Tawa Paneer

Tawa Paneer Recipe – semi-dry paneer dish made with cottage cheese aka paneer, onions, capsicum and tomatoes. This is restaurant style paneer tawa masala.

Tawa Paneer in a steel serving plate with napkin under it.

As the name says paneer tawa masala, it is made on tawa or tava only. I was not sure how to explain so I looked into wiki. Tawa is a large, flat or concave or convex disc-shaped frying pan. I usually use it for making Indian flat breads like paratha or roti.

It is not must to use tawa. You can use wide pan as well. As you can see in the steps below, I have not used traditional tawa. Because the one I have is smaller in size. I cannot make two portions in that. So I have used large non stick pan which resembles tawa.

For making tawa paneer, I have marinated the paneer pieces. And then sauteed on tawa. For the marination, I have used kashmiri red chili powder. Hence you see the paneer pieces has bright red color.

Check out other paneer recipes
Paneer jalfrezi  //  Paneer do pyaza  //  Paneer bhurji  //  Paneer tikka

Step By Step Photo Instructions:

1) First marinate the paneer. Take red chili powder, turmeric powder and salt in a bowl.

2) Add lemon juice.

Collage of 2 images showing spices in a bowl and lemon juice added.

3) Mix well and make paste.

4) Add paneer cubed. Stir well and coat the paneer pieces with the spice paste. The best way to mix is use your hand. Keep it aside and let it marinate for 20-30 minutes.

Collage of 2 images showing spices mixed with lemon juice and coated with paneer.

5) Meanwhile prep other ingredients. Then caramelize the onions. For that heat one tablespoon of oil in a tawa. Once hot add onions.

6) Cook and stir occasionally. So onions do not get burn.

Collage of 2 images showing cooking onion.

7) Cook till it gets dark brown in color.

8) Remove it to a plate and keep it aside.

Collage of 2 images showing cooked onion and removed in a plate.

9) In the same tawa on medium heat, add another one tablespoon of oil. Once oil is hot, add paneer pieces and saute.

10) Flip them once they get slight color on one side. Do not overcook it.

Collage of 2 images showing shallow frying paneer on tawa.

11) Remove it to a plate and keep it aside.

12) Now wipe the tawa clean with paper towel. Heat the butter in the tawa.

Collage of 2 images showing fried paneer in a plate and melting butter on tawa.

13) As soon as butter is melted, add cumin seeds. let them sizzle a bit.

14) Add chopped tomatoes.

Collage of 2 images showing adding cumin seeds and tomatoes.

15) Mix well and sprinkle salt.

16) Cook till tomatoes are soft.

Collage of 2 images showing adding salt and cooked tomatoes.

17) Now mash the softened tomatoes using potato masher.

18) It will be more pulpy and cook till fat starts to ooze out from sides.

Collage of 2 images showing mashing tomatoes and mashed.

19) Add capsicum.

20) Mix well.

Collage of 2 images showing adding green peppers and mixing.

21) Also add ginger paste and green chilies.

22) Mix well and cook for 2-3 minutes.

Collage of 2 images showing adding and mixing ginger, chili.

23) Add red chili powder, cumin powder and garam masala.

24) Stir well, If it looks too dry then add splash of water. So spices do not get burn. Cook for a minute.

Collage of 2 images showing adding spices and mixed with a splash of water.

25) Add caramelized onions and sauteed paneer.

26) Mix very gently, so everything is coated to paneer well.

Collage of 2 images showing adding fried paneer and cooked onion and mixed.

27) Lastly add chopped cilantro.

28) Again mix and turn off the stove.

Collage of 2 images showing adding and mixing cilantro.

Paneer tawa masala is ready to serve. If you make it and do share your feedback in comments below.

Serving suggestions: Tawa paneer can be served with roti, paratha or naan. This is semi-dry paneer dish, so not recommended to serve with rice. Or you can have it as a starter as such, just have fork and some green chutney on side.

Tawa Paneer in a plate.

Did you try this tawa paneer recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Leave a review in the comment section below.

Tawa Paneer

4.75 from 4 votes
Tawa Paneer Recipe | Paneer tawa masala recipe
Tawa Paneer Recipe – semi-dry paneer dish made with cottage cheese aka paneer, onions, capsicum and tomatoes. This is restaurant style paneer tawa masala.
Kanan
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Serving Size 2 servings

US measuring cups are used (1 cup = 240 ml)

Ingredients

For Marinating Paneer:

  • 200 grams or 7 oz Paneer, cubed
  • 1 ½ teaspoons Kashmiri red chili powder
  • ¼ teaspoon Turmeric powder
  • Salt to taste
  • 2 teaspoons Lemon juice

Rest Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon Oil
  • ½ cup Red onion, sliced
  • 1 tablespoon Butter
  • ½ teaspoon Cumin seeds
  • 2 medium or 1 ½ cups Tomato, finely chopped
  • ½ cup Capsicum (Green bell pepper)
  • 1 teaspoon Ginger paste or freshly grated or crushed
  • 1 Green chili, chopped finely
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 teaspoon Red chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon Cumin powder
  • ½ teaspoon Garam masala
  • few Cilantro or coriander leaves, chopped finely

Instructions

  • Take red chili powder, turmeric powder and salt in a bowl. Add lemon juice. Mix well and make paste.
  • Add paneer cubed. Stir well and coat the paneer pieces with the spice paste.
  • Keep it aside and let it marinate for 20-30 minutes.
  • Heat one tablespoon of oil in a tawa. Once hot add onions. Cook and stir occasionally. So onions do not get burn.
  • Cook till it gets dark brown in color. Remove it to a plate and keep it aside.
  • In the same tawa on medium heat, add another one tablespoon of oil.
  • Once oil is hot, add paneer pieces and saute.
  • Flip them once they get slight color on one side. Do not overcook it. Remove it to a plate and keep it aside.
  • Now wipe the tawa clean with paper towel. Heat the butter in the tawa.
  • As soon as butter is melted, add cumin seeds. let them sizzle a bit.
  • Add chopped tomatoes. Mix well and sprinkle salt. Cook till tomatoes are soft.
  • Now mash the softened tomatoes using potato masher. It will be more pulpy and cook till fat starts to ooze out from sides.
  • Add capsicum. Mix well.
  • Also add ginger paste and green chilies. Mix well and cook for 2-3 minutes.
  • Add red chili powder, cumin powder and garam masala.
  • Stir well, If it looks too dry then add splash of water. So spices do not get burn. Cook for a minute.
  • Add caramelized onions and sauteed paneer.
  • Mix very gently, so everything is coated to paneer well.
  • Lastly add chopped cilantro. Again mix
  • Turn off the stove.

Nutrition

Calories: 464kcal (23%) | Carbohydrates: 14.6g (5%) | Protein: 20g (40%) | Fat: 36.3g (56%) | Saturated Fat: 4.7g (24%) | Cholesterol: 15mg (5%) | Sodium: 663mg (28%) | Potassium: 454mg (13%) | Fiber: 3.3g (13%) | Sugar: 6.3g (7%)
4.75 from 4 votes (1 rating without comment)

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