Name: Paneer Tikka Masala Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6.0
Cuisine: Indian
Ingredients: 1 cup plain yogurt, thick; 1 teaspoon lemon juice; 1 teaspoon fresh ginger paste, from tube; 1 teaspoon fresh garlic paste, from tube; 3/4 teaspoon garam masala; 1/4 teaspoon turmeric; 1 teaspoon fresh hot chili paste, from tube; 1 teaspoon hot paprika; 2 tablespoons vegetable oil; 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt; homemade paneer , approximately 250 grams, cut into 1-inch wide and 1-2 inches long; 1 tablespoon unsalted butter; 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh garlic paste, from tube, or diced; 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh ginger paste, from tube, or diced; 16 ounces tomato puree; 2 teaspoons granulated sugar; 1 teaspoon garam masala; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 3/4 teaspoon ground coriander; 1/2 teaspoon red chili powder; 1/4 teaspoon turmeric; 1/3 cup water; 2 teaspoons dried fenugreek leaves; 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream; kosher salt, to taste; fresh cilantro leaves, torn, for garnish; 4 cups cooked rice

Paneer Tikka Masala is naturally gluten free and vegetarian. You'll love the smells coming from your kitchen!

When I was in elementary school, we lived in a pretty run-of-the-mill suburban Americana neighborhood. Medium-sized homes lined up with little room in between. Children playing on front lawns and running between houses. Riding bikes to the neighborhood pool a few blocks away. It had a Leave It to Beaver meets the Brady Bunch sort of vibe and everyone was Caucasian. Not purposefully, just how it worked out.

Despite this, it was a college town, so there certainly were varied ethnic families, just not on my street. One day our next door neighbors moved. I really don’t remember them and suspect they moved out shortly after we moved in, when I was in third grade.

An Indian couple, the Boses, moved in. I remember my first sighting of Mrs. Bose in her sari; she was the most exotic woman I’d ever seen! For those who aren’t familiar with saris, they are a style of Eastern Indian dress made up of yards and yards of beautiful fabric that is wrapped around the waist into a floor-length skirt, and then over the shoulder covering a midriff blouse. Always striking in appearance, even if worn when weeding the garden, as Mrs. Bose was often seen doing.

Ironically, our next door neighbors on the other side had the last name ‘Bash’. No kidding. What is the likelihood of the Bashes and the Dashes living next to each other? The mother was single and raising two girls younger than I.

One day I noticed the girls parading down the street in saris of their own. Mrs. Bash (this predated the Ms. era) had paid Mrs. Bose to make saris for her girls. I was so envious, admiring their jewel tone outfits with gold threading in the most saturated shades of color imaginable.

One day I went to visit Mrs. Bose, and when she opened the door I smelled the most intoxicating aroma coming from her kitchen. She invited me to come in as she finished making dinner for Mr. Bose. She was making what I know now was chicken tikka masala.

She invited me to try a little, and I couldn’t resist. To this day I remember the deep crimson and saffron coloring of the chicken and sauce, and the sheen from the oil in the cooking pan. The sultry flavors were a far cry from our favorite hot dog and boxed mac and cheese mainstay, and I wanted to learn all about Indian food.

Mrs. Bose would invite me in often when she was cooking and let me try everything. One time the Boses invited our family to accompany them to a large gathering of local Indian families. I did not know there were so many in our town, but more importantly, it was a potluck, and I did not realize how many delicious recipes there were to try.

After becoming gluten-free, I really withdrew from eating out until I got my sea legs on about what types of cuisine were ‘safe’ or not. Fortunately for me, Indian food is largely naturally gluten-free. Like me, my gluten-free kids love it too. Though I tend to go out to eat it, there are a few dishes I like to make at home when I have the time.

Paneer tikka masala is one of them. Paneer is a type of cheese that is very easy to make at home. It is marinated in the iconic flavors of other tikka masala dishes, grilled or pan-fried, then served in a curry-like gravy.

I feel like a cultural interloper in sharing a recipe for paneer tikka masala. I’m in no means an expert, and as with many ethnic dishes, paneer tikka masala has variations based on each cook, or whether it is being prepared restaurant-style (with cut vegetables) or not.

Regardless, I love this dish and each time I make it I am back in Mrs. Bose’s kitchen, admiring her crimson sari and kind brown eyes behind her black-framed glasses as she ladled a taste of what she was making for me to try.

Alright, now I need to confess something. Generally, when I come upon a recipe with a long list of ingredients, I hightail it. I automatically think ‘it’s going to take FORever to make’, or ‘I don’t have that kind of time’ - especially if it’s a new-to-me recipe!

Before you react similarly, I want to talk you off the ledge. Yes, there are many ingredients, but most are seasonings and spices, so they take mere minutes to combine. I’ve also incorporated some shortcuts!

Have you noticed the prepared herb pastes in tubes in the produce section of the grocery store? My fridge is full of every kind. It saves peeling and dicing garlic, ginger, or in this case, using a mortar and pestle to turn herbs into a paste.

The flavor is the same but the time and effort is far less. Additionally, this recipe uses a short cut of starting with pureed tomatoes rather than making the sauce and pureeing it. Making the paneer really is simple too. The bulk of the time is with the paneer compressing in the fridge. Store-purchased paneer may also be substituted.

For some more international naturally gluten-free recipes check out Singapore street noodles and spicy ginger chicken stir-fry!

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Homemade Paneer Recipe

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5 m 10 m 6 Servings

Ingredients

8 cups Whole Milk, not ultra-pasturized
4-6 tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice
Cheesecloth

Directions

Line a colander with a double thickness of cheesecloth, allowing a few inches to drape on either side of the colander. Set aside.
In a stock pot or Dutch oven, heat the milk over medium heat, stirring often as it warms. When small bubbles appear on the surface of the milk, add 4 tablespoons of the lemon juice and reduce the heat to low. Continue stirring gently as the milk curds appear. If after a few minutes the milk curds (small whitish solids) have not fully formed separating from the whey (light greenish liquid), add another 1-2 tablespoons of lemon juice until the curdling is obvious. Continue to stir gently to allow curds to form (and not break apart).
Remove the pot from the stovetop and pour contents into the prepared colander. Allow the liquids to drain and rinse lightly with cool water.
Fold the shorter sides of the cheesecloth inward over the curds and tie the long ends once to make a small packet. Squeeze gentle to release more liquid and tie to the kitchen faucet; allow to drain into the sink for 10 minutes.
Remove from the faucet and turn the cheesecloth packet of curds on its side with the tied area on the side as well. Press on the cheese bundle to form a round shape. Place the packet in a round cake pan (or other similar flat bottomed pan). Place a flat saucepan on top of the cheese and something heavy inside to compress the cheese (I put a brick in the saucepan). Place in the refrigerator and allow to sit 1-2 hours until the cheese is fully formed. Note: it can sit longer.
Unwrap the cheesecloth to slice and eat the paneer.

Source: Method adapted from The Food Network.

Published: May 17, 2016
Author: Toni Dash
Recipe Yields: 6 servings
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

Nutrition Facts

Servings Per Recipe 6

Amount Per Serving

Calories from Fat 79

Calories 286

% Daily Value*

15%

Total Fat 10g

Saturated Fat 2g

Sodium 100mg

14%

Total Carbohydrate 41g

Dietary Fiber 3g

Sugars 7g

11%

Protein 5g

* Percent Daily Value are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrition Facts are estimated based on ingredients and data provided by Fat Secret. Please consult a doctor if you have special dietary needs.

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