Here is a super simple, flavorful tandoori paneer recipe made in the air fryer! A perfect starter recipe for parties and potlucks. Check out the detailed air fryer tandoori paneer with detailed step-wise pictures.
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If you are looking for a non-deep-fried starter and a quick and easy one to make, this tandoori paneer, aka paneer tikka, is perfect. So what’s this tandoori paneer – Paneer and bell peppers marinated in a flavorful yogurt-spice mixture and air fried and served with simple green chutney just like in restaurants.
It’s been a while since I shared any air fryer recipes, even though I put my air fryer to use daily. :-) I am sharing this most-requested tandoori paneer recipe made in the air fryer. This tandoori paneer or paneer or paneer tikka is a perfect recipe for weekend meals, thali, parties, and potlucks. And with an air fryer, you can make it quickly, and for small batches, it’s the best bet.
The recipe is straightforward. We chop the vegetables and prepare the marination and marinate them all. Then arrange them in skewers, and air fry or oven bake them. It’s an effortless recipe and perfectly beginner-friendly. Let’s get straight into the details.
Ingredients required
For the marination:
- We need thick yogurt, preferably Greek yogurt, mustard oil, salt, black salt, chaat masala, tandoori masala, chickpea flour/besan, ginger garlic paste, and red chili powder. I love Shan brand’s tandoori masala (not sponsored), which I used for this recipe. I love adding black salt and chaat masala to my marination. I usually add lemon juice before serving and not in my marination.
Paneer:
- You can use homemade paneer or store-bought. Make sure to use good quality paneer that is not so hard. My choice is always Swad or Gopi brand. (Not sponsored) If you feel the paneer is hard, soak it in hot water for 15 to 20 minutes.
Vegetables:
- We need onions and colored bell peppers. I used the green and red combination. You can opt for orange or yellow too.
Dietary specifications and substitutions
This tandoori paneer is a nut-free and gluten-free vegetarian dish.
- You can use mushrooms or tofu and plant-based yogurt for a vegan version. The vegan version is a recipe on its own, and I will share it soon.
- Instead of tandoori masala, you can use a mix of garam masala and coriander powder and, in that case, increase the amount of red chili powder.
- I have also used a combination of chaat masala, garam masala, jal jeera masala, and red chili powder instead of tandoori masala.
VVK Tips
- Make sure to use thick yogurt. I prefer Greek yogurt, but if using homemade yogurt, make sure to strain it.
- I highly recommend using mustard oil for this paneer tikka. This paneer tikka will be a great recipe if you are getting acquired to its taste. But if you can’t source it, use another oil of your choice.
- Cut the veggies and paneer evenly as possible and make sure the paneer is not thick.
- Also, ensure to soak the wooden skewers in hot water or as instructed in the package.
- Leftover marination: There will be a tbsp or two of leftover marination. Add it to your other gravies or even to your green chutney. You don’t have to discard it.
How to make tandoori paneer in air fryer
Prep-work
- If using wooden skewers, soak them in hot water for 15 to 20 or as instructed in the package.
Chop the veggies and paneer
- Cut the paneer, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and onion into even bite-sized cubes, approx 1 to 1.25 inches. Make sure the paneer pieces are not thick.
Prepare the marination
- Add the yogurt, mustard oil, crushed kasoori methi, tandoori masala, chaat masala, besan, salt, black salt, ginger garlic paste, and red chili powder.
- Mix well without any lumps.
- Now add the cut vegetables to the prepared marination and mix well. Let it marinate for 30 mts to 45 mts.
Air fry the paneer and vegetables
- Then arrange the marinated paneer, bell peppers, and onion pieces on the wooden pieces alternatingly. I start with bell peppers, then add the paneer and onion and alternate. I make sure to have atleast two paneer pieces in one wooden skewer.
- Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 370 deg F. Then arrange the wooden skewers in the air fryer basket. Mine could hold only five, so I kept only five.
- Air fry them for 4 minutes at 370 deg F, flip them, and air fry them for 4 minutes at 370 deg F.
- This timing is sufficient, but I always air fry at 400 for 2 minutes to get that charred effect.
- Cook the remaining paneer skewers in batches in a similar fashion.
- Squeeze some lemon juice and enjoy it with green chutney.
Recipe Notes:
- Adjust the salt and spices to taste.
- I did not roast my besan/chickpea flour. You can slightly roast it too. Make sure there aren’t any lumps in the besan.
- I usually marinate the paneer for about 30 to 45 mts, but you can marinate them for up to 24 hours.
- Please check the substitutions and variations section for other options and alternatives.
- Oven instructions: You can broil the paneer skewers at high temperatures for 12 to 15 minutes.
Explore other vegetarian air fryer recipes
PS: If you try this air fryer tandoori paneer , please don’t forget to comment and rate this recipe. If you have any questions, please leave a comment, and I will get to it ASAP. Make sure to follow me on my Pinterest for more healthy and delicious ideas! Follow me on Instagram or join my Facebook Group for more recipe updates! You can also sign-up for my newsletter for weekly updates.
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Tandoori Paneer
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
Measurement Details: 1 cup = 240ml; 1 tbsp = 15ml; 1 tsp = 5ml;
For the marination
- ½ cup yogurt
- 1 tbsp mustard oil
- 1 tbsp kasoori methi heaped tbsp
- 1 tbsp tandoori masala heaped tbsp
- ½ tsp chaat masala
- 1.5 tbsp besan
- 1.5 tsp salt or to taste
- ¼ tsp black salt
- ½ tbsp ginger garlic paste
- ¼ tsp red chili powder
Other ingredients
- 450 grams paneer cut into cubes
- 1 red bell pepper cut into cubes
- 1 green bell pepper cut into cubes
- 1 onion cut into petals
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
Prep-work
- If using wooden skewers, soak them in hot water for 15 to 20 or as instructed in the package.
Chop the veggies and paneer
- Cut the paneer, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, and onion into even bite-sized cubes, approx 1 to 1.25 inches. Make sure the paneer pieces are not thick.
Prepare the marination
- Add the yogurt, mustard oil, crushed kasoori methi, tandoori masala, chaat masala, besan, salt, black salt, ginger garlic paste, and red chili powder.
- Mix well without any lumps.
- Now add the cut vegetables to the prepared marination and mix well. Let it marinate for 30 mts to 45 mts.
Air fry the paneer and vegetables
- Then arrange the marinated paneer, bell peppers, and onion pieces on the wooden pieces alternatingly. I start with bell peppers, then add the paneer and onion and alternate. I make sure to have atleast two paneer pieces in one wooden skewer.
- Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 370 deg F. Then arrange the wooden skewers in the air fryer basket. Mine could hold only five, so I kept only five.
- Air fry them for 4 minutes at 370 deg F, flip them, and air fry them for 4 minutes at 370 deg F.
- This timing is sufficient, but I always air fry at 400 for 2 minutes to get that charred effect.
- Cook the remaining paneer skewers in batches in a similar fashion.
- Squeeze some lemon juice and enjoy it with green chutney.
Notes
- Adjust the salt and spices to taste.
- I did not roast my besan/chickpea flour. You can slightly roast it too. Make sure there aren’t any lumps in the besan.
- I usually marinate the paneer for about 30 to 45 mts, but you can marinate them for up to 24 hours.
- Please check the substitutions and variations section for other options and alternatives.
- Oven instructions: You can broil the paneer skewers at high temperatures for 12 to 15 minutes.
Nutrition
I am not a nutritionist. The nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It varies depending upon the product types or brands.
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