Cooking has a way of reminding me that no matter how much I cook or how much I know there is always something new to learn or discover. I am always in the hunt for good recipes or ideas. I had Paneer tacos at our cousin K's house last year. And ever since then this has become a family favorite!
My version of Paneer Tacos is slightly different from what I have had. I decided to make Paneer Tikka in the oven and made a creamy Cilantro Lime sauce to go with it.
Paneer Tikka is marinated skewers of paneer and vegetable( mainly onions and peppers) which are grilled to perfection. Smoky flavor along with slightly charred ends that comes from the grill or clay oven is what makes a good Paneer Tikka.
I decided to bake them in the oven. One main thing to remember while baking paneer is that they tend to cook faster. If they are over cooked, they become pretty dry and hard. So watch out for it! I usually make a big batch because the next day the same paneer gets used for making Paneer Tikka Masala. You may want to half the recipe.
The more time you marinate more the better. For parties, I usually marinate it the previous day. This time I just let it sit for about 3 hours.I like mine tangy so after baking I tossed the paneer and veggies with some sliced onions that was mixed with lemon juice, chili powder and salt. This is optional. Since the paneer will be filled inside the crispy taco, do not cut them too big. I like mine spicy and tangy, please feel free to adjust the taste as per your liking.
INGREDIENTS:
200 gm Paneer
1/3 cup hung curd or greek yogurt
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
2 teaspoon Kashmiri Chili powder( gives a good color)
2 teaspoon coriander powder
1 tablespoon ginger and garlic paste
3 tablespoon oil( use one tablespoon to drizzle on top)
1 teaspoon dry mango powder /lemon juice
2 tablespoon chickpea flour/besan
1 onion , cubed
1 pepper(any color will do), cubed
1 tomato ( optional),cubed
salt as needed
ASSEMBLY -
1 red onion, sliced
lemon juice, as needed
1 teaspoon , chili powder
salt
Avocado - 1/2
cilantro - for garnish
CILANTRO LIME SAUCE
1/4 cup greek yogurt
1/4 cup mayonaise
1 garlic clove
1/2 bunch cilantro, along with their stem
3 green chilies
1-2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 lemon juice
salt as needed
crispy Taco shells
Marinate - Cut the paneer into small pieces. Mix all the ingredients mentioned above. Toss the paneer and the vegetables well. Check for the spices and add them accordingly.Cover it with a cling wrap and keep it in the refrigerator for about 3-4 hours.
Preheat oven at 400F. Spread the paneer on a greased baking tray; drizzle the remaining oil on top. Do the same with the veggies as well. Bake paneer in the oven for about 6-8 minutes.
Mix the sliced onions along with lemon juice, chili powder, salt and lemon juice. Toss the baked Paneer and veggies. This makes it tangy!
FOR THE SAUCE -
Blend all the ingredients listed under Sauce. Check for the taste and add sugar /salt as per your liking.
Fill the crispy taco shells with Paneer mixture, some chopped avocados as well and drizzle with the Cilantro Lime sauce. Enjoy!