any number of hours. I kept overnight.

8. The marinated cottage cheese cubes and veggies the next day. Gently mix again.

Grilling method to make achari paneer tikka

9. Thread the veggies and paneer cubes on a bamboo skewer or metal skewer. You can also use toothpicks. Preheat your regular oven to 200 degrees celsius/390 degrees fahrenheit, for atleast 10 minutes before you grill the tikkas. For a regular oven, heat both the top and bottom elements and keep the pan in the center or top rack. For a microwave oven use the convection mode and preheat at 180 degrees celsius/350 degrees fahrenheit. Cover a baking tray with an aluminum foil. Avoid butter paper like I have done as the paneer sticks to the butter paper, when grilled. I did not have aluminum foil and hence used butter paper.

10. Brush the marinated paneer with 1/2 to 1 tsp of mustard oil or any other oil.

11. Place the tray in the top rack or middle rack of a preheated oven. Keep both the top and bottom heating elements on. Grill at 200 degrees celsius for 15-25 minutes (depending on the oven temperatures). I have a slow oven, so it took 25 mins for the paneer cubes to be grilled and browned at the edges. Just keep an eye when the paneer is getting grilled in the oven. For a microwave oven in the convection mode, use 180 degrees celsius for grilling the achari paneer tikka.

Pan frying method to make achari paneer tikka

12. Heat about 2 to 3 tsp oil in a non stick pan. Place the threaded paneer cubes with the skewers on the pan. You can also fry the marinated paneer cubes and veggies without the skewers.

13. gently rotate the skewers, when one side is crisp and browned. Keep on rotating till all the sides are browned. Add more oil if required, while frying.

14. Fry till all the sides are golden. Pan-fry on a low flame as the marinade gets browned quickly. Keep the fried achari paneer tikka aside.

15. Serve with onion slices, lemon wedges and mint chutney. Sprinkle chaat masala and lemon juice on the achari paneer tikka while serving. You can also garnish with chopped coriander or mint leaves. The achari paneer tikka on the left side is pan-fried and the one on the right side is grilled.

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Achari Paneer Tikka

4.67 from 3 votes

By Dassana Amit

Grilled cottage cheese cubes flavored with pickling spices.

Save Pin Rate Print

Prep Time 1 hr

Cook Time 30 mins

Total Time 1 hr 30 mins

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Cuisine North Indian

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Servings 4

Ingredients

for the pickle masala or achari masala

• 2 teaspoon split yellow mustard (rai ka kuria) or 1.5 teaspoon whole mustard seeds
• 2 teaspoon fennel seeds
• ½ teaspoon nigella seeds (kalonji)
• ¼ teaspoon fenugreek seeds (methi dana)
• 2 to 3 dry red chilies - deseeded and broken into small pieces
• as substitute for above you can also add 2 tablespoon of ready made dry achar masala or pickle mix

other ingredients

• 250 to 300 grams paneer (cottage cheese) - sliced into cubes or squares
• 1 medium capsicum (bell pepper - red or green or yellow) - diced
• 1 medium onion, halved and the layers separated
• 1 medium tomato, diced (optional)
• 7 tablespoon full fat hung curd (hung yogurt ) or thick curd (yogurt or dahi)
• 2 tablespoon besan (gram flour or chickpea flour) or corn starch (corn flour)
• 4 to 5 medium garlic cloves + 1 inch ginger - about 1.5 teaspoon ginger garlic paste
• ½ teaspoon dry mango powder (amchur powder) or lime juice - add as required for more tang if preferred
• ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder
• ½ teaspoon coriander powder - optional
• ½ teaspoon red chili powder
• ½ teaspoon crushed dry fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi)
• 1 pinch asafoetida (hing) - optional
• 1 teaspoon mustard oil, preferred or any vegetable oil
• salt as required

for garnish

• 1 small to medium onion - sliced thinly or sliced thinly into roundels
• 1 small lime or 1 lemon - sliced or quartered
• a few pinches of chaat masala powder
• 1 tablespoon of chopped coriander leaves or mint leaves (optional)

Instructions

preparing the achari masala or pickle mix

• First take all the spices namely - mustard seeds (i used split mustard seeds), fenugreek seeds, fennel seeds, nigella seeds and dry red chilies in a dry grinder or coffee grinder.
• Grind all these spices to a fine powder. A slight semi fine texture is also ok. This is the dry achari masala. Keep aside.

making achari paneer tikka

• In a bowl take hung yogurt or thick yogurt and whisk till smooth. To make hung yogurt, place the yogurt in a muslin cloth or a cotton napkin. Tie tightly and place on a strainer, which is kept over a bowl. Keep in the fridge till all the whey gets collected in the bowl. This takes about 4 to 5 hours. You can also keep overnight. Here I used thick yogurt.
• Add the powdered achari masala, red chili powder, gram flour/corn starch, ginger-garlic paste, asafoetida, coriander powder, red chili powder, dry mango powder or lime juice, crushed dry fenugreek leaves (kasuri methi), salt and mustard oil. You can also use ready made achar masala or pickle masala. Add about 2 tbsp of dry achar masala in the marinade.
• Mix everything into the beaten curd. Check the taste and add more salt or other seasoning if required.
• Add the bell peppers, onions and paneer cubes.
• Gently mix the paneer cubes and veggies till they are evenly coated with the achari marinade.
• Cover and refrigerate for about 1 hour or overnight. You can also keep for any number of hours.
• Once you remove from the the marinated cottage cheese cubes and veggies from the fridge, then gently mix again.

grilling method for making achari paneer tikka

• Preheat your oven to 200 degrees celsius/390 degrees fahrenheit for at least 10 minutes before you grill the tikkas. 
• For a regular oven, keep both the top and bottom elements on and keep the pan in the center or top rack. For a microwave oven use the convection mode and preheat at 180 degrees celsius/350 degrees fahrenheit.
• Thread the veggies and paneer cubes on a bamboo skewer or metal skewer. You can also
• Use toothpicks.
• Cover a baking tray with an aluminium foil. Avoid butter paper like I have done as the paneer sticks to the butter paper once grilled.
• Brush the marinated paneer with 1/2 to 1 tsp of mustard oil or any other oil.
• Place the tray in a the top rack or middle rack of a preheated oven. Keep both the top and bottom heating elements on. Grill at 200 degrees celsius for 15-25 minutes (depending on the oven temperatures). I have a slow oven, so it took 25 mins for the paneer cubes to be grilled and browned at the edges. 
• Just keep an eye when the paneer is getting grilled in the oven. For a microwave oven in the convection mode, use 180 degrees celsius/350 degrees fahrenheit for grilling the tikka.

pan frying or stove top method for achari paneer tikka

• Heat about 2 to 3 tsp oil in a non stick pan. Place the threaded paneer tikka with the skewers on the pan. You can also fry the marinated paneer cubes and veggies without the skewers.
• Gently rotate the skewers, when one side is crisp and browned. Keep on rotating till all the sides are browned. Add more oil if required, while frying.
• Fry till all the sides are golden. Pan fry on a low flame as the marinade gets browned quickly. Keep the fried achari paneer tikka aside.
• Serve with onion slices, lemon wedges and mint yogurt chutney. Sprinkle chaat masala and lemon juice on the achari paneer tikka while serving. You can also garnish with chopped coriander or mint leaves.

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