Paneer Tikka Masala

🥘 Ingredients

• Greek yogurt
  1/2 cup
• Kashmiri red chili powder/smoked paprika
  1/4-1/2 tsp, 3/4-1 tsp
• basmati rice
• bay leaf (all optional; or a small pinch of bay leaf powder + 1/4 tsp cardamom powder)
  1
• bell pepper (diced capsicum, optional)
  1/2 small
• cashews
  18 g
• cilantro (finely chopped)
  2 tbsp
• cinnamon
  1 inch piece
• cloves
  2
• dried fenugreek leaves (optional, optional)
  1.25 tsp
• garam masala
  1/2 tsp, 3/4-1 tsp
• ginger garlic paste (or 1-2 cloves crushed garlic + 1/8 tsp ginger powder, 2-3 cloves garlic + 1/4 tsp ginger powder)
  2.5 tsp
• green cardamom
  2
• heavy cream
  3 tbsp
• lemon juice (skip if your yogurt is sour)
  1 tsp
• oil
  2 tbsp, 1 tsp
• onions (cubed, 2 medium)
  1 cup
• paneer (cubed to 1-inch pieces)
  250 g, half Costco
• salt
  1/2 tsp
• sugar (optional)
  1 tsp
• tomatoes (ripe, chopped, 3 large)
  1.5 cups
• turmeric (optional)
  1/8 tsp
• water (to blend, to cook the sauce)
  1.5 cup

🍳 Cookware

• mixing bowl
• pan
• blender
• pan
• air fryer

1. 1

   To a mixing bowl , add Greek yogurt , Kashmiri red chili powder/smoked paprika , ginger garlic paste , garam masala , turmeric , dried fenugreek leaves , oil , lemon juice , and salt (adjust to taste).

   Greek yogurt: 1/2 cup, Kashmiri red chili powder/smoked paprika: 1/4-1/2 tsp, ginger garlic paste: 1 tsp (or 1-2 cloves crushed garlic + 1/8 tsp ginger powder), garam masala: 1/2 tsp, turmeric: 1/8 tsp (optional), dried fenugreek leaves: 1/4 tsp (optional), oil: 1 tsp, lemon juice: 1 tsp (skip if your yogurt is sour), salt: 1/4 tsp
2. 2

   Mix well and taste test it. Add more salt if required. Add paneer and gently mix to coat with the marinade.

   paneer: 250 g, half Costco (cubed to 1-inch pieces)
3. 3

   Optional – if using bell pepper , marinate as well. Set this aside until the gravy is done.

   bell pepper: 1/2 small (diced capsicum, optional)
4. 4

   Heat oil in a pan and add the onions . Saute well until transparent or golden, on medium heat.

   oil: 1 tbsp, onions: 1 cup (cubed, 2 medium)
5. 5

   Add tomatoes , cashews , sugar , and salt (adjust to taste). Saute all of these well until the tomatoes turn mushy and soft.

   tomatoes: 1.5 cups (ripe, chopped, 3 large), cashews: 18 g, sugar: 1 tsp (optional), salt: 1/4 tsp
6. 6

   Stir in Kashmiri red chili powder/smoked paprika and garam masala (adjust to taste). Saute for another ⏱️ 2 minutes , until the masala smells good and aromatic.

   Kashmiri red chili powder/smoked paprika: 3/4-1 tsp, garam masala: 3/4-1 tsp
7. 7

   Cool this completely and add to a blender . Pour in water and blend to a smooth puree.

   water: 3/4 cup (to blend)
8. 8

   Heat the rest of the oil in a pan on low flame and add the whole spices: green cardamom , cinnamon , cloves , and bay leaf . When they sizzle, add ginger garlic paste and saute for ⏱️ 1-2 minutes , until the raw smell disappears.

   oil: 1 tbsp, green cardamom: 2, cinnamon: 1 inch piece, cloves: 2, bay leaf: 1 (all optional; or a small pinch of bay leaf powder + 1/4 tsp cardamom powder), ginger garlic paste: 1.5 tsp (2-3 cloves garlic + 1/4 tsp ginger powder)
9. 9

   Pour in the onion tomato puree (careful as it may splash). At this step, taste test and add more red chili powder if you want to achieve a brighter color.
10. 10

    Pour in water to bring this to a gravy consistency. Cook covered until the gravy turns thick, about ⏱️ 10 minutes , and you see traces of oil on top. Keep stirring in between.

    water: 3/4 cup (to cook the sauce)
11. 11

    Once the gravy is thick yet of a pouring consistency, remove and discard the whole spices. Crush dried fenugreek leaves in your palms and sprinkle it in. Taste the gravy and add more salt if needed. Rest this aside.

    dried fenugreek leaves: 1 tsp (optional)
12. 12

    Put the coated paneer and bell pepper into the air fryer . Air fry at 390°F for ⏱️ 5-10 minutes until browned.
13. 13

    Transfer the grilled paneer tikka along with the veggies and onions to the tikka masala gravy.
14. 14

    Pour in heavy cream . Gently mix. Add cilantro .

    heavy cream: 3 tbsp, cilantro: 2 tbsp (finely chopped)
15. 15

    Serve paneer tikka masala with basmati rice .

    basmati rice