Mild Paneer Tikka & Basmati Rice

📝 Ingredients

• 200 g paneer
• 250 g 2% Greek yoghurt (100 g for the marinade, 150 g for the raita)
• 2 tsp garam masala + 2 tsp sweet paprika + ½ tsp turmeric
• 1 garlic clove + 10 g fresh ginger
• ½ lemon (for the juice)
• 1 red pepper + 1 yellow pepper (about 150 g each)
• 1 red onion (about 120 g)
• 1 tsp rapeseed oil
• 120 g basmati rice
• ½ cucumber (about 150 g)
• 6 fresh mint leaves + ½ tsp ground cumin (for the raita)
• Salt

🍴 Utensils

• Air fryer
• Mixing bowl
• Saucepan
• Colander
• Grater
• Bowl

📖 Steps

1. Cut the paneer into 2.5 cm cubes, the deseeded peppers into 3 cm squares and the red onion into wedges, separating the layers. Finely grate the garlic and the peeled ginger, then squeeze the half lemon.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine 100 g Greek yoghurt, the garlic, ginger, lemon juice, garam masala, paprika, turmeric, oil and 1 good pinch of salt. Gently coat the paneer and vegetables, then leave to marinate for 20 min (up to 4 h in the fridge).
3. Meanwhile, rinse the basmati rice 3 times in cold water, until it runs almost clear. Cook it for 10 to 11 min in a large pan of boiling salted water, drain, then leave to rest for 5 min, covered, for nicely separate grains.
4. For the raita, grate the cucumber with its skin on, squeeze it hard in your hands over the sink to remove the water, then mix it with the remaining 150 g yoghurt, the chopped mint, the cumin and 1 pinch of salt. Keep in the fridge.
5. Preheat the air fryer for 3 min at 200 °C. Arrange the paneer and vegetables in a single layer in the basket without overcrowding them (in two batches if needed), keeping the marinade that coats them: it's what forms the crust.
6. Cook for 12 min at 200 °C, shaking the basket halfway through, until the paneer is golden and slightly charred at the edges and the peppers are tender. In the oven: 18 min at 230 °C on a baking tray lined with baking paper, turning halfway through.
7. Serve the paneer and vegetables straight away on the basmati rice, with the well-chilled raita on the side. Paneer firms up as it cools, so enjoy it hot, straight out of the air fryer.