Go Back
Homemade Paneer Tikka BBQ on Charcoal Grill
Print Recipe

Paneer Tikka BBQ

Tender homemade paneer marinated with fresh lemon juice, garlic, and tandoori masala, then threaded onto thick wooden skewers with onion and colorful bell peppers and grilled until lightly charred. An easy and flavorful vegetarian addition to your family BBQ.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Pakistani

Ingredients

  • 500 grams Homemade Paneer cut into 1 & ½ inch-cubes
  • 1 Large Onion cut into chunky pieces
  • 2 Colorful Bell Peppers/Capsicum cut into pieces suitable for skewering
  • Fresh Lemon Juice enough to coat the paneer
  • 1 tbs National Ginger-Garlic paste
  • Shan Tandoori Masala as needed
  • 6 Thick Bamboo Skewers soaked in water

Instructions

Prepare the paneer:

  • Use your homemade paneer, preferably chilled and firm enough to handle without breaking. Cut it into chunky pieces. If you are making the paneer specifically for this recipe, follow the Homemade Paneer recipe first.

Prepare the marinade:

  • In a bowl, squeeze fresh lemon juice. Add the garlic or ginger-garlic paste and mix in some tandoori masala.

Coat the paneer:

  • Add the paneer pieces to the bowl and gently coat them with the lemon and spice mixture. Sprinkle more tandoori masala over the paneer until you achieve the color and level of seasoning you like.
  • There is no need to make the marinade overly complicated. The combination of lemon, ginger-garlic, and tandoori masala gives the homemade paneer plenty of flavor for the BBQ.

Prepare the vegetables:

  • Cut the onion and colorful bell peppers into chunky pieces that are easy to thread onto the skewers. The exact amount of vegetables does not need to be measured. Use what you have available and adjust the amount according to how many skewers you are making.

Prepare the skewers:

  • Place the thick wooden skewers in a dish of water and soak them for at least 30 minutes before assembling your BBQ. This helps prevent the wooden skewers from burning too quickly on the hot grill.
  • Once soaked, drain the skewers. Thread the marinated paneer cubes, onion, and colorful bell pepper pieces onto the skewers, alternating them as you go. Don't pack the pieces too tightly; leave a little space between them so the heat can reach the paneer and vegetables evenly.

Preheat the BBQ:

  • Make sure your BBQ grill is hot and ready before placing the skewers on it.

Grill the paneer tikka:

  • Place the skewers on the hot grill. Grill for approximately 2 minutes on each side, turning them carefully so that all sides get some heat and light charring.

Watch the cooking time:

  • The total grilling time should be around 8 minutes. Keep an eye on the paneer as it cooks. Do not grill for more than 10 minutes, as paneer can become firm and dry if it is overcooked.

Look for the right finish:

  • The paneer should have a beautiful tandoori color with lightly charred edges, while the onions and bell peppers should be tender with some BBQ char.

Serve:

  • Remove the skewers from the grill and serve hot. They make a delicious vegetarian option alongside your favorite BBQ meats or can be enjoyed on their own as a light meal.
    • Vegetables are flexible: You do not need a fixed amount of onion or bell pepper. Use what you have available.
    Adjust the tandoori masala: Add enough to give the paneer the color and flavor you prefer.
    Do not overcook the paneer: Around 8 minutes is usually enough. Avoid going beyond 10 minutes.
    Homemade paneer works beautifully: Because the paneer is freshly made, it gives these skewers a soft, satisfying texture.

Notes

My Tried & Tested Products

A few simple products make this recipe easier, especially if you're new to making BBQ at home. These are items I personally use and have tested in my own kitchen. The links below are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them, at no extra cost to you.
Thick Bamboo Skewers: I prefer thick Bamboo skewers for paneer tikka because they are sturdy enough to hold the paneer cubes and vegetables securely on the grill.
🇺🇸 Shop Amazon USA: https://flavorfulfiestaofpk.com/bamboo-skewers-us
🇨🇦 Shop Amazon Canada: https://flavorfulfiestaofpk.com/bamboo-skewers-ca
Shan Tandoori Masala: This is the tandoori masala I use for my paneer tikka—it gives the paneer that beautiful color and the familiar tandoori flavor I love.
🇺🇸 Shop Amazon USA: https://flavorfulfiestaofpk.com/tandoori-masala-us
🇨🇦 Shop Amazon Canada: https://flavorfulfiestaofpk.com/tandoori-masala-ca
National Ginger Garlic Paste: I keep this paste on hand for easy everyday cooking, and it adds just the right amount of ginger-garlic flavor to the paneer marinade.
🇺🇸 Shop Amazon USA: https://flavorfulfiestaofpk.com/ginger-garlic-paste-us 
🇨🇦 Shop Amazon Canada: https://flavorfulfiestaofpk.com/ginger-garlic-paste-ca