Paneer Tikka

Sizzling and crackling, Paneer Tikka is a longstanding crowd pleaser. Simply marinate paneer, capsicum, and onion in a concoction of curd and spices, layer them onto skewers, and cook.

Paneer, almost bland on its own, has a sponge-like quality of absorbing any flavour it's cooked in, making it a prime option for experimentation, as its versatility is second to none. Paneer has been around at least since the 1600s, and finds mention in the manuscript Nushka-e-Shahjahani (Shah Jahan’s Recipes). It talks about Paneer Biranj, which was prepared especially for a meal the king shared with mostly Kashmiri pandit courtiers, who in turn had brought along chaman, their version of paneer, to the kitchen. Many believe that Pashtun’s kadchgalli and Poland’s toru are inspirations for paneer being created.

Although not in the exact modern form we recognise today, paneer has existed in some way or another for a long time, much before we even turned into an agrarian community, because of our ancient pastoral tradition. And in the Harappan civilisation, milk was consumed by children and seniors while the middle-aged people had curd and paneer, given their longer shelf lives. These ancient communities also spent time understanding its origin and breeding the appropriate cattle for it. For instance, Kutch’s Maldhari tribe worked with the Banni buffalo, whose milk was apt for the tasty and nutritious paneer. India’s understanding of its paneer production is also evident by the fact that Chenna Poda, the Indian version of cheesecake, was created in ancient Odisha’s Dasapalla in the 12th century.

Paneer, consumed as Paneer Tikka, or in some other way, also comes with several health benefits. Paneer is rich in Vitamin D and calcium, which make it a great source of strengthening bones and teeth. Calcium is also a great way of promoting normal functioning of the nervous system. The minerals in paneer are responsible for smooth functioning of the digestive system, and it’s low in carbs, making it ideal for diabetics. It also stimulates haemoglobin production and leads to a stronger immune system.