quick paneer tikka - a quick cocktail or mocktail snack with paneer - cottage cheese and bell pepper.

INGREDIENTS (measuring cup used, 1 cup = 250 ml)

main ingredients

• 125 to 150 gms paneer or cottage cheese
• 1 small bell pepper/capsicum - green, red or yellow
• oil for shallow frying or pan frying
• chopped coriander leaves or mint leaves for garnishing (optional)

for marination:

• 1 to 1.5 tsp ginger garlic paste (approx 2-3 garlic + ½ inch ginger crushed to a paste in a mortar-pestle)
• 1 to 1.5 tbsp besan or gram flour
• a pinch or two pinches of turmeric powder/haldi
• ½ tsp ajwain or carom seeds, coarsely crushed in a mortar-pestle
• ¼ tsp red chili powder/lal mirch powder or as required
• ½ tsp coriander powder/dhania powder
• ¼ tsp cumin powder/jeera powder
• ½ tsp chaat masala or as required
• ¼ tsp garam masala powder
• ½ to 1 tsp lemon juice or as required
• salt as required

INSTRUCTIONS:

1) cut the paneer and bell pepper in cubes or small squares.

2) mix all the ingredients listed under marination well.

3) add the paneer and bell pepper and to this mixture and mix well so that the cubes are evenly coated.

4) skewer the paneer and bell pepper cubes alternately on toothpicks.

5) heat oil for shallow frying in a kadai or pan till medium hot.

6) add the skewered paneer tooth pics in the oil and shallow fry till light golden and crisp.

7) don't fry a lot as the paneer cubes will become dense.

8)fry the paneer tikka in batches.

9)drain on kitchen paper napkins.

10)whiles serving sprinkle some chaat masala & black salt & lemon juice along with chopped coriander leaves or mint leaves on the paneer tikka.

11)serve paneer tikka hot with mint yogurt chutney or even tomato sauce.

NOTES

the spices can be adjusted as per your requirements.