Incredibly delicious and bursting with spicy and savory flavors, this Air Fryer Paneer Tikka is a perfect appetizer for any occasion. Succulent paneer cubes marinated in a blend of Indian spices, yogurt and Gram flour and crisped to perfection in the air fryer is a twist on a classic Indian Paneer Tikka.
With Paneer dishes you may never go wrong. Using Paneer or Indian cottage cheese, one may curate hundreds of Indian dishes in a super simple way. A no-melt cheese, Paneer has no flavor of its own and blend easily in the flavor of spices or gravies, it's dunked into.
This quick Air Fryer Paneer Tikka is yet another delightful Paneer dish that has a perfect smoky and spicy flavor. Marinated in a smooth mixture of curd, Gram flour (Besan) and Indian Spices, the Paneer cubes soak up the fused flavors.
This fuss-free recipe transforms the beloved Indian appetizer into a guilt-free snack as it uses the minimum ghee required to air fry it. With its golden, slightly charred edges and tender interior, this Air Fryer Paneer Tikka promises the perfect balance of flavors and textures without excessive oil.
These crispy, marinated paneer cubes are perfect as a starter. You can also use them to make a rich, saucy curry like Paneer Tikka Masala for a main course.
Dunk it into Green Cilantro Chutney for an amazing snack!
If you love Paneer, you may find many paneer recipes on my blog: Paneer Tikka (OTG), Palak Paneer, Paneer Roll or Wrap, and Paneer Jalfrezi Recipe.
Ingredients
- Paneer: Paneer is the star ingredient of this recipe. Soft and creamy Indian cottage cheese of good quality brand would be perfect. Make sure to drain the extra water from paneer or it will be too mushy to fall off from the skewers. If you want vegan version of this recipe, you may use Tofu Chunks.
- Besan (Gram Flour): Ground chickpea or gram flour works best for this recipe. It's a gluten free high protein coating and gives immense crispy texture to paneer and other vegetables. You may swap it with corn starch but the taste won't be authentic.
- Ghee: Ghee is my favorite and it adds much needed richness and depth to the flavor. You may swap it with olive oil, almond oil or coconut oil for vegan options.
- Capsicum & Red Bell pepper: While you may use any bell pepper, I have used green and red and they add vibrant color to this recipe. They are crunchy, zesty and taste amazing when marinated in spices.
- Onion: Red onions work best. They are mildly sweet and when charred, they balance the spicy flavor that comes from spices and peppers.
- Tomato: Tomatoes add juicy flavor and texture. I had removed the seeds to avoid them being sticky.
- Curd: The fresh and thick curd or yogurt adds a tangy creamy base for the marinade.Make sure that curd is not watery or else the marinade won't stick to the vegetables and paneer. If using homemade curd, you may hang it for few hrs to drain the water. You may use Greek yogurt as well.
- Turmeric: Turmeric powder adds yellow color to the marinade and has anti-inflammatory properties.
- Red Chili Powder: I love spicy flavors in appetizers and I am very generous while adding them. I always tell my audience to start with small quantities as my version of spicy won't match with yours. Adjust the heat.
- Amchur (Mango Powder): Adds the perfect tangy flavor to this snack. You may add lemon juice as well.
- Kasoori Methi: Dried fenugreek leaves adds perfect aroma and flavor. You may use cilantro as well.
- Chaat Masala: Add chaat masala, a tangy spice blend for extra zing.
- Salt: Enhances the overall taste of the dish.
- Cilantro (optional): Cilantro or coriander leaves add flavor and color.
How To Make Air Fried Paneer Tikka With Steps
Step 1. Wash, Chop and Prep
Wash, dry and chop the vegetables. From tomatoes, remove the water and seeds. Make sure to dice and chunk large pieces of bell pepper, tomato, onion and paneer so that they don't fall off from skewers.
While you prep, preheat your air fryer to 200°C for about 5-10 minutes.
Step 2. Marinate the Paneer
In a large bowl, combine yogurt, besan, Ghee, Red chili powder, turmeric powder, chaat masala, kasoori methi, salt, and amchur. Mix well to form a smooth marinade.
Add the paneer cubes along with onion, tomato, and peppers to the marinade and coat them evenly. Allow the paneer to marinate for at least 20 minutes to 1-2 hrs in the refrigerator for summers or at room temperature for autumn and winters.
Step 3. Assemble the Skewers
Place the marinated paneer cubes and veggies onto skewers, alternating between them for a colorful presentation. Coat with little ghee.
Step 4. Air Fry the Paneer Tikka
Place the skewers in the preheated greased air fryer basket. Ensure they are arranged in a single layer and not overcrowded.
Air fry at 200°C (392°F) for about 12-15 minutes, flipping the skewers halfway through for even cooking. The paneer should be golden and slightly charred on the edges.
Step 5. Serve Hot
Remove the skewers from the air fryer and let them cool for a minute or two. Serve the air-fried paneer tikka hot with mint chutney, lemon wedges, and onion rings.
Expert Tips
- Before marinating, gently pat the paneer cubes dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
- Make sure to use large paneer cubes for easily piercing them through skewers. If paneer is soft or has moisture, it may fall off the skewer. Try using paneer of a brand which doesn't retain lot of moisture or avoid skewers.
- While I had marinated for shorter duration of 20 min but for deeper flavor, marinate the paneer for an hr or two.
- If you don't have skewers, you may simply place the marinated veggies and paneer cubes in the greased air fryer basket.
- Paneer can become very chewy if overcooked, so cook till browned and serve immediately.
- Usually air fryer method doesn't need flipping but since we wish to have uniform crispness of marinated vegetables, you may flip the skewers half way through.
- You may also refer to OTG made Paneer Tikka.
What to Team This Air fried Paneer Tikka With?
- Serve this Amazing Indian Appetizer with Green Mint or Cilantro Chutney.
- You may add the air fried veggies and paneer cubes in a bowl with yogurt or cream and team it with rice or Paratha.
- Dunk these charred and golden roasted veggies in a Pita Bread or a wheat Paratha for a quick meal. Find our popular Paneer Roll/ Wrap Recipe.
Recipe FAQs
Grilled Indian Cottage Cheese
The simple way is to use stove top method by heating iron tawa and slowly cooking on low flame and flipping when browned from one side to cook from the other side.
Storage Suggestions
I always recommend using air fried vegetables as fresh as possible because the quick crispy texture you would get from air frying, loses the crispiness when kept or stored for long.
If you have the Paneer Tikka leftovers, store it in dry container with lid in refrigerator for about a day in summers and 2 days in winters (remember you had marinated it for few hrs as well). For reheating, I would suggest use a stove based method. That has worked best for me.
I won't recommend storing the leftovers in the freezer as paneer would become very chewy and lose all the flavor.
You May Also Like:
More Air Fryer Vegetarian Recipes:
- 11 Easy Vegan Air Fryer Recipes
- Easy Air Fryer Broccoli and Cauliflower
- Air Fryer Eggplant Fries-No Breadcrumbs
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Air Fryer Paneer Tikka Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer steps for Oven included and link to OTG recipe provided
- 1 large mixing bowl
- 2 skewer optional
Ingredients
- 200 gm Paneer 12 large cubes of Paneer
- 1 large onion dice into ½ inch squares
- ½ medium red bell pepper dice into ½ inch squares
- ½ medium green capsicum dice into ½ inch squares
- 1 large tomato dice into ½ inch squares
- 4-5 tablespoon curd
- 2 tablespoon Besan (Gram Flour)
- 1 tablespoon Ghee
- 2 teaspoon red chilly powder adjust the heat
- 1 teaspoon turmeric powder
- 1 tsp chaat masala
- 1 tsp Amchur powder Can use 2 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Kasoori Methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
- 1 twig cilantro (coriander leaves) optional for garnishing
- salt as per taste
Instructions
- Wash, dry and chop the vegetables. From tomatoes, remove the water and seeds. Make sure to dice and chunk large pieces of bell pepper, tomato, onion and paneer so that they don't fall off from skewers. While you prep, preheat your air fryer to 200°C for about 5-10 minutes.
- In a large bowl, combine yogurt, besan, Ghee, Red chili powder, turmeric powder, chaat masala, kasoori methi, salt, and amchur. Mix well to form a smooth marinade. Add the paneer cubes along with onion, tomato, and peppers to the marinade and coat them evenly. Allow the paneer to marinate for at least 20 minutes to 1-2 hrs in the refrigerator for summers or at room temperature for autumn and winters.
- Place the marinated paneer cubes and veggies onto skewers, alternating between them for a colorful presentation. Coat with little ghee.
- Place the skewers in the preheated greased air fryer basket. Ensure they are arranged in a single layer and not overcrowded. Air fry at 200°C (392°F) for about 12-15 minutes, flipping the skewers halfway through for even cooking. The paneer should be golden and slightly charred on the edges.
- Remove the skewers from the air fryer and let them cool for a minute or two. Serve the air-fried paneer tikka hot with mint chutney, lemon wedges, and onion rings.
Notes
- Before marinating, gently pat the paneer cubes dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
- Make sure to use large paneer cubes for easily piercing them through skewers. If paneer is soft or has moisture, it may fall off the skewer. Try using paneer of a brand which doesn't retain lot of moisture or avoid skewers.
- While I had marinated for shorter duration of 20 min but for deeper flavor, marinate the paneer for an hr or two.
- If you don't have skewers, you may simply place the marinated veggies and paneer cubes in the greased air fryer basket.
- Paneer can become very chewy if overcooked, so cook till browned and serve immediately.
- Usually air fryer method doesn't need flipping but since we wish to have uniform crispness of marinated vegetables, you may flip the skewers half way through.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving size: 1 bowl | |
| Servings: 5 | |
| Amount per serving | |
| Calories | 208 |
| % Daily Value* | |
| Total Fat 14.8g | 19% |
| Saturated Fat 3.7g | 18% |
| Cholesterol 15mg | 5% |
| Sodium 120mg | 5% |
| Total Carbohydrate 10g | 4% |
| Dietary Fiber 2.4g | 8% |
| Total Sugars 2.6g | |
| Protein 11.1g | |
| Vitamin D 0mcg | 0% |
| Calcium 35mg | 3% |
| Iron 1mg | 4% |
| Potassium 146mg | 3% |
| *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice. | |
Laura says
This looks amazing! Cannot wait to try it.
Deepti says
Yes, it was a hit in my family. Let me know how it turns out for you. Thanks, Laura!
Charlotte says
Thank you for sharing this healthier method for preparing paneer tikka. Thanks for the wonderful tutorial and tips! My son that is vegetarian loves this flavorful recipe!
Deepti says
Thanks so much for sharing this, Charlotte. It's our family favorite too!
Han says
I adore paneer and this recipe is absolutely delicious!!
Deepti says
Glad to hear this, Han! Thanks for sharing.
Tressa says
We love making tikka, but we had friends coming over who are vegetarian, and these were the perfect addition to our dinner spread.
Deepti says
I am so glad to know this, Tressa! Thanks so much for sharing.