Spice up your cooking game with these delicious Paneer Tacos. I'll teach you how to master the art of these delectable tacos, providing you with the techniques, tips, and tricks you need to create restaurant-quality delights that will leave everyone asking for seconds. From making the perfect paneer to assembling the tacos like a pro.
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What is a Paneer Taco?
A paneer taco is a fusion of Indian flavors wrapped in a delicious tortilla. You can add a fusion twist to it by including salsa or mango salsa. We loved to add a cilantro sauce to these Indian style tacos.
📋 Ingredients for Paneer Tacos
- Paneer - This Indian Cottage cheese can be made at home using just 2 ingredients - milk and lemon juice. Here is my homemade paneer recipe. Although, oftentimes I find myself using store-bought paneer (Gopi, Swad, or Haldiram brand) for convenience. It is sold in Indian grocery stores, Wholefoods, and Costco.
- Mixed Bell Peppers - I like red and green as they offer a nice contrasting color with sweetness from red and a mildly bitter flavor from green. You can use any peppers you have on hand
- Red Onions - In addition to the sweetness of sauteed red onions, I love the beautiful red hue it adds to the filling. I also love adding thinly sliced raw red onions while serving for some crunch
- Spices - Kashmiri red chili powder, ginger, garlic, garam masala, turmeric, Kasoori methi, and salt
- Cilantro Sauce - Homemade or store-bought sauce.
- Garlic Chutney. I made this version for mine.
📖 Marinating the Paneer for Maximum Flavor
Marinating is a crucial process that infuses the paneer with aromatic spices and enhances its taste, making every bite of your tacos incredibly flavorful.
The Base: Yogurt. To create a marinade that tantalizes your taste buds, start with a base of yogurt. Yogurt not only adds a tangy and creamy element to the marinade but also helps to ensure that the paneer remains moist during the cooking process. You can use regular, homemade yogurt, or Greek yogurt. I like to use full fat Greek yogurt for this recipe.
Spices and herbs. Traditional Indian spices like cumin, coriander, turmeric, and garam masala are great options for adding depth and complexity to your marinade. You can adjust the proportions of these spices to suit your taste preferences. Additionally, fresh herbs such as cilantro or mint can elevate the flavors even further, giving your rolls a vibrant and aromatic twist.
When marinating the paneer, make sure to coat it thoroughly with the mixture, ensuring that every piece is well-seasoned. Allow the paneer to soak in the marinade for at least 30 minutes, or even better, overnight in the refrigerator. This gives the flavors ample time to penetrate the paneer, resulting in a more robust taste.
Marinating not only adds flavor but also helps to tenderize the paneer, making it even more enjoyable to bite into. The combination of spices, yogurt, and marinating time creates a perfect harmony of flavors.
👩🏽🍳 Assembling the Paneer Tacos
Add the sauce and paneer. On the tortilla of your choice, layer a couple of teaspoons of your cilantro sauce. Then, add a generous amount of the prepared paneer filling. You want to distribute the paneer filling evenly to ensure that every bite is filled with flavor. Next, add an extra dollop of your favorite chutney, whether it's tangy tamarind or more cilantro chutney.
Add the vegetables. Layer the bell peppers and thinly sliced onions on the paneer filling. Feel free to experiment with different vegetables, adding your own personal touch.
Garnish. To top it all off, sprinkle a pinch of chaat masala—a tangy and slightly spicy blend of spices—over the filling. Don't be shy with the chaat masala; a little goes a long way in amplifying the overall deliciousness of the dish. I also add chopped cilantro, sev, and amul cheese on top.
Assemble the Taco. To roll, gently lift one end of the dough and fold it over the filling, creating a tight cylinder. Make sure to tuck in the sides to prevent any fillings from escaping. you can hold it together with toothpicks.
Don't be afraid to let your creativity shine and experiment with different ingredients and flavors to make them uniquely yours. Gather your ingredients, roll up your sleeves, and unleash your culinary side.
If you loved this Paneer Tacos recipe, please let me know in the comments below! I’d love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest! Subscribe to my weekly emails at the bottom so you never miss a new recipe!
📖 Recipe
Paneer Tacos
Ingredients
- 6 small tortillas, , I used flour
For the Paneer
- 14 oz Paneer, cubed (large enough for skewers)
- ½ cup greek yogurt, or thick yogurt + 2-3 tablespoons water
- 1 inch ginger, minced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon tandoori masala or garam masala
- 2 teaspoons turmeric
- 1 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon Kashmiri chili powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons kasoori methi
Vegetables
- 1 medium bell pepper,, thinly sliced
- 1 medium red onion,, thinly sliced
Cilantro Sauce
- 2 cups cilantro
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 jalapeño, seeded
- ¼ cup neutral oil, , such as vegetable or avocado
- ¼ cup lime juice
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ teaspoon salt + more to taste
Garnish Options
- chaat masala, garlic chutney, thin sev, raita, amul cheese, cilantro
Instructions
Marinate the Paneer
- In a medium bowl, combine the yogurt, ginger and garlic paste, garam masala, turmeric, cumin powder, Kashmiri chili powder, paprika, black pepper, salt, and kasoori methi. Combine well then add the paneer cubes. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 2 hours or overnight.
Cooking the Paneer.
- Stovetop Method (with a gas stove only). Set the paneer cubes over a heated and greased stovetop grill. Cook them until they are golden on each side and slightly charred at the grill mark lines.
- Oven Method. Set the paneer over an oven tray lined with parchment paper. Spray the paneer with cooking spray or brush them with ghee or oil. Bake in a preheated oven at 425°F for about 15 minutes, rotating them in between. Keep an eye on them to ensure they do not burn. Finish these by broiling them in the last 2-3 minutes.
- Make the sauce while the paneer cooks.
Make the Cilantro Sauce
- While the paneer is cooking, make the sauce. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend. Scrape the sides down as necessary and blend again until you have a sauce.
Assemble and Serve!
- Assemble the tacos on your tortilla. Layer the sauces, add the paneer, and garnish with your favorites. Garnish options include chaat masala, chopped cilantro, chutneys, thin sev, raita, and amul cheese.
Notes
- If you don't have any skewers, you can arrange the pieces of marinated paneer and vegetables on a tray lined with parchment paper. Roast the pieces according to the oven directions. Cook for a slightly less amount of time as they will cook faster with this method.
- If you have an outdoor grill, you can also use this recipe for a great, smokey flavor.
Nutrition Info
Dina
Love tacos. Looks yummy.
Shweta
Thank you! We love tacos too!
Krishna
Absolutely delicious! Thanks for the recipe
Shweta
Thank you! Glad you loved it!
Dina Gohel
Love it.
Shweta
Thank you!
Rajesh
This is one of my favorites - how genius to have an indian taco!
Shweta
Thank you! Yes, fusion food is the best!
Usha Gadhia
I use this recipe made a roasted vegetable pasta turn out very good was so yummy my family loved it too and I am making today satay Tofu