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Photo: S. Subramanium

Good for weight watchers! Pudina paneer tikka prepared by Monish Gujral

I have always wondered at the amount of milk we consume in different forms, be it butter, lassi, cream or paneer.

Paneer occupies a pivotal place in vegetarians’ and non-vegetarians’ diet. Being rich in calcium and proteins, it helps children grow.

Over the years, many paneer dishes have evolved. Today I choose a rather unusual combo — panner with pudina.

It’s a recipe that is good for weight watchers.

Pudina (mint) is high in iron, calcium chlorine, sulphur, phosphorus and vitamin A, B and C.

It has even been advocated in our Hindu scriptures! Dried mint is commonly used in Indian curries.

It has digestive properties, hence most Indians eat their kababs dipped in mint chutney hoping to digest those tasty kababs as they eat.

350 gms paneer (cottage cheese)

1 tsp vinegar

1/2 tsp white pepper powder

2 tsp mint (pudina) chutney

1/2 tsp red chilli powder

1/2 tsp cumin powder

1/2 tsp garam masala

100 ml hung curd

1/4 tsp asafoetida

Oil for basting

Salt to taste

Wash and clean the paneer. Cut the paneer into medium sized cubes and pat dry with a cloth. For the mint sauce, in a blender, add mint leaves, lemon, a little water, cumin powder, salt, red chilli powder, garam masala and blend well.

For the first marinade — apply salt, white pepper and vinegar to the paneer cubes and keep aside for 30 minutes.

For second marinade — whisk the hung curd, add in the red chilli powder, mint paste, asafoetida and mix well.

Remove excess moisture from the paneer tikkas, apply the second marinade and rub well. Keep aside for about one hour.

Skew the marinated paneer cubes one by one and roast in a preheated tandoor for about eight minutes.

Remove from the tandoor and hang for about two minutes to drain the excess moisture, baste with oil and turn the skewer around and roast again for about three to four minutes until tender and cooked.

Alternatively, it can be cooked in an oven at 300 degrees Celsius. Serve hot with mint chutney.

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