Paneer Tikka Skewers – Oven Baked Cottage Cheese Sticks are a delicious way to enjoy India’s much-loved paneer in a smoky, spicy and irresistibly colourful starter. Soft cubes of paneer are marinated in thick yogurt, aromatic spices and herbs, then threaded onto skewers with colourful vegetables and baked until lightly charred around the edges.
This easy Paneer Tikka Recipe brings restaurant-style flavours to your kitchen without needing a traditional tandoor. The paneer stays wonderfully soft and juicy while the edges develop a tempting roasted finish.
Whether you’re planning a party, looking for an easy vegetarian appetizer or simply craving Paneer Tikka in Oven, these colourful skewers are guaranteed to disappear quickly! 🌶️🧀
Paneer can be just as versatile an ingredient as yogurt and you’ll find that the right preparation can transform cottage cheese into something that you’ll not only like, but simply love. And if you’re looking for a meatless, protein-packed option, this calcium-rich goodness is perfect.
🧀 What Are Paneer Skewers?
Paneer skewers are an Indian-style appetizer made by threading marinated paneer cubes and vegetables onto wooden or metal skewers before grilling, baking or cooking over a hot grill.
For this Paneer Tikka Skewers recipe, paneer is coated in a spiced yogurt marinade featuring ingredients such as ginger-garlic paste, Kashmiri chilli powder, turmeric, garam masala and chaat masala.
Colourful vegetables such as bell peppers and onions are added to the skewers before they are oven baked until beautifully roasted.
The result is a delicious oven baked paneer tikka with:
🌿 Creamy paneer
🌶️ Spicy marinade
🫑 Crunchy vegetables
🔥 Lightly charred edges
🍋 A bright, tangy finish
💚 Health Benefits of Paneer
Paneer can be a nutritious addition to a balanced diet, particularly for people looking for vegetarian sources of protein.
- 💪 Provides protein: Paneer contains protein that contributes to maintaining and repairing body tissues.
- 🦴 Contains calcium: Dairy products such as paneer provide calcium, an important mineral for bones and teeth.
- ⚡ Provides energy: Paneer contains fat and protein, making it a satisfying food.
- 🥗 Vegetarian protein option: It can be incorporated into vegetarian meals as a protein-rich ingredient.
- 🥛 Provides essential nutrients: Depending on the type of milk used, paneer can provide nutrients including phosphorus and other micronutrients.
🌿 Make It Lighter
For a lighter version of this Paneer Tikka Recipe, use low-fat paneer and thick low-fat yogurt, and keep added oil moderate.
Paneer Tikka Punjabi Recipe:
Paneer Tikka is a quick, healthy, and high protein dish that’s so delicious! Paneer cubes and veggies are threaded onto skewers then baked to a delicious golden brown and basted with butter. Skewered cottage cheese is simply irresistible and is the pinnacle of crave-worthiness. It’s filling, delicious, and comfortable to eat! There is never any left.
This baked vegetarian recipe with cottage cheese is oh-so-delicious! Packed with veggies and high-protein paneer, skewered cottage cheese is an excellent choice for a party appetizer or even a solo dinner. This delicious meatless meal is quick, easy, filled with fresh flavours and definitely satisfying!
Whether you’re making Paneer Tikka in Oven for a weekend snack, a festive gathering or a quick vegetarian appetizer, these skewers are easy to customize and even easier to devour. Serve them sizzling hot with mint chutney, lemon wedges and crunchy onions for the ultimate Indian starter. 🧀🌿🔥
- For this paneer recipe, firstly preheat the oven to 210°C for 10 min.
- Next, heat 2 tbsp oil in a pan. Then add ½ tsp carom seeds and allow to sizzle.
- Next add the roasted chana dal powder/sattu.
- Stir well over low heat for 2 minutes, till you get a nice lovely colour. You can also use besan (gram flour) instead of sattu.
- Remove the pan from heat and mix in ½ tsp turmeric powder. Keep aside.
- Meanwhile, chop onion into cubes and separate the layers.
- Cut capsicum into cubes.
- Deseed and remove the pulp from tomatoes. Cut tomatoes into cubes.
- Cut 200 grams fresh paneer into cubes.
- Now take 3 tbsp curd in a bowl and whisk well.
- Add 1 tsp crushed black pepper, 1 tsp salt, 2 tsp ginger- garlic paste, 1 ½ tsp garam masala powder, 1 ½ tsp red chilli powder and 1 tbsp crushed kasoori methi to the whisked curd.
- Combine the spiced yogurt mixture well.
- Add the roasted chana dal mixture and combine well.
- Stir in mustard oil and mix well.
- Now add the paneer, onion, capsicum and tomato cubes to the spiced yogurt mixture.
- With a light hand mix the veggies with the spiced yogurt mixture.
- Next take wooden skewers. Thread paneer cubes, capsicum, tomato, onion onto each skewer in this order.
- Repeat the same order once again, ending with a paneer cube.
- Grease the baking tray with little oil. Arrange the marinated paneer on it.
- Bake for 4 minutes, basting with butter half-way through.
- Rotate the paneer sticks and bake again for 4 minutes, basting with oil again half-way through.
- Then remove the paneer skewers from the oven. Lightly brush some butter on the top.
- Place the Paneer Skewers in a serving plate and sprinkle some chat masala and kasoori methi.
- Serve Paneer Tikka with served with cilantro mint chutney, onion rings and lemon wedges.
🧀 Looking for more delicious paneer ideas? Try our easy and flavorful Cottage Cheese Recipes, like this yum Sandesh.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions For Paneer Tikka
These colourful Paneer Tikka Skewers make a fantastic appetizer, snack or light meal.
🌿 Serve With
- 🥣 Mint-coriander chutney
- 🥣 Tamarind chutney
- 🧅 Onion rings
- 🍋 Lemon wedges
- 🥗 Fresh green salad
- 🥒 Cucumber raita
- 🫓 Naan or roti
- 🍚 Jeera rice
- 🌶️ Pickled onions
🎉 For Parties
- Arrange the skewers on a large platter with bowls of mint chutney, sliced onions and lemon wedges.
- Garnish with fresh coriander and a sprinkling of chaat masala for a colourful restaurant-style presentation.
🌈 Variations of Paneer Tikka Skewers
- 🌶️ Tandoori Paneer Tikka: Add tandoori masala to the marinade and a little smoked paprika for an extra smoky flavour.
- 🥥 Creamy Malai Paneer Tikka: Replace part of the yogurt marinade with cream and add cashew paste for a rich, mildly spiced variation.
- 🌿 Hariyali Paneer Tikka: Blend coriander, mint, green chillies and spinach into the marinade for vibrant green hariyali paneer tikka.
- 🫑 Vegetable Paneer Tikka: Increase the quantity of bell peppers, onions, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes to create colourful mixed vegetable skewers.
- 🔥 Grilled Paneer Tikka: Instead of baking, cook the skewers on a grill or barbecue until lightly charred.
- 🌶️ Spicy Paneer Tikka: Add extra green chilli, red chilli powder and crushed black pepper for serious heat.
- 🍋 Achari Paneer Tikka: Add achari masala or a little Indian pickle masala to the marinade for a tangy, pickle-inspired flavour.
👩🍳 Tips for Perfect Paneer Tikka Skewers
- 🧀 Use firm, fresh paneer: Soft paneer can crumble when threaded onto skewers.
- 🥣 Use thick yogurt: Hung curd creates a marinade that clings beautifully to the paneer.
- 🌿 Don’t skip marination: Even 30 minutes makes a noticeable difference.
- 🔥 Bake at high heat: A hot oven helps create lightly charred edges without prolonged cooking.
- 🛢️ Don’t use too much oil: A light coating is enough for roasting.
- 🪵 Soak wooden skewers: This prevents them from burning in the oven.
- 🧅 Cut vegetables evenly: Similar-sized pieces cook more consistently.
- 🔄 Turn halfway: Rotating the skewers encourages even browning.
- 🔥 Use the grill briefly: A few minutes under the broiler creates those irresistible charred spots.
- ⏰ Don’t overcook: Paneer can become chewy and dry if left in the oven too long.
- 🍋 Serve immediately: Oven-baked paneer tikka tastes best while hot and juicy.
⭐ Chef’s Tips
- 🧀 For softer paneer: Soak refrigerated paneer cubes in warm water for 10–15 minutes, then drain and pat dry before marinating.
- 🌿 For extra flavour: Let the paneer marinate for several hours in the refrigerator.
- 🔥 For a smoky finish: Add a small amount of smoked paprika to the marinade or use the oven’s grill function briefly at the end.
- 🥣 For the perfect marinade: The yogurt should be thick enough to coat the paneer rather than run off it.
🌿 You Might Also Love
- 🥬 Palak Matar Stir Fry – A vibrant and wholesome combination of tender spinach and green peas, lightly spiced and perfect for a quick everyday side dish.
- 🌿 Methi Paratha – Soft, flavourful Indian flatbreads packed with fresh fenugreek leaves—delicious with yogurt, pickle, or your favourite curry.
- 💚 Hara Bhara Kebabs – Crispy on the outside and tender inside, these spinach and green pea kebabs make a delicious vegetarian snack or party starter.
Oven Baked Cottage Cheese Recipe details below:
Paneer Tikka in Oven
Ingredients
For marinating paneer:
- 200 grams Paneer
- ½ tsp Ajwain/carom seeds
- 2 tbsp sattu/roasted chana dal powder
- 2 tsp ginger-garlic paste
- ½ tsp black pepper coarsely crushed
- ½ tsp turmeric powder
- 1 ½ tsp red chilli powder
- 1 ½ tsp garam masala powder
- 1 tbsp kasoori methi crushed
- 3 tbsp curd
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 tbsp Mustard oil
- 1 medium onion
- 2 medium tomatoes
- 1 medium
- 1 medium green capsicum
- 2 tbsp Oil
- Butter for basting
- Chaat masala for sprinkling
Instructions
- For this cottage cheese tikka recipe, firstly preheat the oven to 210°C for 10-15 min.
- Next heat oil in a pan. The sizzle carom seeds and saute for 30 sec
- Then add sattu (roasted chana dal powder) and mix well. Cook on low heat for about two minutes. You can use besan instead of sattu.
- Now take the pan off the heat and sprinkle turmeric powder. Keep aside.
- Meanwhile cut the capsicum into cubes.
- Deseed and remove the flesh of the tomatoes and cut into cubes.
- Cut onion into cubes and separate into layers.
- Cut the Indian cottage cheese into cubes size. Transfer the cottage cheeseinto a bowl along with onion, tomato and green capsicum and keep aside.
- Now take curd in a mixing bowl and whisk well. Add crushed black pepper, ginger- garlic paste, red chilli powder, garam masala, crushed kasoori methi and salt and mix well. Then add the cooked sattu mixture and gently mix all the ingredients.
- Pour mustard oil over the spiced yogurt and mix well.
- Now add the paneer cubes, onion, tomato and capsicum cubes to the spiced curd mixture. Gently mix all the ingredients.
- Now take wooden skewers and thread paneer cubes, capsicum, tomato, onion on to them. Repeat threading the veggies in this order, ending with a paneer cube.
- Grease a baking tray with a little oil. Place the paneer sticks on it and bake for 8-10 min. After 4 minutes, brush the cottage cheese tikkas with oil and rotate the sticks.
- After eight minutes, remove the paneer tikkas from the oven. Brush the tops with some butter.
- Transfer the Paneer Tikkas into a serving plate, sprinkle with chat masala and kasoori methi.
- Serve Paneer Tikka with salad and green chutney.
🧀✨ Skewered, spiced, and totally delicious! Loved this Paneer Tikka? Share, comment, and follow for more flavour-packed recipes that are always worth a bite! 🌶️💚
