PANEER TIKKA MASALA

Paneer Tikka Masala is a gourmet dish which is simple to cook but very flavorful. Chunks of marinated grilled paneer and capsicum in a creamy onion tomato masala. Soft grilled paneer and the flavors of the masala, blend together beautifully to give you a final dish which is a treat to all your senses. The striking tikka masala subsequently is popular spicy gravy mixed with chicken to derive the chicken tikka masala which is the national dish in Britain. This dish pairs best with roti, butter naan, kulcha, jeera rice, plain rice or plain biryani. Although the dish flaunts the flavors of the north, it is equally relished all over India and abroad.

Paneer tikka masala is a dish so familiar with India, and so readily available everywhere, that the ordering, eating and enjoying of this spicy dish marks a tourist’s rite of passage into Indian cuisine. The creamy marinade mixed with traditional spices is best set overnight to seal in the flavor. For the true spice lover, the basic recipe can be easily adjusted for more or less punch.

Tikkas can also be served plain, without the gravy as a barbeque snack. The marinated paneer can also be served within toasted or grilled sandwiches. Delicious and savory, Tikka is an easy to make appetizer recipe. Tikka in the Persian, Urdu and Punjabi languages mean bits or pieces.  A tikka can be prepared with almost any meat, the most commonly used apart from chicken are the lamb and mutton. Vegetarians can also enjoy tikkas by using paneer instead of chicken or lamb. Tikkas are made of hot mouthwatering spices. Tikka can be served either as main meal or as an appetizer. Some varieties of tikka that you can try at home are Paneer Tikka, Chicken Tikka, Chicken Majestic and a lot more.

Curry was adopted from the Tamil word kari meaning "sauce", which is usually understood to mean vegetables and/or meat cooked with spices with or without a gravy. Curry making is an art. It is a dish originating in the cuisine of the Indian subcontinent. The common feature is the use of complex combinations of spices or herbs, usually including fresh or dried hot chillies. The use of the term is generally limited to dishes prepared in a sauce. Although the ingredients in curries may vary from one to the other, a good thumb rule is that a curry is a dish containing sauted onions, ginger, garlic and varying amounts of spices like turmeric, cumin, coriander, ginger, chili, cloves and fenugreek, among others. Some of the curries are Butter Chicken, Aloo Gobi, Chicken Curry, Egg Curry, Palak Moong Dal Fry, Grated Beetroot curry, Cabbage Kofta curry, Goan Shrimp curry, Stuffed Karela Fry, Tindora Fry and many more…..

Paneer or cottage cheese is the vegetarian's protein replacement instead of meat. Paneer is an Indian cheese which is used in many recipes for appetizers, main courses, desserts and classic Indian dishes like kormas, curries etc. Paneer is very easy to make at home. It is a popular indigenous dairy product of India, is similar to an unripen variety of soft cheese. Paneer is one of the rich source of proteins for most vegetarians.  It holds its shape well and doesn’t melt, hence you can saute it, grill or crumble/ grate and just do about anything to add in your dishes. Paneer also happens to be one of the easiest cheeses to make at home, requiring nothing more than milk and lemon juice. Some of the Paneer dishes are Paneer Butter Masala, Chilli Paneer, mattar paneer, paneer pakora, paneer amritsari, paneer spring rolls, paneer and spinach wonton...

Indian cuisine is highly influential and versatile. Indian food has gained prominence world-wide and Westerners have developed a palate for Indian dishes. The famous Indian dishes include the most sought after tandoor dishes like Tandoori chicken, tikka masalas, Idli-Dosa, Palak paneer, Dal makhani, Pav bhaji and breads like naan. The different tikka masalas offer the flavor of tandoori spices in rich thick gravy which goes perfectly well with Indian breads.

Cooking Tips:

• If you prefer giving this curry a darker red color, then add some red food color to it.
• If you prefer eating less butter, then adjust the quantity as desired.
• To give a slight variation to the paneer you can skip the masala gravy. Bake the marinated paneer pieces.

Health Tips:

• Paneer is a great source of calcium, which is helpful in maintaining strong teeth and bones.
• Vitamins B complex, present in paneer, are essential for the formation and strengthening of cartilage in children, women (pregnant and lactating) and men.
• paneer isrich in protein, vitamin B12, and calcium–and easier to digest than other cheeses.
• Paneer has the health benefit of preventing osteoporosis, which is a curse of old age and when eaten in moderation could help in reducing weight.
• Paneer is a good source of protein and it reduces cancer.
• Paneer also gives the health benefits of reducing the development of insulin resistance syndrome.