Flavour Project 4: Awadhi Paneer Tikka

Awadhi cuisine is a central Indian cuisine that developed during the Mughal Era in India. The cooking style is an interesting blend of Northern Indian, Central Asian and Persian culture and cooking techniques. It was then well developed and extended by the ruling nizams of princely states such as Avadh and Hyderabad in India. The Awadhi Cuisine is really notable because of its skill in using meats, paneer, dry fruits etc along with rich spices such as cardamoms and saffron. The cooking style also uses hot clay ovens, pots and iron skewers and grills over direct fire. Kababs, Kormas, Rumali Rotis, Kaliya, Makhani Dal etc. are just some examples of truly sensational dishes that are today becoming popular worldwide.

 

A culinary tour of India needs to include Lucknow, capital of Uttar Pradesh in India. It is the city to try out and experience some really authentic Awadhi Food. Dastarkhwan Lalbagh, Azrak are some nice places to try out authentic Awadhi Food in Lucknow.  

Here we show a simple and quick recipe to make an authentic Awadhi starter ‘Awadhi Tandoori Paneer Tikka’:

 

STEP 1 (PREPARE MARINADE)

Add 2 teaspoons of melted butter or ghee. Add 2 teaspoons natural Kashmiri Chilli Powder. Add 3 teaspoons of BanyanTree Foods Hyderabadi Biryani Blend. Mix well.

Add 2 teaspoon of Chopped Green Chilli. Add 2 te spoon of freshly chopped onion and coriander leaf.

Add 2 tablespoons of Greek Yoghurt or Strained thick Yoghurt.

Add Salt as it suits.

Mix the above well into a thick marinade.

STEP 2 (ADD TIKKAS)

Add 150 grams of thickly sliced Paneer or any other non-melting cheese variety (This can be replaced by any form of meat as well.). Add some sliced peppers as well to the marinade.

Add a teaspoon or two of Fresh Lemon Juice. Mix well.

Let it rest in the marinade for 15-20 minutes at least.

If it is meat let it rest at least 30 - 45 minutes. Longer the better...

STEP 3 (COOK IN OVEN OR TANDOOR)

Preheat Oven in Fan & Grill Mode at 250 degree Celsius. Place the Tikkas (Paneer / Meat & Peppers) in the oven. Reduce the heat to 200 degree Celsius.

Cook the Paneer & Peppers for 15 -minutes. If it is meat cook for 25 minutes or until the meat is fully cooked.

Optionally - after cooking the tikkas in the oven brush them with some melted butter & sprinkle with some BanyanTree Foods Chowpatty Spiced Salt.

Enjoy the texture and flavours!


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