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eggless chocolate cake recipe, how to make eggless chocolate cake

https://www.vegrecipesofindia.com/basic-eggless-chocolate-cake-recipe/

eggless chocolate cake recipe with step by step photos – a simple, easy and delicious recipe of a one bowl eggless whole wheat chocolate cake. yes the cake is made from whole wheat flour. so one can have the cake and eat it too 🙂

eggless chocolate cake recipe, egg free chocolate cake

i have already made this chocolate cake a couple of times to use it a basic cake for various chocolate frostings. i have even made eggless black forest cake from this chocolate cake.

the texture of this eggless chocolate cake is soft and moist. this chocolate cake recipe is vegan as i have used oil. but you can add melted butter too.

i have also shared the method of cocoa frosting which is very easy. in the frosting recipe, i have used butter, but a neutral flavored oil can also be added. 

you can serve the cake as it is plain or with the chocolate frosting. but with the chocolate frosting its better 🙂 

i have compiled a list of frequently asked questions and some tips from the comments section of this eggless chocolate cake recipe. 

faq and tips to make eggless chocolate cake

1. can all purpose flour (maida) be used?

you can easily add all purpose flour in the recipe. depending on the quality of flour, you can add slightly less water than what is mentioned in the recipe. 

2. can I double this recipe?

yes, you can double this eggless chocolate cake recipe. 

3. can i skip baking soda?

baking soda is the only leavening ingredient added in the recipe. so it cannot be skipped. 

4. can i add baking powder instead of baking soda?

baking powder cannot be used instead of baking soda. 

5. can i bake this chocolate cake in a convection oven or in a microwave convection oven?

you can easily bake this eggless chocolate cake in a convection oven instead of a regular oven or an OTG. you can even bake this cake in a microwave convection oven. the timing will be less for convection ovens as they bake faster than an OTG or regular ovens. 

6. can i make this eggless chocolate cake in a pressure cooker?

you can make the chocolate cake in a cooker. in a pressure cooker the time taken will be less as compared to an oven. to see how a chocolate cake can be made in a pressure cooker, you can check either of these 2 detailed step by step recipes:
a) – cooker cake recipe
b) – how to make cake without oven

7. can i add vanilla powder in all the cakes instead of vanilla extract?

vanilla powder can be added instead of vanilla extract. you can even add vanilla essence instead of vanilla extract. 

8. why my chocolate cake is not spongy?

in this chocolate recipe, only one leavening ingredient is used. that leaving ingredient is baking soda. the reaction of baking soda with the lemon juice helps in making this eggless chocolate cake spongy and light.

its always better to check the freshness of baking soda before you proceed with the recipe. if the baking soda is not fresh or past its shelf life, the cake won’t rise.

so to check the freshness of baking soda, add about ½ teaspoon of baking soda in 1 tablespoon vinegar + 1 tablespoon of water mixture. the solution should fizz and bubble. if the solution does not fizz and bubble, the baking soda is not active and fresh.

9. can i add dry fruits or nuts in the chocolate cake?

dry fruits and nuts like almonds, pistachios, cashews can be added in the cake batter. but before adding the dry fruits, mix them with a bit of flour, so that they do not settle down at the bottom of the cake while baking. 

10. can milk be added instead of water?

milk (dairy or vegan milks like almond milk, cashew milk or soy milk) can be added instead of water. make sure that the milk is chilled. 

11. can i add honey instead of sugar?

avoid adding honey. according to ayurveda, honey should not be heated as it becomes toxic. you can add jaggery, coconut sugar or palm sugar instead. 

12. can I use vinegar instead of lemon juice?

you can easily use vinegar instead of lemon juice. use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar. 

13. can i use eno (fruit salt) instead of baking soda?

you can use eno in this eggless chocolate recipe. so i would suggest to add about ½ to ⅔ teaspoon of eno in the eggless chocolate cake recipe.

if you are looking for more eggless cake recipes then do check:

eggless chocolate cake recipe

this is a moist and light chocolate cake recipe made with whole wheat flour and without eggs. the cake is soft and moist and can be used a base cake for various chocolate frostings.


rough calories per serving
164
kcal

for eggless chocolate cake

  • 1
    cup
    whole wheat flour
    (atta), levelled OR 120 grams atta (you can use all purpose flour-maida also)
  • 3
    tablespoons
    cocoa powder
  • ½
    teaspoon
    baking soda
  • 1
    pinch
    salt
  • ¾
    cup
    sugar
    or 150 grams sugar ( i have used unrefined cane sugar, regular sugar can also be used)
  • 1
    cup
    cold water,
    250 ml
  • ¼
    cup
    oil or melted butter,
    62.5 ml
  • 1
    tablespoon
    lime or lemon juice
    (can also use vinegar instead of lemon juice)
  • ½
    teaspoon
    vanilla extract or vanilla powder or vanilla essence

for the cocoa frosting

  • 2
    tablespoons
    unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 4
    tablespoons
    cocoa powder
  • 3
    tablespoons
    milk
  • 4
    tablespoons
    sugar
    or add as required

preparation for eggless chocolate cake

  1. first grease a round baking pan of 7.5 inches diameter x 2 inches height with oil.

  2. preheat your oven to 200 degrees celsius/392 degrees fahrenheit.

for making eggless chocolate cake batter

  1. seive 1 cup whole wheat flour, 3 tbsp cocoa powder, a pinch of salt, ½ tsp baking soda in a plate. use good quality cocoa powder.

  2. in another pan or bowl, take ¾ cup sugar.

  3. add 1 cup cold water and stir so that the sugar dissolves.

  4. now add ¼ cup oil or melted butter. i added oil. stir briskly so that everything is mixed well.

  5. next add 1 tbsp lime juice. stir again.

  6. now add ½ tsp vanilla extract or powder.

  7. add the sieved dry ingredients to the wet mixture. using a wired whisk, mix everything well.

  8. there should be no lumps in the cake batter. the batter is not thick but thin.

  9. pour the chocolate cake batter in the prepared cake pan.

baking eggless chocolate cake

  1. tap the sides of the cake pan so that the extra air bubbles are let out.

  2. bake the eggless chocolate cake in a preheated oven for 200 degrees celsius/392 degrees fahrenhiet for 35 to 40 mins. since temperatures vary from oven to oven, do keep a check. for baking in a convection mode of microwave oven, preheat the oven at 180 degrees celsius/356 degrees fahrenheit for 15 minutes. then bake the cake at 180 degrees celsius /356 degree fahrenheit for the 30 to 35 minutes.

  3. for doneness check the cake with a tooth pick. the tooth pick should come out clean. once the chocolate cake becomes warm or cools down, unmold and place it on a wired rack. 

  4. if the tooth pick is sticky, then place the cake back in the oven and continue to bake for some more minutes. before frosting let the chocolate cake cool completely.

making chocolate frosting for cake

  1. take 2 tbsp butter and 4 tbsp sugar in a saucepan.

  2. heat and melt the butter. also the sugar should dissolve. once the sugar has dissolved switch off the stove top. the sugar should be just dissolved. we don’t need to cook the sugar in its various stages.

  3. next add 4 tbsp cocoa powder.

  4. with a spatula stir so that the cocoa powder gets mixed evenly with the butter-sugar mixture.

  5. add 3 tbsp milk. stir very well. to make a slightly thick frosting, you can also add 2 tbsp milk. the cocoa frosting is ready.

icing chocolate cake

  1. while still hot, spread the frosting on the chocolate cake as well as the sides with a spatula. you can also slice the chocolate cake in halve and spread frosting in the center and then on the top. 

  2. usually i wrap a medium sized plate with aluminium foil and then keep the cake on it. this make the frosting work easier. this time i just kept the cake directly on the plate. keep the chocolate cake covered in the fridge for the frosting to set. you can use a dome shaped bowl to cover the cake. make sure the there is enough space between the cake and the bowl which you are using for covering the cake.

  3. the frosting will set after some hours. i kept overnight.

  4. next day, sieve some icing sugar and cocoa powder on the chocolate cake. this is optional.

  5. slice and serve the the eggless chocolate cake.

substitutions:

  • instead of lime juice, add same quantity of white vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
  • you can use ½ to ⅔ teaspoon eno instead of baking soda.
  • you cannot use baking powder instead of baking soda.

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how to make eggless chocolate cake

for ease of understanding, i have divided this cake recipe post in 3 main parts:

  • step 1 – making batter for eggless chocolate cake
  • step 2 – baking eggless chocolate cake
  • step 3 – making chocolate frosting for cake

lets start with step 1 – making batter for eggless chocolate cake

1. first grease a round baking pan of 7.5 inches diameter x 2 inches height with oil. preheat your oven to 200 degrees celsius/392 degrees fahrenheit.

baking pan for chocolate cake recipe

2. seive 1 cup whole wheat flour (you can use all purpose flour/maida also), 3 tbsp cocoa powder, a pinch of salt, ½ tsp baking soda in a plate. use good quality cocoa powder.

eggless chocolate cake ingredients

3. here are the sieved dry ingredients.

dry ingredients for eggless chocolate cake recipe

4. in another pan or bowl, take ¾ cup sugar. i have used unrefined cane sugar, regular white sugar can also be used.

sugar for eggless chocolate cake recipe

5. add 1 cup cold water and stir so that the sugar dissolves.

sugar solution for eggless chocolate cake recipe

6. now add ¼ cup oil or melted butter. i added oil. if using butter, the let the butter come at room temperature after you melt it. or you can also use butter which has softened at room temperature. then you just have to mix and whip them till the mixture looks homogeneous – meaning the water and butter should not look separate. you can also use an electric beater if required. the butter will solidify due to the cold temperature of water, so the only way to mix it evenly with the water is by briskly beating with a wired whisk or with an electric beater. use a wide deep bowl, so that the mixture does not spill out while mixing with the electric beater.

oil for eggless chocolate cake recipe

7. stir briskly so that everything is mixed well.

making eggless chocolate cake recipe

8. next add 1 tbsp lime juice. stir again.

making eggless chocolate cake recipe

9. now add ½ tsp vanilla extract or powder. here i added vanilla powder.
tip from reader manasi – you can also add chocolate extract or chocolate essence instead of vanilla.

vanilla powder for chocolate cake recipe

10. add the sieved dry ingredients to the wet mixture.

making eggless chocolate cake recipe

11. using a wired whisk, mix everything well.

preparing eggless chocolate cake recipe

12. there should be no lumps in the chocolate cake batter. the batter is not thick but thin.

eggless chocolate cake batter

baking eggless chocolate cake

13. pour the chocolate cake batter in the prepared cake pan.

egg free chocolate cake batter

14. tap the sides so that the extra air bubbles are let out.

batter for egg free chocolate cake recipe

15. bake the eggless chocolate cake in a preheated oven for 200 degrees celsius/392 fahrenhiet for 35 to 40 mins. since temperatures vary from oven to oven, do keep a check. for baking in a convection mode of microwave oven, preheat the oven at 180 degrees for 15 minutes. then bake the cake at 180 degrees celsius for the 30 to 35 minutes.

baking eggless chocolate cake

16. for doneness check the cake with a tooth pick. the tooth pick should come out clean. once the eggless chocolate cake becomes warm or cools down, unmold and place it on a wired rack. if the tooth pick is sticky, then place the chocolate cake back in the oven and continue to bake for some more minutes. before frosting, let the chocolate cake cool completely.

baking eggless chocolate cake

making cocoa frosting for chocolate cake

17. take 2 tablespoons butter and 4 tablespoons sugar in a saucepan. for the frosting its best to use superfine sugar or fine sugar. the regular large refined sugar crystals may not melt. powdered sugar can be also used. i have used organic refined cane sugar which has fine crystals so they melt easily. if you do not have fine sugar, then grind 4 tablespoons sugar in a small mixer-grinder jar to a fine powder and then use it for making the frosting.

making eggless chocolate cake frosting

18. heat and melt the butter. also the sugar should dissolve. once the sugar has dissolved switch off the stove top. the sugar should be just dissolved. we don’t need to cook the sugar in its various stages.

making eggless chocolate cake frosting

19. next add 4 tbsp cocoa powder.

cocoa powder for eggless chocolate cake frosting

20. with a spatula stir so that the cocoa powder gets mixed evenly with the butter-sugar mixture.

stir to make eggless chocolate cake frosting

21. add 3 tbsp milk. to make a slightly thick frosting, you can also add 2 tbsp milk.

milk for eggless chocolate cake frosting

22. stir very well. the cocoa frosting is ready.

cocoa frosting for eggless chocolate cake

icing eggless chocolate cake

23. while still hot, spread the frosting on the chocolate cake as well as the sides with a spatula. you can also slice the chocolate cake in halve and spread frosting in the center and then on the top. usually i wrap a medium sized plate with aluminium foil and then keep the cake on it. this make the frosting work easier. this time i just kept the chocolate cake directly on the plate. keep the chocolate cake covered in the fridge for the frosting to set. you can use a dome shaped bowl to cover the cake. make sure the there is enough space between the cake and the bowl which you are using for covering the cake.

23. while still hot, spread the frosting on the chocolate cake as well as the sides with a spatula. you can also slice the chocolate cake in halve and spread frosting in the center and then on the top. usually i wrap a medium sized plate with aluminium foil and then keep the cake on it. this make the frosting work easier. this time i just kept the chocolate cake directly on the plate. keep the chocolate cake covered in the fridge for the frosting to set. you can use a dome shaped bowl to cover the cake. make sure the there is enough space between the cake and the bowl which you are using for covering the cake.

frosting on eggless chocolate cake

24. the frosting will set after some hours. i kept overnight.

frosting on eggless chocolate cake

25. next day, i sieved some icing sugar and cocoa powder on the cake. this is optional.

eggless chocolate cake recipe

26. the eggless chocolate cake is ready to be served. for more delicious chocolate recipes, you can check this collection of 21 eggless chocolate recipes.

eggless chocolate cake recipe


dassana

Founder, Designer, Recipe Developer, Food Photographer


||

i started vegrecipesofindia.com in feb 2009. it is a pure vegetarian blog and shares recipes with step by step photos that will help you to make delicious and tasty vegetarian food easily.

i am passionate about cooking from childhood and learnt cooking from my elders. having a home science degree greatly enhanced my cooking & baking skills and took it to a different level which i now share as foolproof recipes. i was trained both in mainstream indian as well as international cuisines.

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Indian Vegetarian Recipes

Paneer Tikka Masala

paneer curry served in a white bowl garnished with cilantro with naan in the background

Paneer Tikka Masala is a popular Indian curry where cubes of paneer (Indian cottage cheese), onions and peppers are marinated with yogurt and spices, grilled and then tossed in a creamy tomato based curry. This dish goes extremely well with butter naan or paratha or basmati rice.

paneer curry served in a white bowl garnished with cilantro with naan in the background

About This Recipe

You know the most famous Indian food in the world? It is Chicken Tikka Masala, at least that’s what I think. You talk to anyone in the UK or USA and even if they don’t know much about Indian food they definitely know about chicken tikka masala. I think the dish is synonyms with Indian food in the west. The vegetarian version of it is of course Paneer Tikka Masala which is also quite popular and you would find it on the menu of most Indian restaurants.

Growing up in India, I had never heard of paneer tikka masala. Sure, we had paneer tikka but adding it to a curry was unknown, at least to me. I remember watching a MasterChef India episode some 10 years back which had chef Vikas Khanna and chef Kunal Kapoor talking about the origin of this dish. They also shared a recipe and so this recipe is inspired from their version.

They of course shared the recipe for chicken tikka masala but I changed it to paneer tikka masala and also made few changes depending on my preferences and availability. This recipe uses curry powder which is a common spice mix in the west (again this spice mix doesn’t even exist in India) and it makes sense since this dish originated in the UK. There are stories of how a chef added cream sauce to chicken tikka to please the taste buds of British people and that’s where it originated from.

There are 2 parts to this recipe- the tikka part where paneer, onions and peppers are marinated with yogurt and spices and then grilled. You can cook the tikka in tandoor, oven or in your pan. The other part of the recipe is the curry which is a smooth curry made with onions, tomatoes, cream and butter. The grilled tikka is added to the curry and then served as a main course with side of bread.

This Paneer Tikka Masala

  • is super creamy, smooth.
  • goes well with naan, paratha.
  • makes a comforting meal.
  • leftovers are great as well!

Ingredients

There are 2 parts to this recipe- the paneer tikka and the curry.

ingredients for paneer tikka masala arranged on a board

Paneer Tikka

Paneer: you can use either homemade or store bought paneer but whatever paneer you use, it should be firm and be able to hold it’s shape. You can find paneer at Indian grocery stores or make it at home.

Yogurt: for the marinade, it is best to use thick yogurt. Either use Greek yogurt or if using regular yogurt, use store bought yogurt which tends to be thicker than homemade yogurt. If using homemade yogurt, strain it using a muslin cloth for at least 3 to 4 hours to get rid of all the excess water.

Spices: the marinade uses coriander powder, garam masala, two types of chili powder, ginger-garlic and lime juice. You can also use fresh herbs like cilantro, mint.

The Masala/Curry

Curry base: the base is made with onions, tomatoes, ginger and garlic which is quite a staple for most creamy Indian curries. I like using white onion for that sweet, subtle flavor.

Spices: this paneer tikka masala recipe uses curry powder which is a mix of spices and is popular in the western world. It’s not so much popular in India actually, in fact I didn’t even know it existed until I moved out of India. If you don’t have it, you can use a blend of coriander, cumin, turmeric and ginger.

Flavor enhancers: to make the curry creamy, we finish the recipe with butter, cream and cilantro!

Step by Step Instructions

1- We will start by making the paneer tikka. To a large bowl, add yogurt (1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon), make sure the yogurt is thick (if using regular homemade yogurt, drain the yogurt for 3 to 4 hours before using in the recipe). To that add the following:

  • 1 & 1/2 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste
  • 1 teaspoon coriander powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1/2 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon red chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • juice of 1/2 lime

2- Using a spatula or whisk, mix until all the ingredients are well combined.

3- Now add 225 grams paneer (cubed into big cubes), 1 medium red onion (quartered and separated into petals) and 1 medium green pepper (cut into 1 inch cubes).

4- Mix until the paneer, onion and peppers are well coated with the marinade. You can use your hands here. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes at the least.

step by step picture collage of making paneer tikka masala

5- Meanwhile, let’s work the curry part of this recipe. Heat 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a pan on medium heat. Once hot, add 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds and 1-inch cinnamon stick.

6- Let the seeds sizzle and then add 1 large white onion (roughly chopped), 3 to 4 large garlic cloves, chopped and 1-inch chopped ginger.

7- Stir and cook for around 5 to 6 minutes until onions turn light golden brown in color, stir often in between.

8- Then add 3 large tomatoes (chopped) along with the following:

  • 1& 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
step by step picture collage of making paneer tikka masala

9- Stir and cook the tomatoes for 7 to 8 minutes until soft and completely cooked. This step is important so do not rush this step.

10- Once the tomatoes are completely cooked, remove the pan from heat. Let it cool down a bit and then remove the cinnamon stick and transfer everything to a blender and blend to a fine paste. Set this aside.

11- Back to the tikka now, take the marinated paneer out of the refrigerator. Now, you can cook this in a pan or grill or in your oven. I have used a grill pan that I had. Spray the pan with oil and then add the marinated paneer, onions and bell peppers on the pan.

12- Cook until the paneer turns light golden brown in color and onions and peppers are slightly cooked, turning them few times in between for even cooking. Now it’s time to bring the curry together.

Oven instruction: arrange tikka on skewers and bake at 450 F degrees for 10 minutes and then broil for 2 to 3 minutes to get it browned (optional).

step by step picture collage of making paneer tikka masala

13- Now put the pan back on medium heat and add the pureed paste to it that we had prepared earlier. You can also add remaining 1/4 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder at this point if you prefer a brighter color of the curry.

14- Add 1 cup water (or more depending on how much gravy you want), and stir well. Then add remaining 1 tablespoon butter, 2 to 3 tablespoons cream and 1 to 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro. Mix and let it cook for 2 minutes.

15- Add the roasted paneer, onions and peppers into the curry.

16- Mix well and let it simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Garnish with more cilantro and serve paneer tikka masala with naan or paratha.

step by step picture collage of making paneer tikka masala

Serving Suggestions

You can serve paneer tikka masala with the following:

  • Butter Naan: nothing like fluffy, soft homemade naan to dip into the curry.
  • Jeera rice: rice seasoned with cumin seeds makes the perfect pairing.
  • Roti: you can never go wrong with the classic Indian everyday bread.
  • Tandoori roti: another great bread to serve the curry with.
bowl of paneer tikka masala garnished with cilantro and spoons of spices placed on the side

Vegan Variation

For a vegan version of this recipe you can do the following substitutions:

  • use extra-firm tofu in place of paneer.
  • marinate the tofu with thick coconut milk (use the top part from the can) or vegan yogurt (plain almond milk works well).
  • replace butter with vegan butter.
  • replace heavy cream with coconut milk.

Tips & Notes

  • I don’t add cashews or any nuts to this recipe but you can definitely add some cashews along with the onions and tomatoes to make it more creamy.
  • Kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves) can definitely be added toward the end for that nice aroma.
  • If using store bought paneer, remember to soak it in hot water for 15 to 20 minutes before using in the recipe.
  • You can also strain the onion-tomato mixture after blending it, that will make the curry totally smooth. I didn’t do it to save time.
plate with naan and a paneer curry

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Paneer Tikka same as Paneer Tikka Masala?

No they are different. Paneer Tikka is served as an appetizer and has cubes of grilled paneer where for paneer tikka masala the grilled paneer is added to a creamy curry and served as a main dish.

What can I substitute the curry powder with?

Go for a mix of coriander powder, turmeric, cumin and ginger. For replacing 1 u0026 1/2 teaspoon curry powder in this recipe, I would probably use 1 teaspoon coriander powder, 1/2 teaspoon cumin powder, 1/4 teaspoon turmeric and 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger.

Is Paneer Tikka Masala same as Paneer Makhani?

They are both popular paneer recipes but the way you make them is different. For the tikka masala, we first marinate the paneer, grill it and then add to the curry. For the paneer makhani, the sauce is made with nuts, onions, tomatoes and then paneer pieces are added to it directly.

This post has been updated from the recipe archives, first published in April 2014. I have updated the recipe with better photos, videos and made slight modifications to make it better. The curry part of the recipe is same but I have added onions and peppers to the tikka part. If you wish to make it like the old recipe, just skip on the onions and peppers.

If you’ve tried this Recipe then don’t forget to rate the recipe! You can also follow me on FacebookInstagram to see what’s latest in my kitchen and on YouTube to watch my latest videos.

paneer curry served in a white bowl garnished with cilantro with naan in the background

Print

Paneer Tikka Masala

Paneer Tikka Masala is a popular Indian curry where spiced and grilled paneer tikka is added to a creamy curry. It is best enjoyed with warm naan!
Course Entree
Cuisine Indian
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 367kcal
Author Manali

Ingredients

Paneer Tikka

  • 1/3 cup + 1 tbsp yogurt use thick plain whole milk yogurt which has been strained or Greek yogurt
  • 1 & 1/2 teaspoon ginger-garlic paste
  • 1 teaspoon coriander powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
  • 1/2 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder for color
  • 1/4 teaspoon red chili powder or to taste
  • 1/2 lime juice of
  • 225 grams paneer cut into cubes
  • 1 medium red onion quartered and separated into petals
  • 1 medium green pepper cut into 1-inch cubes

Curry

  • 1 tablespoon oil I used avocado oil, use oil of choice
  • 2 tablespoons butter divided, unsalted or salted either works
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds
  • 1 inch cinnamon stick
  • 1 large white onion roughly chopped, around 150 grams
  • 3-4 large garlic cloves chopped
  • 1 inch ginger chopped
  • 3 large tomatoes roughly chopped, around 400 grams
  • 1 & 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder divided (for color, not hot)
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 1 tablespoon sugar I used granulated white sugar
  • 1 cup water or more as needed
  • 2-3 tablespoons heavy cream 30-45 ml
  • 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro

Instructions

  • We will start by making the paneer tikka. To a large bowl, add thick yogurt, make sure the yogurt is thick (if using regular homemade yogurt, drain the yogurt for 3 to 4 hours before using in the recipe or use Greek yogurt).
  • To that add ginger-garlic paste, coriander powder, garam masala, Kashmiri red chili powder, red chili powder, 1/4 teaspoon salt and juice of 1/2 lime.

    Using a spatula or whisk, mix until all the ingredients are well combined.

  • Now add cubed paneer, onion (quartered and separated into petals) and green pepper

    Mix until the paneer, onion and peppers are well coated with the marinade. You can use your hands here. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes at the least.

  • Meanwhile, let’s work the curry part of this recipe. Heat oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a pan on medium heat. Once hot, add cumin seeds and cinnamon stick.
  • Let the seeds sizzle and then add white onion (roughly chopped), chopped garlic cloves and chopped ginger. Stir and cook for around 5 to 6 minutes until onions turn light golden brown in color, stir often in between.
  • Then add the roughly chopped tomatoes along with curry powder, Kashmiri red chili powder, 3/4 teaspoon salt (or to taste) and sugar. Stir and cook the tomatoes for 7 to 8 minutes until soft and completely cooked. This step is important so do not rush this step.
  • Once the tomatoes are completely cooked, remove the pan from heat. Let it cool down a bit and then remove the cinnamon stick and transfer everything to a blender and blend to a fine paste. Set this aside.
  • Back to the tikka now, take the marinated paneer out of the refrigerator. Now, you can cook this in a pan or grill or in your oven. I have used a grill pan that I had. Spray the pan with oil and then add the marinated paneer, onions and bell peppers on the pan.

    Cook until the paneer turns light golden brown in color and onions and peppers are slightly cooked, turning them few times in between for even cooking. Now it’s time to bring the curry together.

    Oven instruction: arrange tikka on skewers and bake at 450 F degrees for 10 minutes and then broil for 2 to 3 minutes to get it browned (optional).

  • Now put the pan back on medium heat and add the pureed paste to it that we had prepared earlier. You can also add remaining 1/4 teaspoon Kashmiri red chili powder at this point if you prefer a brighter color of the curry.
  • Add 1 cup water (or more depending on how much gravy you want), and stir well. Then add remaining 1 tablespoon butter, cream and chopped cilantro. Mix and let it cook for 2 minutes.
  • Add the roasted paneer, onions and peppers into the curry. Mix well and let it simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Garnish with more cilantro and serve paneer tikka masala with naan or paratha.

Video

Notes

  1. I don’t add cashews or any nuts to this recipe but you can definitely add some cashews along with the onions and tomatoes to make it more creamy.
  2. Kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves) can definitely be added towards the end for that nice aroma.
  3. If using store bought paneer, remember to soak it in hot water for 15 to 20 minutes before using in the recipe.
  4. You can also strain the onion-tomato mixture after blending it, that will make the curry totally smooth. I didn’t do it to save time.
  5. Older recipe: I have updated the recipe to make it better. The older recipe didn’t have onions and pepper added to the marinade and had a tablespoon of less butter in the curry. You can definitely use the old recipe, it’s almost same except these minor changes.

Nutrition

Calories: 367kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 536mg | Potassium: 574mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 1803IU | Vitamin C: 51mg | Calcium: 357mg | Iron: 1mg
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