Tawa Paneer is one of the most well-known Indian dishes which is prepared with paneer, that is Indian cottage cheese, cooked on a flat, round griddle which is more commonly used in making breads like roti or paratha in India. The food gets its powerful and flavored taste due to the use of paneer, herbs, and spices. It is quick to cook, requires minimal ingredients, and is fantastic as a side dish or main entrée. This recipe is great for a quick, filling dinner because it can be prepared in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients for Paneer Tawa
- The following ingredients are required to prepare Tawa Paneer:
- 250 grams of cubed paneer, or cottage cheese
- One tablespoon of cooking oil or ghee
- One large onion, diced finely
- One large tomato, diced
- One sliced green bell pepper (optional; adds crunch)
- One tablespoon of garlic-ginger paste
- Half a teaspoon of powdered turmeric
- A teaspoon of red chili powder
- One teaspoon of garam masala
How to Make Tawa Paneer
Step 1: Prepare the paneer
Prepare the paneer first. You should take fresh paneer from the shop. You can cut the paneer into cubes or rectangular pieces according to your choice. If the paneer has softened too much, you may add crunch and shape to the paneer by lightly frying in oil on both sides for two to three minutes. You may omit this step if you have a penchant for soft paneer.
Step 2: Heating the Tawa
Place a tawa, which is a flat griddle, over medium heat. Warm it up and pour in a tablespoon of ghee or oil. Oil is a healthy option, but ghee is used for its original taste.
Step 3: Sauteing the Vegetables
The tawa should be heated before adding the chopped onions and cooking them till golden brown. It will take five to six minutes, so do not get impatient and keep stirring occasionally. Once the onions are done, add the ginger-garlic paste and simmer for another minute, until the raw smell is gone.
Then, cook the chopped tomatoes on the tawa until they become mushy and pulpy. If necessary, cover the tawa with a lid for one minute to speed up the cooking of the tomatoes and stir occasionally.
Now it is time to add the bell peppers (capsicum) and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes till they turn tender but retain some crunch.
Step 4: Garnish with Spices
The spices are ready to be added. Sprinkle the turmeric, red chili, cumin, coriander, and garam masala powders on top of the cooked vegetables. To guarantee that the vegetables are evenly covered, give them a vigorous stir. This masala is simmered for one to two minutes so that the spices can fully release their flavors. If you want a sour taste at this point, you can add amchur.
Step 5: Add paneer
The paneer cubes should be added to the tawa once the masala has heated through. While folding the masala gently along with paneer pieces ensure that each piece of paneer is completely coated with this yummy mixture. If it starts sticking together then add a little water but avoid too much of it because the idea is to let the paneer coat itself with the masala as well as absorb the spices inside it.
Step 6: Final Details
After the paneer has been thoroughly covered with masala, squeeze in the lemon juice and thoroughly combine. The dish will then be balanced with the richness by the tangy freshness of lemon juice. Put fresh cut paneer into the tawa.
Step 7: Serve Paneer Tawa
It’s time to serve your tawa paneer! Roti, naan, or paratha are the ideal accompaniments for this dish. It works well with rice or biryani as well. Serve it with a chilled yogurt or raita, and the spiciness will be tempered and the dish even more wonderful.
Tips for the Perfect Tawa Paneer
- Choose Fresh Paneer Generally, fresh paneer has a smoother texture and more excellent flavor than stale paneer.
- Texture of Paneer: If you want the paneer soft, then do not cook it for too long. Let it cook just for long enough that the masala flavors get infused.
- Manage Spice Levels: Depending on how spicy you can tolerate, alter the amount of green chilies and red chili powder used.
- Add veggies: Add potatoes, carrots, or peas for extra nutrition and texture.
- Flavor variations: Try experimenting with the different spice combinations, including kasuri methi or using the chaat masala or other garam masala replacements.
Conclusion
Tawa paneer is one of those dishes that most people love to eat because it is so simple yet so tasty, and it is not at all difficult to prepare. The fragrant spices roasted on the tawa combined with the soft paneer make for an excellent dinner. Brilliant flavors and mouthwatering taste make Tawa Paneer promise to impress your family and friends whether you prepare it for a special occasion or weeknight supper.
