Paneer Tikka Pizza

by Kiran on September 27, 2011 · 79 comments

in Baking, Indian, Pizza, Vegetarian

Happy Tuesday!

I am known to spend my time in the kitchen if I have trouble sleeping. Last night was one of those days. As I am writing this post, my mind is racing to understand why am I still so energetic? There weren’t any sugar rush last evening. Definitely no coffee or tea to encourage my insomniac behavior.

Anyways, have I proclaimed my utter love for pizzas? The Husband, not so much. But he does love anything and everything, made with paneer. A great combo of our favorites. After a light-bulb moment at 5:00am this morning, when I refused to sleep, I couldn’t figure out any excuse to not prepare a pizza dough. Well, the whole process takes time, so why not utilize all the time I had in my hands. Granted, I should have tried my level best to sleep. But once an idea swirls in my head, sleep is the last thing on my mind. Well, almost non-existent.

I prepped the pizza dough & paneer tikka that required raising and marination all while watching reruns of FRIENDS. It never gets old, I tell ya. Nothing like a good Chandler Bing’s jokes & Joey Tribiani’s silliness at 5:30am to get me pumping in my kitchen.

Well, I lied.

FRIENDS soon became unbearable at one point. Twilight was on and I couldn’t resist. Who else is anxiously waiting for the 4th installment?! Can you tell I am freaking excited?!? The adrenaline rush of sleeplessness combined with watching wolves and vampire actions, completely waded off my desire to sleep.

Back to the pizza’s. Let’s face it, as much as I love pizzas, I somehow dislike slathering boatload of cheeses and sauce as the base on crust. My twist on a healthier version of sauce: spiced yogurt sauce. Holy yum! It truly intensifies the overall flavors of pizza ingredients. Mmm.. Love corner crusts. So chewy, crunchy and carb loaded.

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Ingredients:

Pizza crust

  • 1 packet (or 2 tbsp) of active yeast
  • 4 tbsp lukewarm water
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 cup of whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup + 2 tbsp milk
  • 2 tbsp butter at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Paneer Tikka (marinate)
  • 1 cup of fresh paneer, sliced or cubed
  • 2 tbsp yogurt
  • 1.5 tbsp of spice mix (ground cumin, coriander, cardamom, cinnamon & cloves)
  • 1/2 tsp red chili powder
  • 1/2 tsp turmeric powder
  • salt & pepper to taste
  • note: make extra spice mix to sprinkle on pizza crust before baking.
Toppings
  • 2 medium tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup peas
  • 1/4 cup of red onions, sliced
  • fresh coriander leaves
Yogurt sauce
  • 1/4 cup of fresh yogurt
  • 4 tbsp of milk
  • a pinch of spice mix, salt & pepper

Directions:

  1. Combine active yeast, lukewarm water and sugar. Set aside for a few minutes.
  2. Prepare pizza crust in a separate bowl by combining whole wheat, all purpose flour, yeast mixture, butter and extra virgin olive oil.
  3. Gradually add milk until dough comes together. It shouldn’t be too wet or too dry. Add more milk if necessary.
  4. Knead dough for a few minutes. Cover bowl with a wet paper towel and allow dough to double in size (rise) for at least an hour or more.
  5. Prepare paneer tikka by combining all ingredients in a bowl and allow to marinate for at least an hour or so.
  6. While dough is rising and paneer is marinating, prepare toppings and yogurt sauce.
  7. Combine all ingredients for yogurt sauce and refrigerate until needed.
  8. Prep toppings for pizza.
  9. Place a skillet on medium heat, add a little olive oil and pan fry paneer tikka’s for 2 minutes each side or till slightly browned.
  10. Once pizza dough is doubled in size, preheat oven to 400 degrees & sprinkle some flour on a baking sheet.
  11. Flour the board, rolling pin, and roll out the dough to desired thickness.
  12. Place pizza dough on baking sheet and brush on some olive oil. Sprinkle a yummy dose of spice mix, salt & pepper.
  13. Best part is when you go crazy with toppings. Top pizza with paneer tikkas, tomatoes, onions and sweet peas.
  14. Bake pizza for 15-20 minutes, depending on the thickness of dough.
  15. Once baked, allow pizza to completely cool. Sprinkle some fresh coriander leaves and a drizzle of yogurt sauce. Serve immediately.

 

What is your remedy for temporary insomnia? Do you spend your time baking, in hopes of getting some sleep, eventually?

 

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1 angela September 27, 2011 at 3:07 PM

I think that’s the most unique pizza I’ve ever seen! I make mine more traditional, it’s the Italian in me. We’ve spent years perfecting our dough recipes. And I am excited in really stupid ways about the next Twilight movie, too. 😉

2 Kiran October 5, 2011 at 11:25 AM

Angela,
Thanks honey. I love traditional pizza’s as well. Just wanted to make one with a twist. There’s too many regular pizza recipes out there and I didn’t want to put one out, similar to that as well 😉 Perfecting dough recipes? Care to share? 😉

3 angela October 5, 2011 at 3:02 PM

Everyone likes their dough a little different. We spent quite a bit of time getting it right. I wanted it to be like buying fresh dough at the grocery store in New England. (They don’t sell pizza dough in Oklahoma). So it took some getting right. Then we started working on a good low calorie, whole wheat dough.Mostly I’m just the commander with this stuff, it’s my husband that really does the work and figures it all out for me. I just make the pizzas. 😉

4 Kiran October 12, 2011 at 11:00 PM

Angela,
Recipe, please? Especially on the whole wheat pizza dough? Email? 😉

5 angela October 13, 2011 at 9:47 AM

Just sent you an email. 😉

6 katherine September 27, 2011 at 5:19 PM

what a beautiful way to use paneer. I confess I only use it in spinach paneer! I’ve only seen the first Twilight movie 🙁
katherine recently posted..2011 Bento 153, 154

7 Kiran October 5, 2011 at 11:30 AM

Katherine,
Thanks dear. There are many ways to use paneer. I have to feature more recipes in the future 🙂 And please do watch Twilight series – I promise you’ll be hooked 😀

8 Barbara | Creative Culinary September 27, 2011 at 8:22 PM

Holy Yum is right. And I have had my nights of too much Chandler and too little sleep. Sadly those nights have never included this pizza. Amazing.
Barbara | Creative Culinary recently posted..Lemon Cheesecake – Another Best, Really.

9 Sylvie @ Gourmande in the Kitchen September 27, 2011 at 11:55 PM

Yes I often find myself late at night in the kitchen when I can’t sleep pouring our my cookbooks and checking to see what I have in the pantry!

10 Grishma September 28, 2011 at 1:23 AM

That looks sooo tempting!! I have tried Paneer pizza before and I m site it
tastes amazing! I wish to grab one slice right now!
Grishma recently posted..Sun-dried tomato pesto Breakfast rolls

11 Sanjeeta kk September 28, 2011 at 5:32 AM

Love it that this pizza has wholewheat in it..and it does look wonderful!
Sanjeeta kk recently posted..Wholewheat Chocolate Filled Croissants – A Delight to Bake

12 Anna September 28, 2011 at 11:13 AM

Nice one! i particularly love the yogurt sauce…
Anna recently posted..worldly wednesdays: afghanistan osh pyozee (stuffed onions)

13 Padhu September 28, 2011 at 11:54 AM

Sounds very interesting and lovely pictures
Padhu recently posted..Sweet Sundal-Green Gram sweet sundal

14 Kiran October 5, 2011 at 2:49 PM

Padhu,
Welcome to Recipebox and thanks for the compliments 🙂

15 Tanvi@SinfullySpicy September 28, 2011 at 3:26 PM

Yummm…pass me that slice 🙂 ..this is one of my fav pizza..make it so often with leftover tikkas…that north indian in me is going weak again after seeing this! 🙂
Tanvi@SinfullySpicy recently posted..Tahiri – Dum Cooked Basmati Rice With Black Spices

16 Kiran October 5, 2011 at 2:58 PM

Tanvi,
Thanks dear! And can I tell you how much I love your sense of humor? 🙂

17 Ali September 28, 2011 at 4:07 PM

I also usually find myself in the kitchen late nights just reading my cookbook wondering what am going to cook the next day. Wow your pizza looks delicious… drooling for some, care to share 🙂 Love the photos

18 Kiran October 5, 2011 at 3:02 PM

Ali,
Thanks for the compliments – it surely made my day 🙂
I wish it was as easy to Fedex food. Try the recipe and let me know how it tastes!

19 Aakash Kokz September 28, 2011 at 5:45 PM

Wow! It looks so very yummy. Wish I could get a bite of it 🙂
Beautiful post, its good that you kill some leisure time by cooking if you ever feel insomniac.
Aakash Kokz recently posted..What is a Poem?

20 Reem | Simply Reem September 28, 2011 at 10:05 PM

This is absolutely delicious Kiran…
Perfect paneer tikka’s,
Awesome pizza,
Lovely yogurt sauce….
And above all a beautiful post…

21 Kiran October 5, 2011 at 3:03 PM

Reem,
Thanks a lot honey, you are way too kind 🙂

22 Harsha September 29, 2011 at 2:05 AM

I firstly love your photography. Then your patience or passion to cook at 5 in the morning. And I loovvee Paneer. It is so so yummy. And your Pizza looks just perfect. And yeah, I am badly waiting for the 4th version of Twilight.

My remedy for temporary insomnia is that I switch on my Laptop!

23 Kiran October 5, 2011 at 3:05 PM

Harsha,
Thanks a lot for the compliments dear. I didn’t cook at all in the wee hours. Just prepped the ingredients and pizza dough (since it needs the time to proofing & rise). If I am on my laptop or any other gadgets, that would definitely encourage and not cure my insomnia for sure 😀

24 Denise @ TLT - The Little Things September 29, 2011 at 8:39 AM

What a great idea! And I love the pictures too. making we wanna try this recipe asap!
Denise @ TLT – The Little Things recently posted..Risi e Bisi

25 Kiran October 5, 2011 at 6:54 PM

Denise,
Welcome to Recipebox and thanks for the compliments 🙂 Do try this recipe and let me know how it tastes!

26 sreelu September 29, 2011 at 12:33 PM

Oo lala one delicous pizza,spicy and yum , beautiful pics as always Kiran
sreelu recently posted..Vada Sambar – A Spicy Indian Staple Breakfast

27 Kiran October 5, 2011 at 7:34 PM

Sreelu,
Thanks for the compliments dear 🙂

28 kankana September 29, 2011 at 2:10 PM

That is a lovely idea! I never made pizza with whole wheat .. always so worried about the texture .. but this looks really nice. I should try!
kankana recently posted..Black And White Wednesday

29 Kiran October 5, 2011 at 7:46 PM

Kankana,
I had the same perception. But this almost whole wheat pizza turned out so good. Give it a try and let me know how it tastes 🙂

30 Anne John September 29, 2011 at 3:09 PM

I lovvee Pizza too! No one else in my family does and when I was small I used to say that I when I grow up and earn my own money, I shall go buy and eat a pizza everyday! lol! Paneer Tikka Pizza looks divine 🙂

And I NEVER get insomnia! Can you believe it?! I just can’t understand how people don’t get sleep-am such a sleepy-head! Haha!
Anne John recently posted..I’m Famous!

31 Tanvi September 29, 2011 at 8:07 PM

Must Must Must try this! 🙂 Looks yummy!!!

♡ from © tanvii.com
Tanvi recently posted..25 ways to wear a scarf!

32 Gayatri September 30, 2011 at 12:47 PM

This looks absolutely delicious! My next recipe was going to be a pizza as well! Anyway I cope with insomnia by reading. Or I just wake up & eat something! That definitely puts me back to sleep 🙂
Gayatri recently posted..Tips & Tricks

33 chopinandmysaucepan September 30, 2011 at 2:54 PM

This does look like a piece of pizza though. I would definitely be online if I am unable to fall asleep 🙂
chopinandmysaucepan recently posted..Chinta Ria, Mood for Love … “R u in??”

34 mycookinghut September 30, 2011 at 5:01 PM

When I saw the title of this post, it really caught my attention – I love paneer! This pizza just looks amazing and yummy!
mycookinghut recently posted..Chicken Korma

35 Richa@HobbyandMore September 30, 2011 at 10:53 PM

the pizza looks super.. and lovely clicks..! just wait for breaking dawn and all the PG blood and gore in the delivery scene.. I think rob and kristen got bored after 3 movies.. coz the act looks more mechanical in the trailers.
Richa@HobbyandMore recently posted..Indian Sweets Round up! Vegan, some gluten free options

36 Ellie | Gourmand Recipes October 1, 2011 at 8:37 PM

I love to bake on sleepless nights too. This pizza sounds heavenly!
Ellie | Gourmand Recipes recently posted..Pumpkin Soup (with Bacon & Maple Croutons)

37 Simply Life October 3, 2011 at 7:25 PM

Oh I love this idea for pizza! WOW!

38 Nikita October 6, 2011 at 10:48 AM

What a great idea for pizza! I have made “Mexican Pizza,” but never thought to use Indian flavors! Do you use equal amounts of the spices in the spice mix?

39 Kiran October 12, 2011 at 11:13 PM

Nikita,
Welcome to Recipebox and thanks for the compliments! I used equal amounts of the spices in the spice mix, but use the spice mix as much or little as you like 🙂

40 Radhika October 7, 2011 at 12:30 AM

Kiran,
Thanks for topping by and leaving such sweet words..
The feeling is mutual, so glad to stumble upon your space!
The husband loves paneer too and this reminds me of the paneer pizzas back home at Pizza hut..
Sounds like an awesome recipe, pictures promise a mouthwatering pizza, should try sometime!

41 Kiran October 12, 2011 at 11:53 PM

Radhika,
You are welcome and thanks for dropping by my blog as well 🙂 Do try this recipe and let me know whether the Husband loves it!

42 Manu October 12, 2011 at 8:40 PM

Bhabhi your blog is a true labour of love .

Sumptuous reading.

43 Kiran October 13, 2011 at 11:15 AM

Manu,
Thanks a lot dear, it’s just a time-pass 😉 Do let us know how you are doing and if there’s any plans in the future to meet! Take care.

44 Sneh | Cook Republic October 25, 2011 at 5:59 AM

Happy to have discovered your blog Kiran! This is fantastic .. so rustic and I love the rectangular shape of the pizza. It reminds me of the first pizza I had in Australia nearly 10 years ago .. it was called Kathmandu and had tandoori chicken and spiced yogurt on it. For insomnia, a nice hot cup of Rooibos always does the trick!
Sneh | Cook Republic recently posted..10 Questions With Stephanie Alexander – Kitchen Garden Week At Rouse Hill

45 Kiran October 27, 2011 at 11:04 AM

Sneh,
Welcome to Recipebox and thanks for the lovely comments and Rooibos tip. Gotta try it for my insomnia 😉

46 Sandhya November 25, 2011 at 4:48 PM

Heyy Kiran… tats soo much mindblowing… Landed from food gawker ( .. not from mars … .J)
I can soo much relate to cooking in early hours and insomnia with me..
Sandhya recently posted..Tomato Rice with Anjum Anand

47 Kiran November 29, 2011 at 10:55 PM

Sandhya,
Thanks a lot dear — and welcome to Recipebox from gawker 🙂

48 Jo December 1, 2011 at 8:59 PM

This looks delicious. Would love for you to share this with us over at foodepix.com.

49 Cheryl Rajkumar April 8, 2012 at 12:43 PM

Hi Kiran,
Landed here from Saveur.com while voting for all the entries. Congratulations on being nominated as one of the finalist in Saveur. Well, I did vote for you as I loved your pizza recipe. I remember having a similar one in Seattle @ ‘CANAM PIZZA’. You have a wonderful blog and I’m glad to have found it. Chamomile tea with honey for sleepless nights 🙂 All the best and Happy Blogging!

50 notyet100 April 19, 2012 at 10:47 AM

Pizza looks delicious,…even I have some in my draft ,,..:)
notyet100 recently posted..this is life ,Carry On…

51 subhorup May 7, 2012 at 9:17 AM

congrats on the saveur finalist award for this post. keep shining.
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52 Savory Tv May 12, 2012 at 10:32 PM

Love it! Heading out for ingredients and paneer tomorrow!
Savory Tv recently posted..Simple homemade mustard from Chef Liana Robberecht

53 Marisa May 19, 2012 at 12:16 PM

My niece in law is currently in town from India. Going to send your recipe to her & invite myself for dinner! Insomnia for me is my brain won’t stop thinking. If my eyes wake up too much, I’m definitely not going back to sleep so I listen to speaking — radio talk shows, my (older) kids’ story CD’s or youtube will have Radio Theatre, something that will distract my thoughts from whatever is keeping me awake but doesn’t require my eyes. Music isn’t enough. Works pretty much like clockwork — and I stop checking the clock every few minutes! 🙂

54 prasad July 25, 2012 at 8:50 AM

What a perfect and fresh summer meal. Loving your contribution here. Thorough, inspiring and delicious.
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55 Laura Jean August 20, 2012 at 10:31 AM

Um, I am SO excited to make this! I’m not super familiar with Indian cooking and was wondering if the yogurt could be or should be greek yogurt?

Thanks for any help from anyone!

56 Yoshi Blue August 22, 2012 at 4:48 PM

It seems like you have some great memories attached to making and eating pizza. Thanks for the Paneer tikka pizza recipe.

57 maddy September 4, 2012 at 5:59 PM

First time to know about this kind of pizza and it looks inviting!

Now I wonder if there’s any restaurant somewhere here where I can sample this…
**running to google** 😀
maddy recently posted..Your Bike…Reborn!!

58 Cucina italiana September 11, 2012 at 5:25 AM

I will try to cook this original pizza in my italian oven. Thank you and congratulations for the recipe and photos!

59 kushagra September 18, 2012 at 4:01 AM

nice one i like it very much…..
kushagra recently posted..Baby Corn Paneer Delight

60 Hungry Huy October 21, 2012 at 5:47 AM

This looks great. I’ve yet to have paneer outside of any traditional Indian food, but I love it. Combine it with another favorite, pizza, and it’s a hit! Also, where do you get your yogurt? What kind is it, specifically?
Hungry Huy recently posted..Pumpkin Pancakes

61 Joanne October 24, 2012 at 3:58 PM

This pizza looks so delicious! Totally making this. Yum!
Joanne recently posted..Spiced Buttermilk Banana Pancakes

62 Brendan October 28, 2012 at 11:31 PM

Hey great recipe, would love you to join RecipeLover.com as we share ad revenue with contributors…Keep up the great recipes!!

63 Vegetarian Restaurant in Velachery November 14, 2012 at 4:26 AM

Pizza looks delicious,
Perfect paneer tikka’s,
Awesome pizza,

64 Bennett Schneider November 28, 2012 at 5:24 PM

Love this idea, esp. of paneer replacing mozzarella. I made my own paneer back in the day (90’s). It’s amazingly easy to make yourself. All you need is whole milk, lemon juice or vinegar, cheese cloth and a sieve. You basically just curdle the milk with teh lemon juice, then strain it through the cheese cloth covered sieve once it’s good and curdled. Squeeze it as solid as you can, and refrigerate.

I wonder if it melts nicely if you slice it thin?

65 Pallavi January 10, 2013 at 8:00 AM

Ive been dying to try making this and I finally did yesterday. Can I just say,I thought it might be a little overhyped ,you know with the pics looking that gorgoeus and the description making it sound like a slice of yummy heaven, but I was so happy that this one lived upto everything I expected it to be and even more. Finger licking good,and left me craving for more! Planning to make it again this weekend.I found your blog through saveur.com and now your blog is on my favorites toolbar, thats how much I love it.<3

66 guest February 7, 2013 at 7:05 AM

you ditched friends for twilight …
YOU DITCHED FRIENDS FOR TWILIGHT

on another point thanks for sharing this unique recipe

67 Joe Seed Oils February 23, 2013 at 8:57 PM

Indian + Italian = Love it!
Joe Seed Oils recently posted..PUMPKIN: Health & Beauty Miracle?

68 A.S March 2, 2013 at 5:46 AM

Looks gorgeous! I love both Indian and Italian cusine. Here all together. I must try. I used to make paneer by myself but it is not the same 🙂

69 Indonesian Foods March 2, 2013 at 8:50 AM

this is look delicious. i want try at home 🙂

70 visala March 17, 2013 at 9:51 AM

Nice post and an excellent fusion of panner and pizza. great
visala recently posted..What is Six Sigma- An Introduction to many faces of Six Sigma

71 Liz May 27, 2013 at 5:44 AM

I compose my next blog post in my head when I can’t sleep. It’s witty, insightful, fresh, and totally forgotten by the time I wake up the next morning. I then sit there just staring at my computer while – and this is the God’s honest truth – I watch reruns of Friends. And when I get to the end I have to immediately start over again, because otherwise I’m sad that they’re all gone.

Also, this pizza idea is totally incredible and I cannot wait to make it (after I have made paneer, cause there’s no way I’ll get it here).
Liz recently posted..On Shanghai’s bird & insect market & the plight of China’s animals

72 Amrita June 1, 2013 at 7:08 PM

Amazing Pizza, This post made me nostalgic, reminds me of my childhood days in India.
Amrita recently posted..Slow Cooker Afghani Lamb with Spinach

73 Vahtikoira December 12, 2013 at 2:03 PM

I love the ingredients…great idea. Can’t wait to give it a try!

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