Tandoori Paneer Pizza

While Pizza is from Italy, there are no hard & fast rules to maintain the Italian flavors! Take this one for example. With quintessential Indian ingredients and cooked over a griddle rather than an oven, this pizza is what you call a perfect combination of Indian & Italian cuisines! 😉

TANDOORI PANEER PIZZA Recipe

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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Makes – 2 pizzas

For the Pizza Sauce –
4 medium Tomatoes
1 medium Onion; finely chopped
1/4 tsp Ginger
1/2 tsp Garlic paste
1  tsp Salt (to taste)
1 tsp Red Chili Powder
1 tsp Garam Masala Powder
2 Green Chili; roughly chopped
1 tsp Vegetable Oil
1 tbsp Tomato Ketchup (optional)

For the PIZZA –
Pizza Base
Pizza Sauce (as prepared)
100 grams Paneer / Cottage Cheese (for 2 Pizzas)
1 medium Capsicum; cut julienne
1 small Oniom, sliced (optional)
Cheese – preferably Mozzarella

Method
A. Marinating the Panner / Cottage Cheese
1. Take good quality cottage cheese / paneer & chop them into small cubes.
2. In a small bowl, take 2 tablespoons of Curd / Yogurt, add 1 teaspoon salt, tsp red chili powder, 1 tsp Garam Masala Powder & 1 teaspoon chicpea/besan powder (kadalai maavu) and mix it well.
3. Add the paneer / cottage cheese cubes in it & mix well. Let it rest for about 45min-1 hour

B) Making the PIZZA SAUCE
1. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a kadai / pan & add the chopped onions. Saute till golden brown

2. Add the ginger & garlic, tomatoes & salt, red chili powder & garam masala powder

3. Mix well & sauté well for 3-4 minutes until the mixture shrinks & the raw smell of the spices is gone.

4. Add the mixture to a blender. (let it cool for 5 minutes) Blend / Grind to a smooth paste.
5. Add this paste to the pan again & let it cook for another 2 minutes
6. Finally, add 2 tablespoons of tomato ketchup. I just add coz the ketchup gives the sauce a good color. It is not compulsory.

C) Making the Tandoori Pizza
1. Stir fry the marinated paneer / cottage cheese for about 2 minutes.
2. Apply the sauce prepared generously all over the base.

3. Arrange the paneer / cottage cheese on the pizza.

4. Add your onions & capsicum.

5. Add the cheese. (optional)

6. Keep your pizza on the pan & on LOW FLAME, let it cook for 5 minutes closed. To cook the pizza, take a larger vessel that covers the whole pizza but is not larger than the flat pan. Cover the pizza & cook on low flame for 5-8 minutes.

Alternatively, keep it on the grill and grill it for 5 minutes.

TIPS

• If making the sauce seems boring and you have left over gravy, use that!
• You can also do this in the microwave. On full power, MW for 3 minutes & then in the grill option for 3 minutes
• You can bake the same at 200 C / 400 F for 8-10 minutes.
• Add or leave out any veggies you want.