PANEER AND NAAN BITES
Paneer Tikka and Naan Bites is a different way to serve up paneer tikka. Spicy grilled paneer cubes are served on a bed of spinach and naan. It is a fun way to serve this starter dish at parties or even for a BBQ get together.
Ingredients
- 2-3 big naans cut into 36 squares I used ready made naan
- 400 g paneer or 36 bite size paneer cubes firm
- 4 tbsp tandoori paste I used ready made
- 4 tbsp plain thick yogurt
- 2 tbsp thick tomato paste
- 1 tsp ginger paste
- 1 tsp garlic paste
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp red chilli powder
- ½ tsp kashmiri red chilli powder or paprika
- ½ tsp sugar
- 2 tbsp oil
- 36 spinach leaves or any green salad leaves
Instructions
MARINATE THE PANEER
- Cut the paneer into approx 1″ cubes.
- Mix tandoori paste, yogurt, tomato paste, salt, sugar, ginger, garlic, chilli powders and oil in a bowl.
- Add the paneer cubes, mix gently till the paneer is coated with the tandoori mixture. Cover the bowl with cling film.
- Let the paneer marinate overnight in the fridge or for 4-6 hours.
METHOD 1:
- Fire up the grill or BBQ stove.
- Thread the marinated paneer through the skewers.
- Place it over the BBQ grill.
- Make sure you keep turning the skewers to prevent the paneer burning up.
- Brush the remaining marinade over it.
- As soon as you see that the edges of the paneer begin to turn brown, and the marinade on it appears dry, the paneer tikka is ready.
- Remove from the fire and using a fork, gently slip it off the skewers.
METHOD 2:
- Line a baking tray with aluminum foil.
- Preheat the oven to 180°C.
- Spread out the paneer cubes along with the marinade onto the prepared tray.
- Bake the paneer for 30 minutes. After 15 minutes of baking, turn the paneer pieces over.
TO ASSEMBLE THE PANEER AND NAAN BITES:
- Warm the naan under a broiler or on the BBQ grill for 3-4 minutes.
- Cut the naan into squares.
- Make sure the naan squares are about the same size as the paneer cubes.
- Put a folded spinach leaf on a naan square.
- Pick up the paneer square with a toothpick and stick it into the spinach and naan.
- Repeat the above step till all the paneer cubes, spinach and naan pieces have been assembled.
- Serve as a starter.
Notes
- Feel free to use homemade naan.
- If you don’t get Kashmiri Red Chilli Powder, use a chilli powder of your choice that adds the natural red colour without it being too hot. Usually tikkas served as street food contain red food colouring.
- To serve paneer tikka on its own, skewer them with large chunks of onion, sweet pepper and tomato. Brush with marinade and grill all together.