Looking to make paneer tikka but does not have skewers? Not to worry, this air fryer paneer tikka without skewer is easy to make, and they are keto, gluten-free, and low-carb.

I hate it when you crave something, and you don’t have ingredients to work with. But when you want something, you make it happen no matter what.

This air fryer paneer tikka without skewer recipe came to life when I ran out of skewers one day when I had planned to make an appetizer for a family get-together.

air fryer paneer tikka in a white platter with salad

This paneer tikka without skewer is very easy to make, and you don’t need to worry about marinated paneer breaking when you insert them into sewers.

This air fryer paneer tikka also tastes great, and you can serve them with salad as an appetizer.

This simple paneer tikka without skewer is vegetarian, keto, gluten-free, and low carb. So, you can serve it as an appetizer to people with diet preferences at your next get-together.

Can you make Paneer Tikka without Skewer?

Paneer tikka is a traditional Indian appetizer that is usually made using skewers. Marinated paneer and vegetables are inserted into wooden or metal skewers and cooked in the oven or stop top.

But you can make paneer tikka if you are running out of skewers. Actually, making paneer tikka without skewers is easier than making them with skewers.

When making air fryer paneer tikka without a skewer, you are saving yourself the time of inserting marinated paneer into the skewer. Also, inserting marinated paneer into the skewer takes a lot of patients as you don’t want the paneer to break.

And skewered paneer tends to fall off the skewer when you are cooking them in an air fryer on a kabob rack if you did not cut paneer in the thick cube.

So, making paneer tikka without a skewer makes like so easy that you do not need to worry about inserting paneer into the skewer or paneer falling off the skewer while cooking or cutting paneer into a thick cube.

Whether you make paneer tikka with or without a skewer, there is no difference in taste, so why bother going through the trouble of using a skewer?

Ingredients used for making Air Fryer Paneer Tikka without Skewer

Paneer – or Indian cottage cheese. Fresh homemade paneer or store-bought paneer works great for this recipe.

Bell pepper– Use yellow, red, or green bell peppers.

Yogurt – Greek yogurt or hung curd to keep this recipe keto-friendly.

Ginger – Freshly grated ginger

Indian Spices –Chili powder, cumin powder, turmeric powder, chat Masala, and Garam masala or Tandoori masala blend.

Salt

Oil – Use olive oil or avocado oil

Lemon juice – Freshly squeezed lemon juice

Equipment

Bowl – to make the marinade

Air Fryer – any model of air fryer – basket, tray, and Instant pot with a crisp lid will work for this recipe.

Aluminum foil to line the air fryer basket or tray

How to make air fryer paneer tikka without skewers?

Cut paneer and bell peppers into 1-inch thick cubes/pieces.

Take a Greek yogurt in a bowl.

yogurt,chili, turmeric powder marinade , paneer and red and yellow bell pepper, marinated paneer and bell pepper in a one frame

Add grated ginger, chili, turmeric powder, garam masala, cumin powder, lemon juice, salt, and olive oil.

Mix all the ingredients well to make a marinade for paneer tikka.

Then add the cubed paneer and bell peppers to the marinade.

Coat paneer cube and peppers well with marinade.

Cover the bowl and let it rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

cooked and uncooked marinated paneer over aluminum foil in a air fryer basket

When ready to cook, line the air fryer basket with aluminum foil.

Spry the lined foil with cooking spray or olive oil.

Air fry paneer tikka at 400°F for 6-8 minutes, flipping them mid-way through.

Tips for success

Cut paneer in equal sizes to ensure uniform cooking.
Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Instead, cook them in batches if you need more.
Marinated paneer sticks to the air fryer basket while cooking, so make sure to spray them well if you are not using aluminum foil to line the basket.
Lining the air fryer basket with aluminum foil saves you from cleaning later.
Do not overcook paneer; otherwise, they will get dry and chewy.
Serve paneer tikka over greens and lemon wedges.

Other Simple Paneer Recipe: Crispy Keto Air Fryer Paneer

Recipe Variation

You can marinate onion, tomato along with bell pepper, and paneer to add more flavor to your paneer tikka.

Add chickpea flour or arrowroot flour to the marinade if your diet permits. It will help the marinade to stick to paneer and vegetables.

Use tofu instead of paneer and BBQ sauce to marinate paneer and vegetables for a vegan option.

Serving suggestions

Serve air fryer paneer tikka without skewer over a simple leafy green salad.

You can also serve the paneer tikka as is as an appetizer with lemon wedges on a big platter and leave toothpicks nearby for guests to grab and enjoy.

You can also turn it into a weeknight dinner by serving paneer tikka with naan bread. Make a naan bread wrap with lettuce, paneer tikka, and coriander-chili chutney.

Can you make paneer tikka in advance?

Paneer tikka tastes great when eaten fresh. But you can marinate panner and vegetables the day before and refrigerate them. And when you are ready to serve, air fry them.

Overnight marinated paneer tastes much better than 30 minutes marinated paneer. When you let the marinated paneer rest in the refrigerator overnight, it will absorb more flavor.

But do not air fry paneer tikka in advance. So longer you let the air-fried panner sit outside, it will become dry.

Can you make panner tikka without curd or yogurt?

Yes, you can make paneer tikka without curd or yogurt. Making a marinade for paneer tikka, yogurt or curb works as a binder to bring the spices together.

So, when you are making paneer tikka without curd and yogurt, you need an alternative binder.

You can use BBQ sauce, tomato ketchup, green coriander chutney, or any other sauce base as an alternative to curd or yogurt to make a marinade for paneer tikka.

When you use BBQ sauce or tomato ketchup, adjust your spice level, considering that sauce will have its own flavor. You also want to let the marinated paneer and vegetables soak the marinade’s flavor by leaving them in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. The recipe remains the same if you want to make paneer tikka without curd or yogurt.

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