Diwali Treat - Tava Paneer Tikka and some wraps

So my favourite festival is just around the corner - Diwali - the festival of light,finery and ofcourse some good food. Every year I make it a point to stay home and fill up my home with lights of all kinds. The diyas , the rangoli , the puja and finally party with my dear ones on Diwali night. Now parties also calls for some food and I like to prepare sweets and starters at home. A week before Diwali I diligently plan out the menu and start with the preparations. This year I have decided to serve up some starters that easy to prepare and are party pleasers. I will be making this very convenient to make Tava Paneer Tikka - that I am going to serve up two ways. For those who want to keep it light can have the tikkas as is and the rest I am going to turn them into wholesome wholewheat wraps garnished with some mint mayonnaise.

Ingredients:

Fresh Paneer - 200 gms - cut into big sized cubes

Curd /Yogurt - 100 gms

Tomato - 1 large - cut into cubes

Onion - 1 large - cut into cubes

Shahi Garam Masala - 1 tbsp.

Kashmiri red chili powder - 1 tbsp.

Salt - to taste

Olive oil - 1 tsp + 1 tsp for brushing on the tava

For the wrap:

Wholewheat flour - 1 cup

Olive oil - 1 tsp

Salt - to taste

Carom /ajwain seeds - 1 tsp

Warm water - to knead the dough

Method:

Take the paneer , onion and tomato cubes in a bowl. Add all the ingredients listed above. Mix well and keep aside for atleat 6 hrs. I usually keep it overnight - the flavours get absorbed very well.

 

Put a heavy bottomed tava /flat pan on heat. Arrange pieces of paneer , onion and tomato alternatively into wooden skewers.

Brush the tava with some olive oil and place the skewers on the hot tava. It takes very little time to cook so keep changing sides till it get a golden brown colour.

Remove from heat and serve with mint mayonnaise ( I used store bought ) or with some homemade mint coriander chutney. Make some salad with onion and cucumber and serve alongside.

Or you could  wrap them up inside some wholewheat parathas /flat bread, top it up with some mint mayonnaise , secure with a tooth pick and serve hot.

Notes:

• To prepare the paratha /wraps- simply knead together the ingredients mentioned under "wraps" into a soft dough. Roll out into thin flatbreads and roast in the pan without or with very little oil. Stuff the paneer tikkas in to wrap, top with some mint mayo or chutney and chopped onions. Roll and secure with a tooth pick. Serve hot.