Paneer tikka is a popular starter at Indian restaurants, made by marinating paneer (Indian cottage cheese) with hung curd, spices and cooked in oven.

Perfect for vegetarians in BBQ/ out door party or starters in a get together party menu.
You can enjoy with your family in weekends as well. Quite filling one so apt for groups to pick up couple of pieces and have a chat over it.
Do check out the other Hariyali version of this recipe in my website.
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients needed for paneer tikka in oven.
- Paneer - Indian cottage cheese - Use fresh paneer for softest results. You can also use frozen after keeping it immersed in hot water.
- Hung curd - Hung curd gives creamy and rich results. Just hang yogurt/ homemade curd in a cheese cloth/ clean cotton cloth for an hour and use in the recipe.
- Spice powders - Red chilli powder, black pepper powder, turmeric, chaat masala are the spices I use.
- Tandoori masala powder - This is optional - at times have artificial red food colour. So I avoid using it.
- Butter - Gives flavour to the dish.
- Ajwain - Caraway seeds helps with digestion as well as adds a great flavour to the dish.
- Onion, Tomato, Capsicum - adds flavour as well as balances the dish with it's different texture and taste.
Substitutions
- Hung curd - Instead of hung curd, you can also use sour cream.
- Spices - You can also add ½ teaspoon of Garam masala, ginger garlic paste or ginger powder and garlic powder (¼ teaspoon each).
- Butter - You can also use desi Ghee.
Why we love it?
Paneer tikka made in oven is my kid's favourite starter. This recipe uses sour cream / hung curd and other spices as marinade. It is not over powering with flavours of the masala, just the apt amount you need.
I have made this few times now in oven and sometimes I make in tawa too..
I got this recipe from a cookery show in Discovery Travel and Living. It's sounded very simple yet very delicious.
The spiciness level of this recipe is mild. Perfect to make for a party as starter.
Oven method makes it simple, when you make in bulk and also is a make ahead recipe.
The chef in the show added only yellow chilli powder(yes, you heard it right, its yellow!!), black pepper and ajwain along with cream.
But I have just added few more according to suit our taste.
Useful posts
Recipe card
Paneer Tikka in Oven
Ingredients
- 200 gm Paneer block
- 3 tablespoon Sour cream or hung curd
- ½ teaspoon Red chilli powder
- ⅛ teaspoon Turmeric powder
- ½ teaspoon Chaat masala
- ½ teaspoon Crushed black pepper
- ½ teaspoon Tandoori masala powder optional , you can use garam masala if you like
- 1 teaspoon Lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Ajwain omam
- Salt
- Oil or butter to brush
- ¾ cup Capsicum I used 3 colours mixed
- 1 Onion cubed
- 1 Tomato deseed, cubed
Instructions
Prep paneer
- Thaw the paneer firstly if using frozen. Cut them into bite size pieces.
- Don’t cut the cubes too big as the marination won’t get infused inside the paneer. Cutting too small also will break while skewing.
Make marination
- Mix the sour cream, all the powders ,lemon juice, salt, ajwain and a tablespoon of oil to marinate the paneer pieces.
Marinating
- Marinate the paneer pieces, make sure you coat each and every piece, keep refrigerated at-least for an hour. (You can also marinate capsicum, tomato and onion too.
- When you are ready to make, grease the skewers and a pan.
Assembling paneer tikka
- I used aluminium foil to wrap a wire rack and arranged the skewers over it. You can prick the foil in various places to enable the water drain as it gets roasted.
- Pre heat the oven to 250oC. (my oven has only 230o C as maximum, so you can bake at 230o C too, the outcome was good).
Bake in oven
- Arrange the paneer, capsicum and tomato in the skewers as shown in the picture. Brush them generously with oil.
- Bake them for 15- 20 minutes or until the edges of paneer starts browning. Turn in-between once.
Video
Notes
- Using metal skewer is recommended. I used wooden skewers, it got burnt though not totally, it just turned black. Otherwise no complains about it.
- Just bake till the panner starts browning in the edges. If you over bake the paneer will turn rubbery.
- If you have tikka masala powder, just mix it with curd and omit the powders, also note that it has salt in it too.
- For hung curd just hang ¼ cup of curd in muslin cloth for an hour.
- As it gets cooked, will get loosened and turning might be difficult, so use tongs to turn carefully without breaking the paneer.
- Update: Soak the wooden skewers in water for at-least one hour before baking, which prevents burning of the skewers. Thanks friends for the suggestions 🙂
Step by step
Prep paneer
1. Thaw the paneer firstly if using frozen. Cut them into bite size pieces.
2. Don’t cut the cubes too big as the marination won’t get infused inside the paneer. Cutting too small also will break while skewing.
3. Mix the sour cream, all the powders ,lemon juice, salt, ajwain and a tablespoon of oil to marinate the paneer pieces.
Marinating
4. Marinate the paneer pieces, make sure you coat each and every piece, keep refrigerated at-least for an hour. (You can also marinate capsicum, tomato and onion too.
5. When you are ready to make, grease the skewers and a baking sheet pan.
6. I used aluminium foil to wrap a wire rack and arranged the skewers over it. You can prick the foil in various places to enable the water drain as it gets roasted.
Bake paneer tikka in oven
7. Pre heat the oven to 250oC. (my oven has only 230o C as maximum, so you can bake at 230o C too, the outcome was good).
8. Arrange the paneer, capsicum and tomato in the skewers as shown in the picture. Brush the tikka generously with oil or melt butter.
9. Bake them for 15- 20 minutes or until the edges of paneer starts browning. Turn in-between once.
Once done, again brush them with ghee or butter and serve hot with green chutney and sprinkle some chaat masala and lemon juice over the paneer tikka and enjoy!
Grill option
In case you have grill mode in oven, you need not set the temperature. Just choose that and switch on, with the pan inside it.
It will be pre-heating and once done it will give a beep, then arrange the paneer in the pan and just set the time for 13-15 minutes. Your paneer tikka is ready.
Mine gives beep sound when the preheat temperature is reached. But check how yours works or pre-heat it for 15 to 20 minutes.
Combination
If you are using this mode, you need to be careful with the vessel you use for baking.
You have to use only the vessel/tray meant for it. Cannot use aluminium foil as its combination mode of microwave too.
So choose the tray accordingly and the right one. My oven has 4 menu in this combination mode, for different kind/types of food.
You have to check yours for what has to be chosen. I have not personally tried this one still.
In this option also it has its default setting for temperature. So just have to set the time.
Satrupa
Wow this paneer tikka looks absolutely gorgeous ! And what is this yellow chili powder ... I am hearing it for the first time.
Cheers,
Satrupa
http://satrupa-foodforthought.blogspot.com
Smitha
if u soak the wooden skewers in water for about 1 hour atleast...they will not burn out easily....
the paneer tikka skewers look very tempting and awesome...
Suja Sugathan
Oh wow ,love it..this looks absolutely delicious and gorgeous.
Mahi
Colourful recipe! I never tried making this.had once at a friends house!
Cilantro
I just loved the color, never heard about yellow chilli powder. Looks delicious!
Cham
Very appetizing paneer 🙂
aipi
My all time favorite..they look very appetizing 🙂
US Masala
jeyashrisuresh
already iam so tempted to buy an oven ,by posting yummy ones like this, the degree of my temptation is increasing.
Great pictures and detailed explanations
Priya Sreeram
looks super yumm- make them the same way, loved it !
Ambika
The tikkas look wonderful!
Soumya
yummy tikkas...love to have it at any time...beautiful presentation
Sush
I'm drooling, want to make them today 😀
Very neat presentation.
Hamaree Rasoi
Paneer looks perfect. Mouthwatering preparation.
Deepa
Hamaree Rasoi
♥LOVE2COOK♥
Owh my...paneer tikka makes me salivate!!! Am so drooling right now 😉
Home Cooked Oriya Food
looks yummy... will try it...
Sharmilee! :)
Looks very colorful, nice detailed post. Looks very tempting
Shanthi
Colourful, inviting and excellent
Anonymous
Tikkas look lovely....and colourful too...:)
Laavanya
I make this often - so easy and tasty but mine doesn't look nearly as good as yours... 🙂 So tempting Raks.
Ms.Chitchat
Beautifully prepared paneer tikka, loved them. Clicks are excellent as usual :):)
Preeti Kashyap
They look perfect!
Nithya
Awesome looking tikka 🙂 I made somewhat similar version few weeks back but made it on tawa 🙂 Yours looks fantastic and needless to say the pics are brilliant 🙂
Swathi
Paneer tikka looks delicious and perfect
sanjeeta kk
Wow! Mouth watering tikkas, Raks. Love the way you have arranged all the veggies along with the paneer. Like the sour cream option too.
Lite Bite
Jaishree
Wow! Paneer Tikka looks absolutely delicious and gorgeous.Nice click and beautiful presentation!
Roshan
nice recipe and super presentation...
Pavithra
Our fav one Raji..looks yummy and I am so much tempted seeing this before going to bed. Delicious 🙂
Prathibha
Love them...one of my favorite appetizer dear...Next time try adding kasuri methi,it definitely does wonder to it,it gives a very nice aroma n flavor...and regarding the skewers i read somewhere that if you dip the skewers in water fro 2-3 hrs they will not get burnt while baking.I haven't implemented yet,if you give a try lemme know too.
Radhika
Such lovely looking tikka. the clicks are awesome.
Divya Kudua
Yum..looks delicious!!Paneer Tikka is an absolute favorite but I seldom order it in restaurants now coz most of the times the paneer is bathed in Red colour!!This is a great recipe to try!!
Kurinji
speechless, simply superb....
Kurinji Kathambam
Event : Healthy Recipe Hunt - 1 (Aval/Poha/Riceflakes)
Kurinji Kudil
Rekha shoban
colourful paneer tikka....suberb raji!!
jayasree
Colorful pics..I always make it on tawa..
Kalpana Sareesh
i love this dish and i was searching all over the blogs for a long time but was not satisfied with the recipe i got urs is damn perfect and am doing this def tomm...thank u so so much..
Gayathri Kumar
Absolutely delicious tikkas..
sowmya's creative saga
looks awesome.. am craving for some..
PriyaVaasu
Looks Awesome!! Very tempting!!! paarthale Pasikarathu!!! 🙂
Priti
Looks yummy....I do almost the same way ...got to post mine 🙂
Priya
Very irresistible paneer tikkas Raji..seriously am hungry now..
notyet100
i have paneer in fridge i goona try this soon,...;-)
Kairali sisters
Looks very very appealing and i am sure it must have tasted great too...
rekhas kitchen
Looks so colorfull and tempting...
Happy Cook
Wowo beautiful just like in a Indian restraunt;
Pari
Dear Raji,
Firstly gorgeous looking tikkas, worth drooling.
I have been using yellow chili powder in my cooking and have written about it in my blog sometime in detail, check here
http://cooking-goodfood.blogspot.com/2010/05/mixed-veggies-in-not-so-white-white.html
Soaking the skewers for an hour in water prevents them from burning plus sliding the veggies in them becomes easier and I agree with Prathy, kasoori methi adds amazing flavour to the tikkas, do try it next time.
swapna
Delicious and tempting paneer tikka...have to try ur version in oven!!
Jackie
Looks so lovely and I absolutely love the burst of colors! Did you use homemade of store-bought paneer; the texture looks perfect.
JACKIE at PHAMFATALE.com
Jisha
wow..that looks awesome...very very delicious and loved your presentation too...BOOKMARKED..
Namrata
Looks absolutely delish..nice write up too 🙂
G
They look so delicious..I want to have some right way..Great clicks!!
G
http://ensamayalarangam.blogspot.com
Prathima Rao
These look too yummm....!!! Amazing collection of recipes u have here & now happy to be following u!!
Yummy Team
Really tempting paneer tikka..Loved the colorful pics..
My attempt at The Julie/Julia project
Wow.. that looks amazing.. love the clicks... love the recipe..
hey thanks a lot for stopping by my blog and ur support 🙂
Anonymous
Yum, Paneer tikka looks delicious! I will definitely try it!
vidhas
wow!! Raji delicious recipe.Detailed explanation i hve only a oven with grill. Surely i will try this,
Umm Mymoonah
Yummy looking tikkas with clear explanation.
Sarah Naveen
oh wow!!! this is awesome...i m lovin it!!!
Raks , i am gonna try your oats idli today..looks so tempting 🙂
Rachu
awesome tikkas... love to take a hot bite..
ammaandbaby.blogspot.com/
Megha
Oh.. and I forgot to mention I love the pictures and the way you give away the recipe and this helpful information about using the oven 🙂
Good, really helpful!
Megha 🙂
Krithi's Kitchen
Paneer tikkas looks so inviting...
Premalatha Aravindhan
Excellent colour,nice info too...Lovely arrangement with the veggies...
Aruna Manikandan
Paneer tikka looks very tempting dear 🙂
lovely clicks!!!!
Sayantani
tempting tikkas. amazingly charred.
Malar Gandhi
Looks beautiful...quite tempting to me...awesome:)
Cynthia
Bookmarked!
Lavi
LOVE IT!, i tried last weekend, but i burnt the stick, rather than baking the paneer and veggies:)
Gulmohar
Oh my ! Fabulous ! One of the best and most popular appetizers ever 🙂
I was about to tell you that if you soak the skewers in water for a couple of hours it will not burn (though I forget it half the time !)Then I saw that you already got that suggestion 😀
Vaishali Sharma
OH..Those paneer tikka looks so delicious!
Anonymous
Nom Nom Nom! Irresistable paneer!
Ramya
Looks soo fabulous ...and great presentation:-)
First time here...love ur collection n clicks..:-)happy to follow u!!
Seetha
Colorful, inviting..
Do drop in here
http://seethaskitchen.blogspot.com
Prachi Daroch
Looks good to me will try today ... thanks for updating it along with pics it really add value to the recipe
Aarthi Nithyananda
i tired lots of dishes from u .it really very yummy and taste 🙂
mkris
I feeeel like just grabbing it out of the images and eating 🙂 Nice pictures too
Venkata Madhavi
hi I have tried all the recipes and all of them have come well and tasty too, Thank u for ur delicious recipes
Chinky Jain
Tried it!! loved it....thank u 🙂
Yuvi Sri
how to make it in a pan?
Nivedhitha Arvind
in which mode have u done this tikka..convection or grill mode
Raks anand
Grill mode
Kalaivani Lakshmanan
I tried baking at 230C in convection mode and my panner tikka got burnt :(...pls advise what went wrong. Thanks
Raks anand
Reduce the baking time by 2 or 3 minutes.
S. Raja
I want to try this in grill mode. Should I have to grease oil in the aluminium foil sheet wrapped on the high rack in the preheating process?
Raks anand
Yes, you should grease to avoid paneer sticking to it.
S. Raja
Hi, want to try this recipe using rotisseries nd this is the first time i'm using grill mode so I want to know whether I ve to preheat when I use this.
Raks anand
Yes you have to preheat.