Easy Paneer Tikka Quinoa Salad

If you're looking for a delicious and nutritious meal, this Paneer Tikka Quinoa Salad is perfect for you. Combining the flavors of spicy paneer tikka with the wholesome goodness of quinoa, this salad is not only healthy and easy to make but also very satisfying.

Why Paneer Tikka Quinoa Salad?

Paneer tikka is a popular Indian appetizer made from marinated paneer (Indian cottage cheese) grilled to perfection. When combined with quinoa, a superfood packed with protein and essential nutrients, it creates a balanced meal that's perfect for lunch or dinner. This salad is vegetarian, high in protein, and loaded with flavors.

Ingredients You'll Need

• For the Paneer Tikka: paneer, yogurt, Green chutney, ginger paste, lemon juice, Salt to taste, olive oil
• For the Quinoa Salad: quinoa, cherry tomato, chopped mint, arugula leaves, pomegranate Salt and pepper to taste, lemon juice, olive oil, grated ginger.

Step-by-Step Recipe

Step 1: Marinate the Paneer

In a large bowl, In a mixing bowl add green chutney, yogurt, and ajwain/carrom seeds and salt. Add the paneer cubes and coat them well with the marinade. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes to absorb all the flavors.

Step 2: Cook the Quinoa

Rinse the quinoa under cold water. In a medium saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Add the quinoa, reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes or until the quinoa is cooked and water is absorbed. Fluff the quinoa with a fork and let it cool.

Step 3: Grill the Paneer Tikka

Heat a grill pan over medium heat and add the olive oil. Once the oil is hot, add the marinated paneer cubes. Grill the paneer for about 5-7 minutes, turning occasionally, until all sides are golden brown and slightly charred. Set aside.

Step 4: Prepare the Salad dressing

Mix olive oil, lemon juice, Pink salt, Sea salt, Red chili flakes, grated Ginger in a small bottle and shake to make a vinaigrette.

Step 5: Prepare the Salad

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked quinoa, cherry tomato, rocket leaves or arugula, pomegranate, cilantro, and mint. Add the grilled paneer tikka on top. If you like, you can also add crumbled feta cheese for an extra layer of flavor.

Step 6: Dress the Salad

Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine. Adjust the seasoning to your taste.

Tips for Making the Best Paneer Tikka Quinoa Salad

1. Use Fresh Ingredients: Fresh vegetables and herbs make a big difference in the flavor and texture of the salad.
2. Marinate the Paneer: The longer you marinate the paneer, the more flavorful it will be. If possible, marinate it overnight.
3. Cook Quinoa Perfectly: Make sure to rinse the quinoa thoroughly to remove any bitterness. Cook it until it's fluffy and all the water is absorbed.
4. Customize Your Salad: Feel free to add other vegetables or greens like spinach, arugula, or kale to the salad.
5. Serving Suggestions: This salad can be served warm or cold, making it perfect for any season.

Nutritional Benefits

This Paneer Tikka Quinoa Salad is not just tasty but also packed with nutritional benefits:

• High Protein: Both paneer and quinoa are excellent sources of protein, making this salad a great option for vegetarians.
• Rich in Fiber: Quinoa and vegetables add a good amount of fiber to your diet, aiding digestion.
• Loaded with Vitamins and Minerals: Vegetables and herbs provide essential vitamins and minerals for overall health.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Make Paneer Tikka Quinoa Salad?

To make Paneer Tikka Quinoa Salad, marinate paneer cubes in a mixture of yogurt and spices, grill them, and mix with cooked quinoa and fresh vegetables. Dress with lemon juice and olive oil.

Is Paneer Tikka Quinoa Salad Healthy?

Yes, Paneer Tikka Quinoa Salad is a healthy meal option. It's high in protein, fiber, and packed with vitamins and minerals from the vegetables and herbs.

Can I Make This Salad Ahead of Time?

Absolutely! You can prepare the quinoa and marinate the paneer ahead of time. Store them in separate containers in the refrigerator. Assemble and dress the salad just before serving to keep it fresh.

What Can I Substitute for Paneer?

If you don't have paneer, you can use tofu as a substitute. It will also provide a good amount of protein and will absorb the flavors of the marinade well.

How Long Does This Salad Last?

This salad can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Keep the dressing separate and add it just before serving to maintain the freshness of the ingredients.

This Paneer Tikka Quinoa Salad is a perfect blend of flavors and textures. It's easy to make, healthy, and incredibly satisfying. Whether you're looking for a nutritious meal for lunch or dinner, this salad is sure to please. Try it out and let me know how it turns out for you. Enjoy your cooking!

More Such Recipes

So If you have also joined quinoa bandwagon and love quinoa recipes . I have quite a few quinoa salad recipes here on mytastycurry. Also, I am adding few Indian quinoa recipes

1. Quinoa pulao
2. Quinoa Khichdi
3. High Protein Quinoa Beans Salad
4. Quinoa and beans Cutlets
5. Quinoa Upma Recipe
6. Quinoa Pistachio Cranberry Salad
7. Quinoa Dosa
8. Quinoa Kheer

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📖 Recipe

Paneer Quinoa Recipe

Grilled paneer quinoa salad recipe. Best easy quinoa salad recipe bursting with Indian flavours with tangy quinoa sald dressing and Chutney grilled paneer. Easy Indian quinoa recipe is also high protein salad recipe that is filling and delicious.

4 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizer, Salad

Cuisine: continental

Keyword: 20 Minutes, quinoa, quinoa recipes

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 3

Calories: 348kcal

Author: Rekha Kakkar

Ingredients

• 150 gm Paneer
• 3 teaspoon yogurt
• 1 teaspoon carrom seeds
• .25 teaspoon Salt
• 1 cup Mint Leaves
• 1 cup coriander leaves
• 1 green chilli
• 1 tbsp lime juice

(For Quinoa Salad Dressing)

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon Pink salt
• ¼ teaspoon Sea salt
• 1 teaspoon Red chili flakes
• 1 1tsp Ginger

(To prepare the salad)

• .5 cup Quinoa raw
• 1 cup Rocket leaves
• ¼ cup Cherry tomatoes
• ⅕ cup Pomegranate

Instructions

• Start with marinating the paneer cubes. In a mixing bowl add green chutney, curd, and ajwain.
• Mix the paste well and then add paneer cubes in it.
• Coat the paneer cubes well with the marinade and keep it aside for 20-30 minutes.
• When the paneer is marinating, start with preparing the dressing for the salad.
• Take a small bottle or jar (make sure the jar has a toand in that add olive oil, lemon juice, red chili flakes.
• Some pink and sea salt and a teaspoon of crushed ginger-garlic.
• Close the top and shake the bottle well. Shake the bottle until all the ingredients are mixed well.
• Now, take out the marinated paneer cubes and with a skewer skew the paneer cubes in a wooden/metal sticks.
• Grill some oil in a grill pan, when the oil starts to smoke gently put the paneer sticks in it.
• Grill the paneer cubes from all the sides.
• When the paneer is well-grilled take it out on a plate.
• In a mixing bowl add cooked quinoa,fresh  rocket leaves, chopped cherry tomatoes, grilled paneer and pomegranate.
• Pour a good amount of salad dressing (which we prepared earlier with red chili flakes and oiand mix the salad well.
• Enjoy the salad with juice or smoothie

Nutrition

Calories: 348kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 877mg | Potassium: 421mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1501IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 324mg | Iron: 3mg

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