Ask a seasoned chef how to infuse flavours to paneer, and they will tell you that marination is the key. Prepared with fresh herbs, spices, and creamy ingredients, marinades are the spine of recipes for pan-fried, grilled, and tandoori snacks.
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Not only do they amplify the taste of the dish but also infuse it with freshness and prevent it from drying during the cooking process. If you enjoy gulping down paneer cubes, you will not have enough of them once they are marinated and cooked. Try the marinade recipes mentioned below to upskill the chef inside you.
Achari Marinade
As the name suggests, achari marinade is incomplete without pickle masala. In India, finding achar masala is not a difficult task. Every household has its own recipes to prepare pickles using ingredients like mangoes, jackfruit, chicken, lemon, chillies, onion, radish, and whatnot. To prepare this mixture, combine ginger-garlic paste, achar masala of your choice, lemon juice, salt to taste, red chilli powder (optional), mustard oil, and yoghurt. Marinate paneer cubes in this for at least an hour before grilling or pan-frying.
Lemon & Herb Marinade
Lemon and fresh herbs are a deadly combination because no matter what your ingredient is, this blend will take its flavour quotient up a notch. In a small mixing bowl, add lemon juice, black pepper, olive oil, salt, and garlic. Drop fresh herbs like rosemary, coriander leaves, mint leaves, and basil as well. Toss paneer cubes in this mixture and leave them for 30-60 minutes before grilling.
Tandoori Marinade
Do you know how chefs make tandoori paneer tasty? The secret lies in the special marinade prepared by whisking roasted cumin powder, mustard oil, ginger-garlic paste, salt, kasuri methi, turmeric powder, garam masala, lemon juice, and red chilli powder with curd. Toss paneer cubes in this creamy concoction for an hour or two before baking in a tandoor. The smoky flavour makes it a perfect snack to pair with cocktails.
Barbecue Marinade
If you are planning to present grilled paneer to your guests, make it appetising with barbecue marination. For this concoction, you need a handful of ingredients like garlic powder, barbecue sauce, black pepper, soy sauce, tomato ketchup, and lemon juice. Combine the ingredients well before tossing paneer. After marinating for an hour, grill paneer pieces. Serve the dish after brushing the paneer cubes with the marination.
Peri-Peri Marinade
Peri-peri masala has seeped into every modern-Indian kitchen. Whether you are preparing a sandwich or salad, it is a must-have to spice up the recipe. Before grilling or pan-frying paneer cubes, you can marinate them in a mixture of lemon juice, peri-peri powder, salt, garlic paste, olive oil, and paprika. After an hour, subject the cubes to heat until they are slightly charred.
Hariyali Marinade
To infuse paneer with fresh flavour, nothing will work better than leafy greens. Prepare a blend of yoghurt, coriander leaves, lemon juice, mint leaves, salt, cumin powder, green chillies, and red chilli powder. After tossing and marinating paneer cubes in it for an hour, grill or pan-fry them. You can also add to skewers and bake in a tandoor.